On Nov. 22, the highly anticipated sequel to Ridley Scott’s 2000 epic, Gladiator, will land in theaters across America. Nearly two and a half decades after the emotion, action-packed story won various Academy Awards and Golden Globes, some of the same characters are headed back into the Colosseums for more brutal bloodshed in a vastly different looking Rome. Gladiator starred Russell Crowe as General Maximus Deximus Meridius. Though he won’t be back (for potentially obvious reasons), some of those he met along his hero’s journey – such as his lover’s young son, Lucius (now a grown man played by Paul Mescal) help tell another story within the same cinematic universe. If you’re already looking at tickets for Gladiator II, but haven’t had time to catch up on the rollercoaster that plays out in the first movie, let this recap walk you through everything you need to know!
Russell Crowe’s Maximus Deximus Meridius Takes Us on a Hero’s Journey
The original Gladiator story begins in 180 AD, where Roman general Maximus Decimus Meridius plans to return home after beating the Germanic tribes in a battle with his army. Emperor Marcus Aurelius is impressed with Maximus’ work, offering him the opportunity to succeed him on the throne as a regent to restore the Roman Republic. According to the country’s leader, his son, Commodus, is unfit to rule, leading the latter to murder his father and proclaim himself new Emperor. Though he requests loyalty from Maximus, the general refuses to comply, resulting in a tragic fall from grace.
Before long, Maximus is arrested by Quintus and the Praetorian Guards, who tell the renowned warrior he and his family will die. Cunning as ever, Maximus kills his captors and heads home despite his injuries, only to find his wife and son have been executed. After burying them and paying his respects, the embattled general collapses from his injuries. Slave traders soon discover Maximus, selling him to renowned gladiator trainer Proximo, who enters his men in local tournaments. Thanks to his natural skill, Maximus quickly gains popularity and earns the nickname “the Spaniard,” even befriending an African gladiator named Juba along the way.
Back in Rome, Commodus plans 150 days of gladiatorial games to remember his father in hopes of winning over the Roman people. At this point in Gladiator, Proximo reveals to Maximus that he earned his freedom back from the late Emperor Marcus after proving himself in battle. The trainer encourages the lead character to “win the crowd” before bringing his crew for a face-off at the Colosseum. To conceal his identity, from Commodus, Maximus wears a masked helmet, debuting as a Carthaginian in a re-enactment of the Battle of Zama.
Even Tigers Aren’t Enough To Conquer This Roman Fighter
By leading his team to victory, Maximus wins the crowd’s affections early on, even getting a congratulations from Commodus and his nephew, Lucius (who Mescal will play in Gladiator II). While he desperately wants to seek revenge by attacking Commodus, the champion resists due to the young boy’s presence, likely still sensitive from having lost his own son. Eventually the Emperor demands Maximus remove his helmet, at which point the former general declares vengeance. Tensions rise higher than ever, but the crowd compels Commodus to let his father’s old friend live another day. Later on, Maximus receives a visit from his former lover, Lucila, who also happens to be Commodus’ sister; naturally, he distrusts her and refuses her help.
In his next Gladiator battle, Maximus faces off against undefeated gladiator Tigris of Gaul. Even when fighting literal tigers, the former manages to prevail. In the end, Commodus orders Maximus to kill his competitor, which he defies as the crowd yells out, “Maximus the Merciful.” This infuriates the Roman leader, who tries to provoke his champion by taunting him about his murdered family. Somehow, he resists the urge to attack the Emperor, who’s only growing more paranoid about his rocky leadership situation by the day.
‘Gladiator’ (2000) Ending Explained
To protect himself, Commodus insists that every senator be followed so he’s aware of any potential plots rising against him. While he wants to kill Maximus, the Emperor fears the former will become a martyr in the process. Speaking of Crowe’s character, upon reconnecting with his ex-orderly Cicero, he learns that many of his former supporters are still loyal to his cause. Now in a more trusting space, Maximus secretly meets with Lucilla and an influential senator, Gracchus, who agree to help him escape Rome and reach his supporters in Ostia. Their plan is to topple Commodus by force and restore power to the Roman Senate, though they run into trouble when Gracchus is arrested.
Still, Lucilla meets Maximus to help arrange his way out of the city, even sharing a romantic kiss with her ex. Things seem to be going well for them – until Lucius innocently makes a comment about the rumors, that is. Commodus is now more suspcious, threatening his sister and nephew before sending out crews to attack the gladiators’ barracks. To give Maximus the best shot at survival and creating positive change in Rome, Proximo and his men sacrifice themselves. Sadly, their hero is captured while meeting with Cicero, at which time the latter is killed.
As his head continues to spin, Commodus demands his sister Lucilla provide him an heir, also challenging Maximus to a Colosseum duel with the aim of winning back public approval. Ahead of their battle, the Emperor stabs his competitor to obtain an unfair advantage; this ultimately proves useless when Maximus still manages to disarm Commodus. Quintus and the Praetorians have clearly turned on their leader, refusing to help him as he unsheathes a hidden knife that Maximus uses to kill his enemy in a justice-filled twist.
Before Maximus himself dies, he pleads for political reform in Rome, the emancipation of gladiators everywhere and for Gracchus to be reinstated as a senator. In his final moments, the lead envisions reconnecting with his wife and son in the afterlife before friends and allies carry his body out of the arena. Later, his friend Juba revists the deadly Colosseum and buries figurines of his wife and son so they can be together again at last.
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