Gladiator II

admonition : Spoilers in the lead for Gladiator II!Macrinus was a villain inGladiator IIwith an challenging backstory , but he made a major mistake by not killing Lucius Verus Aurelius . Thecast ofGladiator IIincludes Paul Mescal , Denzel Washington , Connie Nielsen , and Pedro Pascal . While Mescal ’s Lucius was building on the bequest of his father , Maximus , spiel by Russell Crowe in the firstGladiatorfilm , Washington ’s Macrinus was the character that stand out the most in the pic . There are many similarities between Lucius andMacrinus inGladiator II . However , unlike Lucius , Macrinus did not total from influential parent .

Even though Washington ’s fictitious character was present as a baddie inGladiator II , Macrinus was actually look for revenge against the Roman Empire after process as a slave to Marcus Aurelius for much of his life . After his time enslaved , Macrinus became a gladiator owner , arm trader , and eventually a Roman Emperor . In the film , Macrinus manipulated and overthrow Geta and Caracalla to become Emperor , but not dealing with Lucius sooner ultimately led to his own death at theend ofGladiator II .

Just Like Maximus, Lucius Entertained The Roman People

When Macrinus first purchased Lucius inGladiator II , he was impressed by his scrap skills and had no rationality to know that he was the son of Maximus and Lucilla . However , throughout the continuation , Macrinus set out to distinguish that Lucius may be a more significant shape than he initially cerebrate . While it was not outright stated , it is to a great extent involve that Macrinus knew Lucius was Lucilla ’s son inGladiator II . Once he gain the truth , Lucius was already the most popular prizefighter in Rome .

Since Lucius was the son of Lucilla and a descendant of Marcus Aurelius , his birthright meant that he had a claim to rule Rome .

After forgather with Lucilla about halfway throughGladiator II , Macrinus shape out how sometime her expatriate Word would be if were still alert , which was the same age as Lucius . Since Lucius was the Logos of Lucilla and a descendant of Marcus Aurelius , his patrimony mean that he had a claim to harness Rome . Therefore , Lucius posed a monolithic scourge to Macrinus since he was scheming to take ascendency of Rome . Still , Macrinus in all likelihood did n’t want to immediately kill Lucius since he had become so democratic after oppose in the arena .

Gladiator II Official Poster

Macrinus Wanted To Use Lucius To Further His Rise To Power

Macrinus Owned Lucius In Gladiator 2

alternatively of killing Lucius , Macrinus want to habituate Lucius to help his rise to index . DuringGladiator II , the papistical mass were on the verge of turning againstEmperors Geta and Caracalla . Since he wanted to become the next Roman Emperor , it was very authoritative that he was well - liked by the Roman people . Having Lucius as his gladiator likely brought Macrinus good favor with the Romans , given that they were sports fan of his carrying out in the arena .

Denzel Washington brought something to Gladiator 2 that I never expected to see in the continuation : comedy . Macrinus is a laugh riot in this picture .

Owning a deadly prizefighter also could have been good for Macrinus as Emperor , as he could have localize any of his own enemies into the arena , basically confirming they would snuff it at the hands of Lucius . This was witness in the film when Geta and Caracalla force Acacius to enrol the arena , bed he would never make it out alive . Since Lucius was literally trap in a cage , Macrinus probably thought he could operate him . However , Macrinus staidly underestimated Lucius , and this led to his dying mighty after he occupy ascendence of Rome .

An edited image of Lucius holding a sword and Macrinus in Gladiator 2.

Custom Image by Max Ruscinski

Macrinus Likely Would’ve Killed Lucius After Becoming Emperor Of Rome

Lucius Won The Final Battle Against Macrinus

Lucius may have been pop with the Roman people , but so was his female parent , Lucilla . InGladiator II , Macrinus acknowledge how be intimate Lucilla was by the Romans but still adjudicate to obliterate her anyway , see as she was too big of a threat to him . Even though Lucius was valuable while Macrinus was still surface to become the Emperor , he likely would have pick out to stamp out his gladiator when he had taken full control of Rome .

Denzel Washington ’s villainous yet magnetic character Macrinus is base on a real diachronic figure , although there are several central differences .

Macrinus did control Rome during the flood tide ofGladiator II , but only for a very little period . By the time Macrinus betray Emperor Caracalla , a rebellion had already broken out in Rome . Macrinus tried to flee the metropolis , but Acacius ' army was blocking his dodging . This conduce to a last struggle between Lucius and Macrinus , during which Lucius obliterate his former proprietor , proving that he was always the humanity ’s main threat inGladiator II .

Denzel Washington looking up in Gladiator 2

Gladiator 2 is the follow-up to Ridley Scott’s award-winning film Gladiator from 2000. 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 stuck in development hell for years before a script written by David Scarpa finally moved forward.

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Cast

Gladiator 2 is the follow - up to Ridley Scott ’s accolade - winning plastic film Gladiator from 2000 . Sir Walter 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 stuck in development hell for years before a script pen by David Scarpa in conclusion moved ahead .

What Happened To Denzel Washington’s Macrinus In Real Life & How Gladiator 2 Compares

Headshot Of Paul Mescal In The 77th British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs)

Headshot Of Pedro Pascal In The 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards

Movies

Gladiator II