“He was a product of neglect”: Ridley Scott Announces the Real Villain of ‘Gladiator’, Vindicates Joaquin Phoenix’s Character Despite His Terrible Crimes

Ridley Scott directed Gladiator turned out to be one of the best historical epic movies that was released in 2000. From getting widespread critical acclaim to several Academy Awards, the movie surely did wonders in the filmmaking world. While talking about the movie in a recent interview, Scott vindicated Joaquin Phoenix’s Commodus, revealing the real villain of the movie. 

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Set in Rome, the movie revolves around Russell Crowe’s Maximus Decimus Meridius who is betrayed by the corrupt Emperor Commodus. As he escapes his execution, he becomes a gladiator to seek revenge against Commodus and the injustice committed against him. Given that Phoenix’s character is quite villainous throughout the movie which got him critical acclaim, the director feels otherwise.

Ridley Scott Reveals the True Villain in Gladiator

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While promoting his latest film, Napoleon which stars Joaquin Phoenix in the titular role, Ridley Scott commented on the actor’s portrayal in his 2000 movie, Gladiator. He told Deadline that Phoenix’s Commodus was not the true villain as he saw him “as the most sympathetic character of all, in Gladiator.” He revealed that the father of Commodus was the one who turned him into a corrupt and power-hungry individual.

He added, 

“He [Commodus] was a product of neglect, total neglect of a father that he adored. Then finally in the film, the father would say, I’m going to neglect you even further. You will not be the prince of Rome. And then the father realizes in his old age that he needs some form of absolute.”

He continued, 

“So he does something fatal. He kneels before the boy asking for forgiveness. That was fatal because the boy has never seen his father ask for that kind of close discussion. So he suffocates him.”

Hence, it was Richard Harris’ Marcus Aurelius whose decision led to a chain of events that created a major drift between Maximus and Commodus.

Ridley Scott’s Remarks on Joaquin Phoenix’s Character

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The director further mentioned that Aurelius’s neglecting his own son planted the seeds of seeking validation and other negative thoughts that led him to the wrong path. His character’s upbringing was the crucial factor in shaping the Commodus which is why Scott feels for him. 

“So from that moment on, I thought Joaquin was the most sympathetic person during the movie. What he did and what followed, what came out of it, the nature of it had been created by his father.”

In the same interview, he further added how the ancient times further impacted his personality.

“Commodus was the neglected son, the product of complete neglect. And then to be told, you can’t follow me, and here is who will take my place? That is more than a slap in the head. It’s terrible. And in those days, particularly when succession was so righteous and expected…”

Meanwhile, a sequel is in the works as he mentioned that it was filmed halfway for about 90 minutes. 

“We shot about 90 minutes, at least that’s finished. It’s really getting the sets cleaned up; they’re already built. I got another 90 minutes to go.”

It is set to release in the United States on November 22, 2024. Meanwhile, one can watch the Gladiator on Prime Video or Netflix.