24 years ago, a gladiator rose to challenge an emperor. At that time, the story of the fictional hero was embedded in a series of real historical figures. But what happened after Maximus ended?
The sequel Gladiator 2 by Ridley Scott is in cinemas and explores this question. It tells what became of the survivors of the first film, against the backdrop of a Roman Empire that threatens to sink into decadence and poverty. Lots of brutal, scheming and bizarre characters populate Gladiator II, especially Denzel Washington’s eccentric gladiator owner. But how much of it is fiction?
In this article you will find out:
When does Gladiator 2 play?
Gladiator 2 starts about 16 years after the end of the first filmalthough the timeline of the films adheres rather vaguely to the real historical events.
The action of Gladiator 1 took place between 180 and 192 AD, i.e. the death dates of the emperors Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris) and Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix).
Based on the time in the film and the real models, the action of Gladiator 2 is set between 208 and 211 AD.
Warning, the following article contains spoilers for Gladiator 2.
The Gladiator 2 figures and their real-life role models
Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) – really existed
The returnee from Gladiator is based on the real daughter of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. However, Lucilla did not intrigue against the emperors Geta and Caracalla, but against her younger brother Commodus, who had her executed for it.
Lucius Verus aka Hanno (Paul Mescal) – really existed
The real Lucilla had a son named Lucius Verus (named after her husband, her father’s adopted brother – yes, you read that right).
But he was not the illegitimate son of a disgraced general named Maximus. And more importantly: The real Lucius Verus died in infancy.
General Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal) – is fictional
Marcus Acacius is an invention. Lucilla’s second husband was actually the general and consul Tiberius Claudius Pompeianus, a close military advisor to her father. He served as one of Maximus’s role models in the first film.
Emperor Caracalla (Fred Hechinger) – really existed
Caracalla was the eldest son of Emperor Septimius Severus and shared his regency first with his father and then with his younger brother Geta. Until he had him murdered.
Almost six years later, Caracalla himself fell victim to an assassination attempt, although not in Rome, but in what is now Türkiye. He wasn’t so much for his monkeys as he was for them known for his military campaigns and is portrayed as a tyrant in ancient sources.
Emperor Geta (Joseph Quinn) – really existed
While they had a close relationship in the film, the real imperial brother couple only had antipathy.
According to historian Cassius Dio, Caracalla asked his mother to meet with his younger brother Geta under the pretext of reconciliation. Instead of peace, death awaited Geta at the hands of the Praetorians. He died in his mother’s arms at the age of 22.
Macrinus (Denzel Washington) – really existed, but…
The The emperor who came to power after Caracalla was called Macrinus. And this Macrinus was also probably involved in the murder of Caracalla. But he wasn’t a former slave and gladiator promoter who wanted to bring down Rome, but rather a bureaucrat born in North Africa (via Britannica).
However, the original was more successful than the film version: this Macrinus became emperor, although he didn’t last much longer than a year before being overthrown and executed.
As with the first film, Gladiator 2 doesn’t take Roman history too seriously.