Do you need to know if Gladiator II has a post- or mid-credits scene? We’ll let you know proper right here: There aren’t any scenes after the credit.
Full spoilers observe for Gladiator II. If you haven’t seen the movie but, try our assessment first!
After virtually 25 years, director Ridley Scott returns to one in every of his most acclaimed movies with Gladiator II. The sequel to the 2000 Best Picture winner starring Russell Crowe as Maximus Decimus Meridius, this new movie as a substitute follows Paul Mescal as Lucius Verus (he was performed as a toddler by Spencer Treat Clark within the authentic), who’s all grown up and able to enter the world himself. It’s a sprawling saga of swords, sandals and schemes, and contains a wholesome serving to of gladiator motion.
So how does Gladiator II play out? Let’s gear up and get our Roman Empire on.
Call of the Colosseum
Gladiator II opens 16 years after the unique movie, and pulls one thing of a reset on the established order. It seems Maximus giving one motivational speech earlier than he died didn’t repair Rome perpetually, because the empire is now dominated by sibling emperors Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger), who haven’t precisely lived as much as the beliefs espoused by Maximus. If something, the brand new emperors are a pair of deranged brats who repeatedly ship their normal Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal) to beat lands that had been doing properly sufficient on their very own. Acacius’ newest marketing campaign is to Numidia in North Africa, the place he crosses paths with our protagonist, Lucius.
We be taught necessary new details about Lucius on this movie: Not solely is it confirmed that he’s Maximus’ organic son (this was hinted at within the authentic however not said outright), but in addition that his mom Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) spirited him away from Rome after Maximus’ demise out of concern of individuals studying his true id. Now a grown man married to fellow warrior Arishat (Yuval Gonen), Lucius does his finest to assist defend his adopted homeland of Numidia from the Roman invaders, however comes up brief. Arishat is killed, Numidia is conquered, and the survivors are taken as prisoners of battle earlier than finally falling into the fingers of arms supplier and gladiator coach Macrinus (Denzel Washington). Desiring revenge on Acacius for Arishat’s demise, Lucius makes a take care of Macrinus to be his champion within the enviornment as long as he finally will get a shot on the normal.
What makes all of this extra difficult is that we quickly be taught that Acacius isn’t all that dangerous of a man. It seems he’s now married to Lucilla (making Lucius his unknowing stepson), and is plotting to overthrow the emperors due to their bloodlust. Acacius shares the values of Maximus as laid down by the earlier emperor Marcus Aurelius, of a Rome the place energy rested with the folks represented by the Senate. But Acacius’ plan runs counter to the machinations of Macrinus, who’s secretly plotting to ascend to the throne by gaining favor with the emperors earlier than taking part in them towards one another.
We know that’s quite a lot of transferring elements to maintain observe of, however don’t fear, we’ll assist you type all of it out.
Gladiator II Ending Explained
After surviving a handful of battles within the Colosseum, Lucius lastly will get his probability to struggle Acacius after Macrinus reveals the overall’s plot to the emperors, main them to sentence Acacius to demise within the enviornment. Acacius pleads with Lucius in the course of the struggle, telling him that he beloved Maximus, and that he doesn’t need to pressure Lucilla to look at one in every of her family members kill the opposite. He lastly appears to get by to Lucius, who lays down his arms just for the emperors to order Acacius executed by their archers. Finally realizing that his revenge quest was for nothing, Lucius reconciles together with his mom simply in time for her to additionally face condemnation for her half in Acacius’ plot.
At the identical time, Macrinus makes his transfer by tricking Caracalla into attacking Geta, and helps him decapitate his brother. Appointed as second counsel by Caracalla (first counsel goes to his pet monkey Dundus, within the film’s funniest second), Macrinus is now extra highly effective than the Senate. We additionally lastly be taught Macrinus’ motivation, when he tells Lucilla that he was as soon as a gladiator slave for her father, Marcus Aurelius, and that he vowed to in the future get revenge by ruling the empire that when saved him in chains. Knowing that he’s outlived his usefulness to Macrinus, Lucius offers a hoop that had belonged to Acacius to Ravi (Alexander Karim), a former gladiator and now healer who’s been patching him up between enviornment bouts. He tells Ravi to take the ring to Acacius’ military, and say that it’s being despatched from “the prince of Rome.”
Caracalla and Macrinus order Lucilla and her conspirator senators to the world to be slaughtered by his Praetorian guards, with Lucius appearing as their sole defender in an apparent ploy to execute all their enemies in a single swoop. Instead, Lucius turns the tables by setting free all the opposite gladiators, who be part of him in battle towards the Emperor’s troops. Macrinus takes benefit of the commotion to kill Caracalla, earlier than firing an arrow at and killing Lucilla. Macrinus flees the world on horseback, with Lucius in sizzling pursuit. They’re then cornered on the metropolis’s edge by Acacius’ military, whereas the Emperor’s troops are available from the opposite path. With nowhere to go, Lucius and Macrinus struggle one on one, with Lucius rising victorious by slicing off Macrinus’ arm and leaving his physique within the river.
With all different contenders to the throne lifeless, Lucius makes a speech to each armies, saying that it’s lastly time for Rome to ascend to glory by following the beliefs of Maximus and permitting the folks to have energy. The film ends with Lucius mourning his family members within the empty Colosseum.
Does Gladiator II Set Up Gladiator 3?
Unlike its predecessor, Gladiator II ends with its hero nonetheless alive. Director Ridley Scott has already confirmed that he has concepts for a hypothetical Gladiator III, which might presumably proceed the adventures of Lucius Verus.
Scott mentioned the next to Variety in September: “The ending of Gladiator II is harking back to The Godfather, with Michael Corleone discovering himself with a job he didn’t need, and questioning, ‘Now, Father, what do I do?’ So the following [film] will probably be a few man who doesn’t need to be the place he’s.”
That mentioned, Gladiator II doesn’t depart many apparent threads for a sequel to drag on, with all of the villains killed and, regardless of what Scott mentioned above, Lucius’ journey seemingly completed.
Does Gladiator II Have a Post-Credits Scene?
As talked about earlier, there aren’t any post- or mid-credits scenes in Gladiator II.
But what did you consider Gladiator II? Were you glad with this sequel? Do you additionally need to see extra sharks within the subsequent film like I do? Let us know within the feedback!
Note: Gladiator II is out in worldwide markets now. It will open in US theaters on Nov. 22.
Carlos Morales writes novels, articles and Mass Effect essays. You can observe his fixations on Twitter.
