As if his work on “Alien: Romulus” hadn’t already stunned the world, Ridley Scott is now set to revive one of his most beloved franchises with “Gladiator II,” slated to continue the Russell Crowe epic on November 22.
The sequel takes place two decades after the original film and follows Lucius, portrayed by Paul Mescal. He lives a peaceful life with his wife and son in Numidia until Roman soldiers invade and enslave him. Inspired by Crowe’s character Maximus, the prisoner resolves to fight for his freedom as a gladiator.
With Joaquin Phoenix’s memorable portrayal of the villainous Commodus in the original, there is great anticipation to see how Joseph Quinn will step into the role of Emperor Geta. Here’s what the star has shared about his preparation for the character.
Joseph Quinn reflects on the influences behind his Emperor Geta
While Joaquin Phoenix’s career is now filled with awards, nominations, and critical acclaim, many first recognized him as an A-list actor through his iconic portrayal of the antagonist in “Gladiator,” one of the most memorable roles of the 2000s and beyond.
In crafting his portrayal of Emperor Geta, Joseph Quinn has worked diligently to meet the high expectations set by Phoenix’s performance. Did Quinn study Phoenix’s role? Was he overwhelmed by Phoenix’s achievement? His response might surprise many.
In an interview with Variety, Quinn revealed that while he certainly considered Joaquin’s portrayal of Commodus, he chose to draw inspiration from other sources to avoid merely replicating his performance.
Unexpectedly, Quinn looked to Philip Seymour Hoffman’s role as Owen Davian in “Mission: Impossible III” and Gary Oldman’s portrayal of Zorg in “The Fifth Element.” Quinn explained that Oldman’s character was particularly influential due to his “relish for being horrible.”
Both Hoffman’s Davian and Oldman’s Zorg exemplify the archetype of corrupt individuals with utter disregard for human life, which Quinn aims to capture in his own depiction of the villain in “Gladiator II”.
However, he won’t be playing the bad guy alone, as it was revealed some time ago that Fred Hechinger will join him as a co-antagonist, portraying Geta’s brother, Emperor Caracalla. Ridley Scott has described their relationship as akin to Romulus and Remus, suggesting that their dynamic will be both intense and complex.
