Warning: There are spoilers ahead for Gladiator II.
Gladiator II is even bloodier than its predecessor, as almost all of the main characters die in the sequel. GladiatorThe ending of features the deaths of Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe) and Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), with Maximus’ death and his legacy continuing to loom over the events and characters of Gladiator II. The original Gladiator also includes the deaths of Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris), Antonius Proximus (Oliver Reed), Maximus’ wife (Giannina Facio), and Maximus’ son (Giorgio Cantarini).
Between General Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal) and his troops invading Numidia, the bloodshed during the gladiatorial games in the Colosseum, and the betrayal conducted by Macrinus (Denzel Washington), there is copious bloodshed throughout the story and during Gladiator IIis ending. Lucius Verus Aurelius (Paul Mescal) is one of the few prominent characters to survive the sequence. Although many characters die in Gladiator IIThis list only covers named characters who die.
9
Arisat
Played by Yuval Gonen
Just as Maximus’ wife and son were killed, Lucius’ quest for revenge is born out of the death of his wife, Arishat (Yuval Gonen). when General Acácio and his troops invade Numidia. When Numidia is under attack, Arishat fights alongside her husband and the other defenders, and uses bow and arrow to defend her home from invaders. During the battle, Arishat is killed when a Roman archer shoots an arrow into her chest. She falls into the water below, where a heartbroken Lucius cradles her.
Arishat is killed to help shape Lucius’ hatred of General Acacius and the Roman armies, along with his desire to destroy them. She serves the same purpose as Maximus’ wife, although given a bit more agency and characterization. Before they learn of the Romans’ impending invasion, there is a brief glimpse of the peaceful and loving life that Lucius and Arishat have built together, and she also takes an active role in the fight to defend Numidia.
8
Humpback
Played by Peter Mensah
Jubartha (Peter Mensah) is a Numidian chief who helps lead Lucius, Arishat, and the other defenders against the invading Romans. He has mentored Lucius for the past 16 years in Numidia. Lucius and Jubarta are among the survivors of the battle who are captured and sold into slavery. Jubarta makes peace with the fact that he is about to reach the end of his life and refuses to fight and become a gladiator for the amusement of the Romans.
When he is thrown into a pit with Lucius and several others, they encounter a horde of wild baboons. Humpback makes no effort to fight back as one of the baboons savagely attacks him. His death is another injustice that fuels Lúcio’s hatred and desire for revenge. Also severs Lucius’s last living connection with Numidiawhich is necessary since Lucius’ future lies in Rome and the restoration GladiatorThe dream of Rome that his grandfather, Marcus Aurelius, and his father, Maximus, died to protect.
7
General Marco Acácio
Played by Pedro Pascal
At Macrinus’ suggestion, General Acacius is sent to fight to the death in the Colosseum as punishment for plotting to overthrow Emperor Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Emperor Caracalla (Fred Hechinger). Acacius knows Lucius’ true identity, but out of love for Lucilla (Connie Nielsen), Acacius refuses to kill Lucius and throws his gun to the ground. Lúcio is ordered to execute Acácio, but he also discards his weapon in a show of solidarity and mercy.
Macrinus knows that Acacius was a hero worshiped by the Roman people and that they will lose faith in Emperor Geta and Emperor Caracalla after they send Acacius to their deaths.
Emperor Geta and Emperor Caracalla do not accept this surrender and order the Praetorian Guard to fire their arrows at Acácio. His death is part of Macrinus’ plan to destabilize the regime of Emperor Geta and Emperor Caracalla. Macrinus knows that Acacius was a hero worshiped by the Roman people and that they will lose faith in Emperor Geta and Emperor Caracalla after they send Acacius to their deaths. Acácio’s death also requires Lúcio to intervene and complete the plan that was already underway. distance Rome from despotic rulers and rekindle the dream of Marcus Aurelius.
6
Emperor Geta
Played by Joseph Quinn
As Macrinus gains more favor with Emperor Geta and Emperor Caracalla, he deviously turns the two brothers against each other. Ultimately, he plans to get rid of them both and take the throne for himself. Since Emperor Geta is more in control, Macrinus chooses to kill him first. Macrinus makes Emperor Caracalla believe that his brother is plotting against him and that this not only poses a threat to him but also to Emperor Caracalla’s pet monkey, Dondas.
Emperor Geta is killed by Macrinus, who cuts off the fallen leader’s head and later presents it to the Roman senators. With Geta’s removal, Macrinus is emperor in all but name. Emperor Caracalla is too unstable to rule, as evidenced when he appoints Dondas as his first consul. By naming Macrinus his second consul, Macrinus now has the power necessary to do whatever he wants, which includes being able to command the Praetorian Guard led by Tegula (Rory McCann).
5
Vigo
Played by Lior Raz
Viggo (Lior Raz) is a gladiator trainer who works for Macrinus. His training methods are brutal, including when he forces Lucius to row for hours and even when the skin on his hands becomes irritated. Ravi (Alexander Karim), doctor, former gladiator and friend of Lucius, hands over the keys to the gladiators’ cells. This allows Lucius and the other gladiators to break out of their cells and begin their revolt against the Roman system.
During this fight, Lucius kills Viggo by stabbing him in the throat with the tip of a wooden sword. Considering how Viggo has tried to push and hurt Lucius throughout the story, it was only a matter of time before Lucius killed him. Viggo is a byproduct of a corrupt institution led by individuals such as Macrinus, Emperor Geta, and Emperor Caracalla. To create a better system, they are not the only ones who need to be eliminated, with minions like Viggo also need to be defeated.
4
Senator Gracchus
Played by Derek Jacobi
Senator Gracchus (Derek Jacobi) and Lucilla are the only actors from the previous films who reprise their roles in Gladiator II. Gracchus is still loyal to Marcus Aureliusand is therefore loyal to Marcus Aurelius’ daughter, Lucilla. Despite his clandestine efforts with Lucilla and General Acacius to dethrone Emperor Geta and Emperor Caracalla, Gracchus does not live to see his rebellious and well-intentioned efforts come to fruition.
His death frees him from one of the last living ties with Marcus Aurelius and makes it even more necessary for Lucius to be the one who will make Rome’s dream come true..
Gracchus, along with Lucilla and other “treacherous” senators, are brought to the center of the Colosseum after the discovery of their betrayal. Unfortunately, Gracchus is killed during the ensuing bloodshed in the Colosseum. Gracchus is killed because of his lifelong support of Lucilla and Marcus Aurelius. His death frees him from one of the last living ties with Marcus Aurelius and makes it even more necessary for Lucius to be the one who will make Rome’s dream come true..
3
Emperor Caracalla
Played by Fred Hechinger
Although Emperor Caracalla’s manipulation was helpful in Macrinus’ rise to power, it becomes clear during the gladiatorial revolt that Macrinus no longer needs him. At this point, Emperor Caracalla is little more than a liability. The Praetorian Guard is already looking for orders from Macrinus, and he cannot afford Emperor Caracalla’s childish instability in a time of so much chaos. Macrinus assassinates Emperor Caracalla by stabbing him in the ear, officially ending the reign of the twin emperors.
Emperor Caracalla’s survival has nothing to do with being a superior ruler and only because Macrinus knew he would be easier to manipulate. As soon as Emperor Caracalla’s usefulness expired, Macrinus’s need to keep the emperor alive also expired. Emperor Carcalla and Emperor Geta are outraged by General Acacius, Lucilla and Senator Gracchus, but it is Macrinus, their trusted friend, who ultimately proves to be their undoing. With Emperor Caracalla out of the way, Macrinus is now able to fully assume the position of being Gladiator IImain villain.
2
Lucilla
Played by Connie Nielsen
Lucilla is not only taken to the center of the Colosseum, but also held captive on a stage for all to see as she is executed. His execution does not go according to plan when Lúcio and the other gladiators revolt. After killing Emperor Caracalla, Macrinus improvises by firing a bow at Lucilla’s chest before Lucius can free her.. Macrinus murdering Lucius’ mother is a point of no return and cements that there will be no justice unless Lucius kills him.
After Máximo’s death, it was largely up to Lucila to continue Marco Aurélio’s dream. With Lucilla gone, that responsibility now falls on Lucius’ shoulders, and he is able to rise to the occasion, bringing about a peaceful resolution between Rome’s factions. Lucius now lives to not only honor the memories of his wife, father, and grandfather, but also his mother. If Gladiator 3 happens, his legacy will loom over Lucius in the same way that Maximus’ legacy does in the sequel.
1
Macrino
Played by Denzel Washington
After Macrinus kills Lucilla, he flees the Colosseum and is pursued by Lucius. While the Praetorian Guard and General Acácio’s troops prepare to fight, Macrino and Lúcio decide the outcome of the conflict through their own duel. As a former gladiator whose fighting prowess earned him his freedom, Macrinus is not only a manipulative politician but also a skilled warrior. He also states that Lucius’s lineage does not matter and that ruling Rome can only be achieved through power.
The story of Lucius and the restoration of Rome would not be complete without the death of Macrinus.
Macrinus is proven wrong when Lucius bests him in combat. Lucius cuts off Macrinus’ hand and then kills him, while the bloodied Macrinus sinks into the depths of the river. The story of Lucius and the restoration of Rome would not be complete without the death of Macrinus. He is the final villain of the sequence, he is responsible for Lucilla’s death, and Rome would only fall into more tyranny if Macrinus became emperor. Like this Gladiator had to end with the death of Commodus, Gladiator II needed to end the death of Macrinus.