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Ridley Scott Explains Why His ‘Gladiator’ Emperors Are Nuts: “No Wonder…”
The Hollywood ReporterStory by James Hibberd
scrn logline
Ridley Scott dishes on the true reason behind the Gladiator emperors' madness: lead poisoning from ancient Rome's water system.
beat sheet
- According to Scott, the wealthy Roman aristocracy's habit of drinking water piped through centuries-old lead systems could be to blame for the unstable behavior of characters like Commodus in Gladiator.
- Scott reveals his original cut of Gladiator II was nearly 4 hours long, and he's already planning a Gladiator III, indicating the franchise has more wild imperial antics in store for audiences.
call sheet
Ridley Scott, Joaquin Phoenix, Fred Hechinger, Joseph Quinn, Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, The Hollywood Reporter, Science, Gladiator II, Gladiator, Gladiator III