There are severalGladiatorandGladiator 2characterswho ascend to the role of Emperor.
However, these rulers don’t always last long either.
Aurelius is introduced as a wise and elderly statesman, who seeks to restore Rome to its former glory.
The film’s treatment of Marcus is reflective of the real-life Marcus Aurelius' standing in history.
Like the cinematic version of Commodus, the real-life version of the character was considered a despot.
However, it was not in the Colosseum itself.
Instead, he was murdered by Narcissus at the behest of the Senate.
By the time audiences are reintroduced to Rome, Geta and Caracalla have assumed control of the throne.
This is likely the power vacuum that prompted Lucila to hide her son from the rest of Rome.
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.
Both Pertinax and his successor Didius Julianus each briefly became Caeser before being assassinated.
The real-life version of Geta similarly ruled Rome alongside his older brother and was likewise assassinated.
During an interview withScreen Rant’s Joe Deckelmeier, Denzel Washington discussed his approach to Macrinus.
Macrinus doesn’t get to rule for long though, despite his otherwise successful manipulations of the Roman uppercrust.
Lucius was a major source of drama inGladiatordue to Commodus holding his life over Lucila.
The grown Lucius becomes the central character inGladiator 2, but his real life equivalent died in childhood.
Growing up in obscurity ultimately benefited Lucius.
Lucius endsGladiator 2as the new ruler of Rome.
This shares some common ground with the real-life Elagabalus, who replaced Macrinus.
