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Ridley Scott Explains Why His ‘Gladiator’ Emperors Are Nuts: “No Wonder…”

The Hollywood Reporter
film
interview
los angeles
production
hbo
Story by James Hibberd
from The Hollywood Reporter
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Ridley Scott dishes on the true reason behind the Gladiator emperors' madness: lead poisoning from ancient Rome's water system.
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  • 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.
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Ridley Scott, Joaquin Phoenix, Fred Hechinger, Joseph Quinn, Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, The Hollywood Reporter, Science, Gladiator II, Gladiator, Gladiator III
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