Is Denzel Washington'sGladiator IIVillain Based on a Real Roman Emperor? An Expert Weighs In (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Denzel Washington in “Gladiator II”.Photo:Aidan Monaghan/Paramount Pictures

Aidan Monaghan/Paramount Pictures

Gladiator IImight seem too wild to be believed — Colosseum rhinos and baboons and sharks, oh my! — but it’s based on real-life Roman history and people.

Just asJoaquin Phoenixplayed Commodus, an actual Roman emperor, in the 2000 hit starringRussell Crowe, the new characters Geta, Caracalla and Macrinus each did rule the empire.

Note:Gladiator IIspoilers follow.

(Left-right:) Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal and Connie Nielsen in ‘Gladiator II’.Aidan Monaghan/Paramount Pictures

Macrinus “was the first Emperor who did not come from the senatorial class,” instead serving under Caracalla as a Praetorian prefect dealing with Rome’s civic affairs, adds Bartsch.

However, despite eventually ruling, he was “also the first emperor who never, ever got to visit Rome. He was an absent Roman emperor.”

This contrasts with the events ofGladiator II, in which Scott and writers David Scarpa and Peter Craig keep Washington’s character almost entirely within the ancient city. From there, Macrinus maneuvers Mescal’s Lucius Verus (a fictional character, although that name is borrowed from the real-life Marcus Aurelius’ brother) to fight in the Colosseum while he jockeys for power behind the scenes.

“All you had to do was have an army and kill the previous emperor” in order to rule, explains Bartsch. “You would travel with your army around the Roman provinces continuing warfare, continuing to enlarge the boundaries of the emperor. But you didn’t have to come to Rome, and Macrinus didn’t.”

Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington in ‘Gladiator II’.Aidan Monaghan/Paramount Pictures

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Fred Hechinger and Joseph Quinn in ‘Gladiator II’.Paramount Pictures

Paramount Pictures

What about the movie depicting poor Caracalla as having syphilis? “Nope,” answers Bartsch. “If he were an advanced syphilitic, his nose tip would be black.”

Gladiator II, also starringPedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen and Derek Jacobi, is in theaters now.

source: people.com