Ridley Scott returned to Ancient Rome with the long-awaited sequelGladiator II, a bigger and splashier sequel whose excesses include double the number of volatile emperors. Joaquin Phoenix played the tortured, crazed Emperor Commodus in 2000’sGladiator, but, twenty-four years later, Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger took his place to portray twin emperors Geta and Caracalla inGladiator II. In addition to Quinn and Hechinger, thecast ofGladiator IIincludes Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Lior Raz, Derek Jacobi, and Connie Nielsen reprising her original role as Lucilla.
While a lot of villains in major blockbusters tend to be a little erratic, Ridley Scott actually explained the scientific reason why the emperors in hisGladiatormovies are all unpredictable. Speaking withThe Hollywood Reporter,Scott explained that members of the Roman aristocracy all drank their water from lead pipes. Unbeknownst to them,they would actually get lead poisoning that would alter their physical and mental states. He reflected that it’s “no wonder they’re f–king crazy.” Read Scott’s full quote below:
People forget that all the wealthy, high-end senatorial Roman aristocracy would live on water which was piped through lead pipes and lead tanks. People don’t think about that. Your choice is water or wine. When you drink water, it’s though a lead system that by then could be 200 years old. No wonder they’re f–king crazy. They’re all going halfway to Alzheimer’s.
Emperors Geta & Caracalla Are Both Volatile In Gladiator 2
Geta & Caracalla Are Inspired By Two Real-Life Roman Emperors
Lead poisoning can lead to physical problems, in addition to behavioral issues, such as depression, irritability, and difficulty concentrating and remembering. Therefore, while some viewers may have assumed that Scott portrays Emperors Geta and Caracalla as erratic inGladiator IIto make them more unpredictable villains, he actually justified why they act the way they do. Scott’s knowledge of how much lead Roman emperors were ingesting goes back 24 years since he also portrayedGladiator’s Emperor Commodusas unhinged in the original film, which was inspired by the thoroughly researched Daniel P. Mannix bookThose About to Die.
Geta and Caracalla rule Rome together inGladiator II,but Geta is clearly the smarter one of the two.
InGladiator II, Scott amplified the stakes by including two unpredictable emperors.Geta and Caracalla rule Rometogether in the sequel, but Geta is clearly the smarter one of the two. InGladiator II,Caracalla actually struggles with declining cognitive facilities, which, due to Scott’s recent comments, is likely a result of lead poisoning. Despite their struggles, both Geta and Caracalla, who are based on the real-life co-rulers of the same name who were simultaneously held power between 209 and 211 AD, have ambitions to expand the Roman Empire inGladiator II.
Geta and Caracalla Rank Among Ridley Scott’s Best Villains
The Director’s Instincts Make Them Sharp Characters
The director’s sensitivity toward the reason for the twin emperors’ behavior speaks to his history of onscreen villains.Many of his movies do not have a clear villain, instead centering on antihero characters who have more complicated approaches to morality, with a recent standout being the self-serving and chameleonic Patrizia Reggiani (Lady Gaga) in2021’sHouse of Gucci. Many of his movies also feature characters facing off against monstrous creatures or environmental factors such as the Xenomorph in 1979’sAlienand the dangers of an unknown terrain in 2015’sThe Martian.
The Martianstarred Matt Damon as an astronaut who finds himself stranded on the surface of Mars.
By combining this instinct for round characters with two figures who are demonstrably dangerous and cruel,the twin emperors have been launched high up the ranks of the best villainsinRidley Scott movies. When the director does helm movies with clear villains, they tend to be colorful and unpredictable, as is the case withBlade Runner’s Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer) andHannibal’s Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins, reprising his role from 1991’sThe Silence of the Lambs), and Geta and Caracalla can stand tall among that robust roster.
Scott Really Does Know His History
Based on the amount of historical movies he has made throughout his career, includingNapoleon,Kingdom of Heaven, and1492: Conquest of Paradise,Ridley Scott is clearly fascinated with history. Other directors may have never been aware of the effects that drinking water through lead pipes had on the bodies and minds of Roman emperors, but Scott has proven that he’s fascinated with such historical details. While some historians have challenged Scott about certain aspects ofGladiator II, it cannot be doubted that the director is truly passionate about exploring ancient Rome in a fictional context.
For those still on the fence about seeing the new Ridley Scott moviein theaters, readScreen Rant’s glowingGladiator IIreview, which breaks down everything the celebrated director is bringing to the table in the sequel.
Before seeing the new installment,readers can also refresh on the original 2000 moviewith thisGladiatorending explainer.
Gladiator IImay leave fans wanting more, in which case they should exploreScreen Rant’s ranking ofevery Paul Mescal moviefor more recommendations.
For more background on Geta, Caracalla, the characters in their orbit, and theentire setting and narrative of the new Ridley Scott historical epic, read more about theGladiator IItrue storyhere.
Gladiator II
Cast
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.
