‘Gladiator II’ Director Ridley Scott Explains Adding Baboons With Alopecia

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In 2024’s holiday season, Gladiator II debuted on digital streaming services, and it currently ranks third on the Top Movies Chart for Apple TV. Set many years after the original Gladiator film, Ridley Scott’s second venture into the arena received generally favorable reviews. The film’s actors, particularly Denzel Washington, as well as its thrilling action scenes in the sequel, were singled out for praise. Although there are numerous aspects of the movie that aren’t historically accurate, they are inspired by real-life events that Scott either witnessed or experienced himself.

In an interview with GQ, Scott talked about an exciting scene from the movie where Paul Mescal’s character Lucius battles aggressive computer-generated baboons. After being captured, these CGI animals, which were designed based on a monkey attack Scott saw on African TV, played a crucial role in a smaller arena during gladiatorial combat. The director of Gladiator also shared details about a conversation he had regarding the baboons in the film and the specific condition that caused their fearsome physical appearance.

The most significant hurdle in creating the monster attacking Paul [Mescal] was surprisingly addressed. Someone remarked, “You know, it’s an odd-looking baboon,” to which I replied, “Actually, you don’t recognize baboons. Have you ever seen a bald baboon?” When he questioned what that meant, I explained, “In essence, you are clueless about the subject matter! It refers to hair loss.” So, I modeled the monster on this bald baboon.

‘Gladiator II’ Isn’t Always Historically Accurate, But Still Based in Reality

As a movie enthusiast, I must say that Gladiator II is brimming with scenes that may not align perfectly with history but are rooted in reality or share similarities. For instance, the naval battle depicted in the film is fascinatingly different from historical records as the Colosseum was flooded in the movie – although gladiatorial sea battles did occur, Scott chose to introduce sharks into the already tumultuous scene for dramatic effect. Remarkably, Scott considered the inclusion of baboons in the film his greatest challenge.

In the movie, a pivotal event takes place immediately following a battle with a grittier, authentic feel. During this conflict, General Acacius, portrayed by Pedro Pascal, seizes control of the land where Lucius and his wife reside. The decision to follow this heart-wrenching fight with another, more fantastical one could be seen as a daring creative move. However, the way director Scott skillfully inserted an unusual gladiator scene, highlighting Lucius’ brutality and his desire for revenge, adds depth and interest to the storyline. Furthermore, the CGI used in this scene is executed so seamlessly that the interaction between the real-life actor and the computer-generated creature doesn’t feel jarring or unnatural.

In Scott’s later years, Gladiator II stands as an impressive feat, filmed within just 51 days and well under its budget by $10 million. Though some of the action-adventure film’s more fantastical moments may seem unrealistic, it’s plausible that the seasoned director had a solid justification for including elements like bloodthirsty baboons in a gladiatorial combat scene.

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2025-01-14 23:09