Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal and Denzel Washington star in this historical action sequel directed by Ridley Scott. When Roman soldiers invade his home in Numidia, Lucius (Mescal) is taken prisoner and forced to fight as a gladiator in Rome. Macrinus (Washington), an ambitious former slave, mentors Lucius, but he is not the only one with plans for the future of Rome. Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) and General Marcus Acacius (Pascal) also seek to end the rule of crazed co-emperors Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger) and soon Lucius is at the centre of a struggle to determine Rome's future.