‘Gladiator II’ ending explained

This story contains massive spoilers for “Gladiator II”

Most of the cast “Gladiator II” is killed before the credits roll, but does Lucius (Paul Mescal) die in the arena like Maximus (Russell Crowe) did in the first film?

We break down all the big developments in the sequel, including who lives, who dies and the (apparent) fate of Rome.

Lucius’ true identity

The marketing of the sequel has already made it abundantly clear, but in the film we learn that Lucius – who has only vague memories of his parents and went by the name Hanno – is actually the son of Maximus and Lucilla (Connie Nielsen). It also makes him the grandson of Marcus Aurelius (played by Richard Harris in the first film) and the heir to the throne of Rome.

How Macrinus Seizes Power

Macrinus (Denzel Washington) shifts his power by exploiting Emperor Caracalla’s (Fred Hechinger) dislike of his brother Geta (Joseph Quinn). After helping Caracalla kill and behead Geta, Macrinus displays Geta’s head in the Senate the next day, cementing his position as the second most powerful person in Rome.

Next, he keeps his promise to deliver the head of General Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal) to Lucius: After Macrinus learns of Acacius and his wife Lucilla’s (Connie Nielsen) plan to overthrow the emperor, Acacius is arrested and forced to fight. Lucius in the arena as a horrified Lucilla looks on, powerless to save her husband or her son.

The arena match

Lucius is ready to kill Acacius as revenge for his wife who was killed during the Numidian battle against the Roman army, but between battles Acacius convinces Lucius that they are on the same side. When it comes time to deliver the death blow, Lucius refuses to kill him. Macrinus orders the Praetorian archers to fire and Acacius is mortally wounded.

In the ensuing confusion, Emperor Macrinus kills Caracalla and also Lucilla.

The final showdown

Lucius has sent word to Acacius’s troops, who are still loyal to the fallen general. They arrive on the outskirts of Rome as Macrinus prepares to lead his own army to victory. With both armies standing, Lucius and Macrinus fight to the death, with Lucius emerging victorious. Lucius is cheered by both armies. With his royal lineage now known to all, the soldiers are ready to follow Lucius, although it is not clear in what capacity he intends to lead Rome. We are left to assume that Lucius, like his father and grandfather, intends for Rome to become a republic no longer ruled by emperors but by its own citizens.

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