Gladiator II (2024)
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In the aftermath of the fall of the Roman Empire's previous era, a hidden heir must fight as a gladiator to navigate a corrupt political landscape.
The story
Sixteen years after the death of Marcus Aurelius, the Roman Empire is ruled by the twin emperors Caracalla and Geta. In the North African kingdom of Numidia, a man named Hanno is captured by the Roman army and sold into slavery. He is taken to Ostia and becomes a gladiator in the Colosseum. While fighting for his survival, Hanno is mentored by Macrinus, a former slave who seeks to overthrow the current emperors. Meanwhile, the Roman general Acacius, a war hero, finds himself caught in the political machinations of the capital as the emperors prepare for grand games to celebrate their rule.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Following the death of Marcus Aurelius, the Roman Empire is ruled by the volatile twin emperors Caracalla and Geta. Hanno, a man from Numidia, is enslaved and becomes a gladiator in the Colosseum. He is mentored by Macrinus, a former slave who plans to seize power. It is eventually revealed that Hanno is actually Lucius Verus, the son of Lucilla and the grandson of Marcus Aurelius. Lucius's mother, Lucilla, and the general Acacius, who are in a relationship, conspire to overthrow the twin emperors. During the games, Lucius's true identity is revealed to Lucilla. After a series of betrayals and deaths, including the death of Caracalla and the death of Lucilla at the hands of Macrinus, Lucius eventually confronts Macrinus in a final confrontation. Lucius defeats Macrinus and reveals his identity as the imperial heir to the gathered armies, ultimately uniting them for a stronger Rome. The film ends with Lucius mourning his parents in the Colosseum.
- First release year
- 2024
- Runtime (minutes)
- 148
- Production countries
- United Kingdom; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Ridley Scott
- Writers
- David Scarpa · screenplay; Peter Craig · story; David Scarpa · story
- Cast and characters
- Paul Mescal · Lucius Verus Aurelius / "Hanno"; Pedro Pascal · Acacius; Connie Nielsen · Lucilla; Denzel Washington · Macrinus; Joseph Quinn · Emperor Geta; Fred Hechinger · Emperor Caracalla
- Genres
- historical film; action drama
- Themes
- legacy; corruption; identity
- Tone and mood
- epic; violent
- Setting
- Ancient Rome and the North African kingdom of Numidia.
- Premise and plot tags
- sequel; historical; gladiatorial
- Franchise connections
- Gladiator
- Content notes
- violence
- Reception
- The film received generally positive reviews from critics, although it was considered inferior to its predecessor.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 64 · scale: 100 · review count: 62; CinemaScore · score: B · scale: A+ to F; PostTrak · score: 77% · scale: percentage
- Awards and nominations
- Golden Globe · Cinematic and Box Office Achievement · 82nd · nomination; Golden Globe · Best Supporting Actor · 82nd · nomination; Academy Award · Best Costume Design · 97th · nomination
- Production trivia
- The production received a record-breaking film incentive rebate from Malta.; The script was once developed under the working title 'Christ Killer'.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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