Gladiator 2 takes place 16 years after the events of the first Oscar-winning film and is no less epic, this time following the story of Paul Mescal’s Lucius – who appeared as a boy in the original film, then played by Spencer Treat Clark.

The son of Connie Nielsen’s Lucilla, we first meet Lucius far from Rome, calling himself Hanno and living a much less luxurious life in the African kingdom of Numidia, where he has lived since being sent away by his mother to numerous times. years ago.

However, when his wife is killed and he is taken prisoner during the opening battle, it triggers a desire for revenge at all costs – and soon he is back in Rome looking to follow in Maximus’ footsteps.

Cue all manner of political grandstanding and epic fights – including battles with apes, rhinos and even sharks – as Lucius begins to rise through the ranks, ultimately leading to an explosive conclusion.

Have you seen the movie and need a recap of these events? Read on to explain the ending of Gladiator 2.

Gladiator 2 ending explained – Full spoilers for Ridley Scott sequel

Before we dive headfirst into the events of the very end of the film, let’s recap the important developments that happened on the way to the big finale.

When we first meet Lucius (Paul Mescal), he is among a number of troops defending a city in Numidia against an attack led by Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal), who has been sent by the young and reckless emperors Caracalla (Fred Hechinger). ) and Geta (Joseph Quinn) to capture the city as part of the ongoing Roman expansion effort.

During the battle, Lucius’ wife is killed and he is taken prisoner, creating in him a burning desire for revenge against Acacius.

Complicating matters is that Acacius himself is not particularly enthusiastic about the idea of ​​further Roman expansion and does not appreciate the demands of Caracalla and Geta, whom he sees as rulers irresponsible.

He prefers to see a return to the dream of Rome like that once proposed by Maximus and before that Marcus Aurelius, whose daughter Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) he is now in a relationship with.

Meanwhile, after his capture, Lucius is trained as a gladiator – and proves particularly vicious and barbaric when he bites a baboon in the middle of a fight.

This instantly endears him to the influential and scheming Macrinus (Denzel Washington), who buys him to join his stable of gladiators – with Lucius agreeing to fight for him on the condition that he can get the chance to kill Acacius.

This opportunity is coming sooner than expected. Increasingly at odds with the emperor’s demands for more violence and bloodshed, Acacius plotted a coup with Lucilla and other allies, and when Macrinus and the emperors caught wind of it, the first persuades the emperors to organize a duel at the Colosseum. Lucius against him (rather than killing him outright).

It’s important to note that prior to this, Lucilla had gone to visit Lucius – after recognizing him from watching a fight involving rhinos – and attempted to make amends with her long-lost son (while informing him of the identity of his father), but he has none of it.

Regardless, when it comes time for the duel, the two men fight for a while before Acacius drops his weapons and explains his love for Lucilla and his respect for Maximus.

Lucius appears conquered and refuses to kill him, much to the dismay of Caracalla and Geta, who demand that their former general be shot repeatedly with arrows by the guard, killing him.

This angers the crowd – who considered Acacius a great hero – and a rift develops between the emperors, which soon results in Caracalla killing Geta with the help of Macrinus, becoming the only emperor in the process..

In a move befitting his increasingly insane state, he then makes his pet monkey his first advisor, but appoints Macrinus as his next commander – giving him even more power and control.

Does Lucius become Emperor at the end of Gladiator 2?

Caracalla and Macrinus still plan to have Lucilla killed for her role in the planned coup, but the night before this is supposed to happen, she visits Lucius and gives him a ring that belonged to his father. Lucius then asks an ally to take the ring to Acacius’ old forces – who are still loyal to their former general – and ask them to come and help him.

Anyway, as for Lucilla’s execution, she is placed on a boat inside the Colosseum, with Lucius tasked by the Emperor to defend her against dozens of fighters – knowing that he has little chance of victory.

But as he’s proven time and time again, Lucius isn’t one to go down without a fight, and so he calls on the other gladiators to help him, leading to all the chaos that Caracalla appears to be in. become more and more depraved. .

Noticing how much of a loose cannon he has become, Macrinus kills the emperor before shooting a bow at Lucilla and fleeing – clearly realizing how angered Lucius has become by this.

Lucius pursues him and is joined by Acacius’ men, setting the stage for an all-powerful battle at the gates of Rome between them and Macrinus, who can count on the support of the Roman soldiers.

However, before all-out war can break out, Lucius and Macrinus face off in a duel – with the former eventually gaining the upper hand and hitting his opponent with a stone before killing him in a river.

Fresh from his victory, he gives a speech to the watching soldiers, promising to rebuild Rome in the image of his grandfather Marcus Aurelius and his father Maximus – presumably by returning control to the Senate – while honoring Acace and Lucille.

The film ends with him inside the Colosseum, taking some dirt from the ground and looking up to the sky to ask his father for advice.

SO, it seems like Lucius is basically the emperor nowsomething Ridley Scott alluded to could be the focus of his third film planned.

“The ending of Gladiator 2 is reminiscent of The Godfather, with Michael Corleone finding himself with a job he didn’t want and wondering, ‘Now, Father, what do I do?'” he said in the French daily life. First review in September.

“So the next (film) will be about a man who doesn’t want to be where he is.”

We can’t wait to see what happens…

Gladiator 2 is now showing in UK cinemas.

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