Warning: There are spoilers ahead for Gladiator II.
Like its predecessor, many of the prominent characters in Gladiator II are based on real-life historical figures. At the beginning of the original GladiatorRome is ruled by Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris). In real life, Marcus Aurelius was also one of the rulers of Romeand is associated with an idealized version of what Rome could be. However, GladiatorThe main character of Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe) was not a real individual, although he was inspired by several historical influences.
Unlike Maximus, most Gladiator IIThe main characters are named after historical figures from Roman history, and many of them are also inspired by these figures. The characters’ fates do not necessarily align with their historical namesakes, including the way many of them die during Gladiator IIThe action-packed ending. The sequel is not a historical adaptation of real events and is a historical epic made for entertainment purposes, but there are still some significant similarities between the characters and real-world influences.
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Lúcio Vero
Played by Paul Mescal
Gladiator IILucius Verus (Paul Mescal) is most similar to the historical figure Lucius Verus II. Just like the character in the sequel, Lucius Verus II was the son of Lucillawho is played by Connie Nielsen in both Gladiator films. Lucius Verus II was the son of Emperor Lucius Verus, who ruled Rome alongside Emperor Marcus Aurelius. While Maximus is Lucius’ father in Gladiator IIBoth the fictional and real-life versions of Lucius are descendants of the royal bloodline.
The similarities don’t go much further, since Lúcio Vero II, along with Emperor Lúcio Vero and Lucília’s other children, died at a young age. About that, Gladiator IILucilla sends Lucius away from Rome after Maximus’ death for his protection. She fears that Lucius’ royal lineage will prevent him from being safe. After Numidia is conquered by the Romans 16 years later and Lucius’ wife Arishat (Yuval Gonen) is killed, Lucius is brought back to Rome as a slave who becomes a gladiator. The Roman public knows him by the name “Hanno”.
Despite the odds stacked against Lucius, he manages to survive the bloody events of the sequel. With Emperor Geta (Joseph Quinn), Emperor Caracalla (Fred Hechinger), Macrinus (Denzel Washington), General Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal) and Lucilla dead, Lucius is now ready to lead Rome. He unites all factions at the end of the film and is respected for his lineage and his actions. If a third Gladiator film happens, it will likely see Lucius as the new leader of Rome, living a reality that Lucius Verus II never experienced due to his premature death.
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Lucilla
Played by Connie Nielsen
Like the fictional character, the real Lucilla was the daughter of Marcus Aurelius and a powerful figure in Roman politics. She was also the sister of Commodus, played by Joaquin Phoenix in the original. Gladiator. The real Lucilla became more powerful than her fictional counterpart through her marriage to Emperor Lucius Verus, who made her Roman empress. She also lost more power than the fictional Lucilla, who remains a key political figure in both Gladiator and Gladiator II.
In Gladiator IILucilla is married to General Acacius, is still a respected authority figure, and is part of a conspiracy to dethrone Emperor Geta and Emperor Caracalla.
After the death of Emperor Lucius Verus, Lucilla lost her status as empress and had to become a private citizen. She was involved in a failed plot to assassinate Commodus and was later exiled, hunted, and killed by Commodus’ minions. In Gladiator IILucilla is married to General Acacius, is still a respected authority figure, and is part of a conspiracy to dethrone Emperor Geta and Emperor Caracalla. She is killed in the Colosseum when Macrinus shoots an arrow into her chest.
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Emperor Geta
Played by Joseph Quinn
Emperor Geta and Emperor Caracalla ruled Rome together for a time in real and real life. Gladiator II. According to Biography, the real Geta did not always rule alongside his brother. The real Geta only became co-emperor after his and Caracalla’s father, Septimius Severus, passed away. Gladiator II is set 16 years after the original film, and while it’s never been confirmed exactly how long Geta and Caracalla have been in power, there are plenty of clues that they’ve been ruling together for some time.
The real Geta and Caracalla did not rule together for long, as Caracalla ordered Geta’s death to occur a relatively short period of time after his father’s death. Although the brothers’ joint rule was apparently more extensive in Gladiator IItheir relationship ends in a similar way, when Macrinus manipulates Caracalla into turning against Geta and killing him. Another important difference is that the real Geta and Caracalla were not twins, while their fictional counterparts are twins in Gladiator II.
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Emperor Caracalla
Played by Fred Hechinger
The real Caracalla was named co-emperor by his father, Septimius Severus. They ruled together for over a decade before Severus passed away. This is very different from the Caracalla of Gladiator IIwho largely follows Geta’s example until Macrinus makes Caracalla believe he is being manipulated by his brother. From the experience that the real Caracalla had, he remembered more Gladiator II‘s Geta, who had more control in shaping Rome as he saw fit.
The sequel also sees Caracalla as an unstable individual divorced from reality, including his decision to appoint his pet monkey, Dundus, as his first advisor after Geta’s death. Unlike the real Caracalla, this behavior is more in line with that of Emperor Caligula, who, according to HistoryIt is believed that he gave a home to his beloved horse, Incitatus, and fed him oats mixed with gold flakes. Some historians believe that this behavior was a way for Emperor Caligula to humiliate his opponents, which differs from Caracalla’s reasoning for giving his pet monkey a position of power.
In addition to elevating Dundus to first lawyer after Geta’s death, Caracella appoints Macrinus as his second lawyer. Macrinus continues to manipulate Caracalla, until he stabs him in the ear and kills him when Lucius and the other gladiators revolt in the Colosseum. The real Caracalla was murdered and succeeded by Macrinusalthough there are significant differences between the historical Macrinus and the fictional version played by Washington.
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Macrino
Played by Denzel Washington
According to Smithsonianthe real Macrinus was a lawyer and bureaucrat who took control of the Praetorian Guard. With the support and loyalty of the Praetorian Guard, Macrinus managed to become emperor of Rome, although he was the first individual to hold this position without belonging to the senatorial class. Unlike his predecessor, the cruel and militaristic Caracalla, Macrinus relied more on diplomacy. Macrinus ended up losing control over the Roman army by reducing the salaries of new recruits. He was later captured and murdered, and his head was sent to his successor, Elagabalus.
Gladiator IIMacrinus’s is inspired by Emperor Macrinus, but is less of a direct adaptation than Lucilla, Emperor Geta or Emperor Caracalla. Washington Wild Gladiator II the performance portrays Macrinus as a charismatic and ambitious figure in the world of Roman politics. He was once a slave and a gladiator. After gaining freedom, he became an arms dealer and gladiator owner. He worked hard to ingratiate himself with Rome’s politics and the upper echelons of the empire’s social hierarchy. This includes becoming a trusted friend and advisor to Emperor Geta and Emperor Caracalla.
Macrinus’ ambitions are finally challenged by Lucius, who cuts off Macrinus’ hand and kills him.
Macrinus plays the long game, as he believes he is destined to lead Rome. Making Lucius his prize gladiator and manipulating Emperor Geta and Emperor Caracalla works well for Macrinus and almost gives him his wish. Similar to the real Macrinus, he gains the loyalty of the Praetorian Guard and their leader, Tegula (Rory McCann). However, Macrinus’ ambitions are ultimately challenged by Lucius, who cuts off Macrinus’ hand and kills him. If the fictional Macrinus had become emperor of Rome, it is highly unlikely that he would have shared the real Macrinus’ penchant for diplomacy.
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Senator Gracchus
Played by Derek Jacobi
Although his role is not as prominent as most of the sequel’s other characters based on real individuals, Derek Jacobi returns to play Senator Gracchus. Jacobi and Nielsen are the only members of the original group Gladiator cast who reprise their roles in the sequel. In the previous film, Senator Gracchus was loyal to Marcus Aurelius and worked with Lucilla and Maximus to undermine Commodus. Gracchus was arrested and removed from his senatorial position. However, during GladiatorAt the end of, one of Maximus’ last wishes is that Gracchus be reinstated as senator, as he knows that Gracchus will honor Marcus Aurelius’ dream.
16 years later, Gracchus’ loyalty remains consistent, which is why he works with Lucilla and General Acacius to overthrow Emperor Geta and Emperor Caracalla.. Unfortunately, Gracchus is killed during the chaos that erupts in the Colosseum during Gladiator IIis ending, and he doesn’t live to see Lucius restoring hope to his grandfather’s dream. Senator Gracchus was probably inspired by Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus, who, according to Britishserved on the stand. They sought an agrarian reform that would redistribute land to the poor, which is consistent with Senator Gracchus’ fight for a more just and egalitarian Rome in the country. Gladiator II.
Sources: Biography, History, Smithsonian, British