Nearly 24 years ago, Ridley Scott’s Gladiator captured the audience with epic storytelling, gripping performances by Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix, and stunning visuals that made the movie memorable for many of its viewers.
Earning critical praise and five Academy Awards, the film has become an iconic piece of cinema. Now, with the long-awaited Gladiator 2 set to continue the saga, here’s a look back at some of the essential elements of the original story to prepare you for the journey ahead.
The rise and fall of Maximus
Gladiator opens in 180 AD, by introducing Maximus Decimus Meridius, a devoted Roman general who has just led a victorious battle for Rome. Emperor Marcus Aurelius (played by Richard Harris) has confided in Maximus to succeed in his lifetime, hoping Maximus might help restore Rome to a republic.
However, Aurelius’s son, Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), in a bitter twist at not being chosen, quickly destroys this dream. Commodus murders his father, takes the throne, and sentences Maximus to death when he refuses to pledge loyalty.
To make matters worse, Commodus puts his wife and son of Maximus to death, ending the life of the general completely. This leaves Maximus broken and enslaved and throws him into the harsh world of gladiatorial combat.
Maximus’s journey from slave to champion
Maximus’s story of endurance and revenge fuels the very core of Gladiator. He is trained by the hard-to-the-bone gladiatorial coach Proximo (Oliver Reed) as he withstands the bitter pains of slavery and steps up gradually as an unholy force. Maximus emerges overnight as a sensation in the Colosseum, publicized by the crowds and sparking a glimmer of uprising in the common people, though Commodus has yet to be made aware of Maximus’s identity.
In the arena, Maximus finally emerges, and Commodus is furious but realizes that with the popularity of Maximus with the public, he will be hard to get rid of. The film narrates the rising aspect of Maximus as a gladiator but as an icon defying tyranny and thereby challenging the regime of Commodus.
The Final Duel and Maximus’s Legacy
The final climax of the film unfolds as a final combat between Maximus and Commodus at the Colosseum. In an attempt to weaken him, Commodus stabs Maximus even before setting him up in the face of battle. Overpowered by his injuries, Maximus kills Commodus in front of all people watching. But in the process, Maximus dies a few moments after his victory, hoping that Rome will once again be able to rediscover its former ideals.
He wants to return to his family in the afterlife, but his legacy continues as a hero who inspired the people of Rome.
Gladiator 2: Picking Up the Pieces
Sixteen years have passed since Maximus’s selfless act in Gladiator 2, and a new era is directed to the screen: the twin brothers Caracalla (Fred Hechinger) and Geta (Joseph Quinn), Commodus’s direct legacy. Corruption and violence cannot decrease in the Roman Empire over time, and neither has the republic envisioned by Maximus occurred sixteen years later. The center focuses on Lucius (Paul Mescal), the son of Lucilla, who is now discovered to be Maximus’s biological child.
His journey is to mirror Maximus’s ideals and vision for a better Rome. Lucilla returns, continuing her role as both mother and strong political figure, joined now by the advisor Gracchus in what promises to be a very compelling sequel to the saga.
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Why the Past Matters in the Present
Though Maximus’s story ended with him dying, Gladiator 2 tells how his ideals and sacrifice continue to influence the future of Rome. Though he was incredibly heroic, the reforms he hoped for had been very short-lived, for the Empire is still gripped by corruption and decay under Caracalla and Geta.
Continuing on from Maximus’s character in terms of legacy, the film intertwines with Lucius’s journey and the still-fragile hopes of Rome’s revival. Therefore, Gladiator is an epic story of revenge, justice, and sacrifice.
Maximus set out into the world; he merely left his mark on the hearts of his viewers. His journey shaped up the political scenario of his world to become a legacy sweeping into future times. The echoes of Maximus’s life and dreams, when resounding again through the tumultuous history of Rome, launches Gladiator 2.
