Gladiator II
Warning : this article contain spoilers for Gladiator 2
Gladiator 2is the latest modern legacy subsequence to hit theaters , specify a few years after the events of Ridley Scott ’s 2000 historical epic poem , Gladiator . The film tell the story of another gladiator to be put into the Roman Colosseum trying to earn his freedom , this time name Lucius Verus Aurelius , played by the first-class Paul Mescal . While Mescal kick in a great functioning as Lucius , one of the good vista ofGladiator 2 ’s castis Macrinus , played by Denzel Washington .
Gladiator 2 ’s great reviewsare in large part bolstered by Washington ’s carrying out and the character of Macrinus himself , who is one of the most intriguing parts of the film as a whole . He pass much of the movie plotting behind the scenery , scheming his way into the eminent tier of society in rescript to reach his high-minded ambition of becoming the Emperor , with many different piece in play . Gladiator 2 ’s storyrevolves almost solely around Macrinus ' program , with most part of the cinema finally lead back to him and his desire for major power .
Everything Revealed About Macrinus' Backstory In Gladiator 2
His History Informs Everything About His Character
WhileGladiator 2never fully explains Macrinus ' backstory in detail , there is enough there to give the interview a somewhat clear picture of who Macrinus was before he became the baronial man he is represent as in the motion picture . He was a slave , a prisoner of war similar to Lucius , who spent much of his Roman life serving Marcus Aurelius , Lucius ' grandfather and former Emperor of Rome . He managed to fight his way out of the gladiatorial bowl , before finally becoming an arms dealer and securing his exemption .
Macrinus get ahead the ultimate keister of Imperial ability would be the true expression of what it meant to be a Roman .
Macrinus’Gladiator 2backstoryisn’t a huge plot breaker point , only coming up in short in two conversations , but it is extremely of import for let on Macrinus ' character reference and why he is the way of life he is . While Macrinus is presented as yet another Roman blue blood search for as much power as possible ( which , to be middling , he is ) , collapse the interview this coup d’oeil into his backstory show thathis lawful ground for everything he has done is to get the ultimate revenge on his former passkey , and because of what he believe the true nature of the Roman Empire to be .
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Macrinus becoming the Emperor would end theline of Emperors present throughout theGladiatorfilms , destroying the legacy of his former original , Marcus Aurelius , and finalizing his retaliation , butit would also reinforce his view of the Roman Empire , being that power is the only affair that matters . Aurelius had total power over him as a hard worker , and Macrinus gaining the ultimate seat of Imperial power would be the truest expression of what it think of to be a Roman , at least according to Macrinus .
Macrinus' Role As An Arms Dealer In Gladiator 2 Explained
His Position Affords Him Exactly What His Plan Needs
At the jump ofGladiator 2 , Macrinusis not in any major place of baron in the political science , he is just an arms dealer that supplies arm and armour to the papistic armies . The baron of his stead is deceive , however , because as an weapon dealer , he has a outstanding amount of influence over Rome ’s most important plus , its army . His position grants him access to many of the most significant somebody in Rome , as well as a way to barter with those people , shown throughout his interaction with much of the flush elite of Rome .
Macrinus obviously has some level of admission to the most important mass in the Empire , those beingGladiator 2 ’s representation of the matching Emperors , Geta and Caracalla , as he attends a political party with them shortly after he make it in the city of Rome . However , his influence is most clear when it comes to Thraex , the senator who owe Macrinus money , and finally sells out Lucilla and Marcus Acacius ’s game . While Macrinus ' baron over Thraex is due specifically to Thraex ’s gaming offspring , he was only ever able to get to that point because of his position .
How Macrinus Uses Lucius & The Other Gladiators For His Own Gain
He Uses Everyone Around Him To Achieve His Goals
Every element of Macrinus ' plan was critical to its succeeder , but perhaps the most important was the gladiators he was capable to find , althoughLucius , as the son ofGladiator ’s Maximus , does end up being the most inbuilt one of the cluster . The first benefit that the gladiator provide Macrinus is giving him direct purchase over Thraex , asLucius is the one who realize him his first win against Thraex , causing him to owe Macrinus a large heart and soul of money . Thraex then tells Macrinus about the coup , and he subsequently informs the Emperors , last pull in his place beside the most important mass in Rome .
Lucius Verus confront a rhinoceros and savage baboons while fighting in Gladiator II , but how precise is this to the real history of gladiator game ?
The gladiator also process to further sway the mass of Rome against the Emperors Geta and Caracalla , as the gladiator fighters become heroes in the centre of the multitude , and the Emperors become vilified as they hear to get them killed . Macrinus convinces the Emperors to putPedro Pascal ’s oecumenical Acacius , an rank hero to the Roman people , in the orbit after his treachery , against Lucius , believing that Lucius would have no queasiness about killing him , an action that would cause the Romanic people to twist against the Emperors to an even majuscule extent .
Image via Paramount Pictures
Why Macrinus Turns Emperor Caracalla Against Geta
One Emperor Is Easier To Control Than Two
One of the most shameful parts of Macrinus ' design was convincing Caracalla to kill his crony and co - Emperor Geta , in a fit of rage and paranoia . Marcinus ' main finish in this part of his program was to degenerate the Imperial Senate ’s cartel in the Emperor , and set himself up as an obvious choice for a refilling . Geta was always the more ingenious and level-headed ofGladiator 2 ’s matching emperor , and while he was decidedly also manipulated by Macrinus , Caracalla was incredibly easy for Macrinus to control , shown by how quick he was to down his blood brother because of Macrinus ' lies .
In real - world history , Caracalla did have his sidekick Geta killed , but it was mostly due to his own aspiration , and he find for a few year as lonesome Emperor before he was kill by Macrinus .
Caracalla ’s illness inGladiator 2caused him to be very unstable , and Macrinus knew he could use that to erode the senate ’s trustingness in him , especially when he had become the only Emperor , ashis mercurial leaning were now ineffectual to be tempered by his crony . His first activity as Emperor was to appoint his favourite imp as his consul , which Macrinus immediately jumped on as proof to the senate that Caracalla was unfit to rule . Without his brother , Caracalla was an easy butt for Macrinus to control and eventually , depose .
Image via Paramount Pictures
Why Macrinus Killed Lucilla In Gladiator 2
Lucilla’s Death Was The Final Stage Of His Plan
WhileMacrinus killing Lucilla inGladiator 2might have seemed to fall out of nowhere , Macrinus very clearly explains to Lucilla herself why she had to be killed in monastic order for his plan to succeed . With the beloved Marcus Acacius having already been killed by the Emperors , wipe out his equally beloved married woman would finish the Roman people ’s hatred of Caracalla , allowing Macrinus to pounce in as a Redeemer , avenging Lucilla by killing the Emperor and taking over Rome . Initially , his architectural plan was to go through the senate to finally get disembarrass of Caracalla , executing him for crimes against the R.C. multitude .
prizefighter 2 accept a bit of elements directly from the original movie , from character archetype , narration arcs , and direct references .
However , when his plan were upended by Lucius freeing the other gladiators to protect his mother , he decided to improvize , hoping he could still achieve his goals despite the obstruction . The Colosseum was in full chaos , with the citizens either oppose the pretorial guard or running from them , so he took the chance to stamp out Caracalla and then Lucilla . Macrinus was hop to go unnoticed in the topsy-turvyness , before returning when the situation had calmed down and could officially blame her death on Caracalla , giving the people someone else to focus their hatred on while he get control .
How Lucius Ended Macrinus' Plan To Become Emperor
Macrinus Was Brought Down By His Most Valuable Asset
Macrinus ' plan was contingent on a turn of thing go well for him , but he was also able to take advantage of plenty of unexpected situations and expend them to profit him . However , while Lucius was instrumental in his plans , he was also ultimately responsible for its failure and Macrinus ' death . The point at which Macrinus ' program had mostly devolve apart was nearthe end ofGladiator 2,when Lucius freed the rest of the gladiators to protect his female parent , and organized the remaining flock loyal to Marcus Acacius , readying them to butt on on Rome .
Macrinus had initially plan for both Lucius and Lucilla to pop off in the sphere , fully turning the populace against Caracalla and allowing him to take over as a Roman Jesus of Nazareth . However , when Lucius land the gladiators out to get the better of the Praetorians , Macrinus know that the people would rally behind Lucius instead , so he was forced to resort to fight him . If Macrinus had wonGladiator 2 ’s final fight , he would probably have been able to take over as he wished , with no one to fight back his ruler , but Lucius prevailed , kill Macrinus and ending his ambitions , once and for all .
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Cast
Gladiator 2 is the follow - up to Ridley Scott ’s laurels - win film Gladiator from 2000 . Robert Scott returns to direct the sequel , with Paul Mescal staring as Lucius , alongside Denzel Washington and Joseph Quinn as the villain Emperor Geta . Gladiator 2 had been stick in maturation hell for years before a script written by David Scarpa finally moved forward .
Image via Paramount Pictures
