Warning: The following contains spoilers for Gladiator II24 years after the firstGladiatorfilm hit theaters, a follow-up movie,Gladiator II, finally hit the big screen. For some, it feels like this movie is treading similar waters. Inthe originalGladiator, Maximus loses his wife and child to the Roman Empire. Years later, his son, Lucius, loses his wife in battle against Rome. Both gladiators swear to avenge their wives, with Maximus targeting the emperor, while Luscius sets his sights on the general who ordered his wife’s death.
While this is a by-the-book revenge tale, it is a tried and true one for cinema. A partner’s death is an easy yet understandable motive for someone to have; however,Gladiator IIhas a more interesting revenge story to tell,one that connects better to the themes ofGladiator II.Denzel Washington’s Macrinusis not just the best character inGladiator II.His revenge plot ties perfectly into the themes of the sequel.
Macrinus' Revenge Story Is More Interesting Than Lucius' In Gladiator 2
Rome Created Its Biggest Threat With Denzel Washington’s Marcinus
Audiences have seen the dead wife and family story many times before.John Wick,Oldboy, and the originalGladiatorall give their leaves this same journey, even when it takes each respective lead down their own path. EvenGladiator IIgives its lead, Paul Mescal’s Lucius, this obstacle, as his wife dies in battle within the first ten minutes of the film. Because of this, it’s not a revolutionary revenge tale. In fact, it would take a lot to elevate this classic tale of revenge.
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While Lucius' storyline does not push boundaries, Denzel Washington’s Macrinus does. Macrinus is a slave turned gladiator turned political player turned the biggest threat to the unstable Roman Empire. ThroughoutGladiator IIMacrinus keeps his plansclose to his chest, but it’s clear he is a man who cannot be trusted, as well as a man with a dark backstory that has fueled his motivations for revenge against the Roman Empire.
Macrinus does not believe inGladiator II’sdream of Rome, and he has no desire to make a better Rome. Instead, he wants to destroy it. He is not motivated by a single person’s death. Instead, he is motivated by his rage against a system that stripped him of his humanity for pleasure and sport. Rome made Macrinus' life hell, and then it rewarded him as if that were enough. For that, this is a more personal attack, as well as one that speaks to generational issues, not just the problems of the current ruling emperors.
How Lucius' Revenge Story Mirrors Maximus' From The Original Gladiator
Lucius and Maximus Lost Their Wives To Rome
While Macrinus' story is new, Lucius' is familiar to long-time fans ofGladiator. Not only isMaximus Lucius' father, but Lucius also relives his father’s greatest tragedy. InGladiator, Maximus' wife and other son are killed by the emperor of Rome because Maximus posed a threat to his seat of power. Shortly after, Maximus is captured, enslaved, and turned into a gladiator. He uses this as his chance to get closer to the emperor and exact deadly revenge.
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Similarly, Lucius, who was sent away from Rome as a child and primarilycalled Hanno inGladiator II, finds love. However, the peaceful life he has with his wife, Arishat, comes to an end when Rome attacks their home, killing countless soldiers, including Arishat. Lucius, like his father, swears vengeance on the man he deems responsible for this, a Roman general. The only way he can get close to said general, though, is to compete in the games as a gladiator; although, it’s not like he has much choice about competing.
How Macrinus' Revenge Story Ties To Gladiator 2’s Themes
Marcrinus' Is Proof The Dream Of Rome Is Dead
Of the two revenge stories, Macrinus' ties to the themes ofGladiator IIare stronger. Yes, Lucius is literally tied to the Roman Empire as Lucille’s son and a legit heir to the throne. Yes, he is also Maximus' son, so he eventually wants to bring back the dream of Rome. However, for most of the movie, he is focused on his vengeance against the general, and it isn’t until his battle in the Colosseum with the general that Lucius shifts his sights to Rome itself, plotting to bring it back to the light.
Gladiator IIis also about how it is not just one individual at fault, it’s the whole system that is rotten.
Macrinus, on the other hand, had been invested in taking down Rome for years. While he keeps his cards close to his chest for most ofGladiator II, once his grand scheme is revealed, it makes perfect sense.Gladiator IIis also about how it is not just one individual at fault, it’s the whole system that is rotten.
Macrinus is not just a victim of this system, but he is also proof of how corrupt it is. He is a slave who became a slave owner, keeping this cycle alive. However, he is aware of this, and he uses this as one of his means to climb the social hierarchy just to bring it crashing down.
While Lucius' story eventually folds into the grander scheme of things and stops being a remake of the first, Macrinus' sets so much ofGladiator IIin motion. It also compliments the themes of the film more while also letting Denzel Washington deliver another memorable performance. Marcrinus' and Lucius' revenge stories are both important toGladiator II, and they both explore different philosophies, one more optimistic and one more nihilistic. However, it’s Marcrinus' story that’s the stronger of the two.
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.
