‘Gladiator 2’ Director Explains Why the Twin Emperors Are “So F**King Crazy”

It’s no secret that the emperors in Ridley Scott’s epic Gladiator series are off their chariots, to say the least. Joaquin Phoenix’s emperor in the first Gladiator was absolutely mad, and in Gladiator II, twins Geta and Caracalla are equally unhinged. According to Scott, though, that’s not just a plot device to serve the story; instead, he says there’s a very real historical reason that those in power are what he calls so “f**king crazy.”

Set to open nationwide tomorrow, Nov. 22, Geta and Caracalla are portrayed in Gladiator II by Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger, respectively. Based on actual emperors, the two have been described by Scott as “damaged goods from birth,” but their lineage isn’t the reason they’re so nuts. The truth, Scott revealed in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, is lead pipes.

“People forget that all the wealthy, high-end senatorial Roman aristocracy would live on water, which was piped through lead pipes and lead tanks. People don’t think about that. Your choice is water or wine. When you drink water, it’s through a lead system that by then could be 200 years old by then. No wonder they’re f**king crazy. They’re all going halfway to Alzheimer’s.”

In Gladiator II, Caracalla’s madness is attributed to cognitive erosion in his brain, which makes him lash out seemingly without reason, and as such, he’s far from the poised and proper leader one would expect in such a position. When it comes to Geta, he’s equally animalistic, and together the two are a pair of loose canons that can fire off at any moment, which makes them so dangerous as two of the film’s antagonists.

Ridley Scott’s Answer Is Rooted In Historical Fact

Though one might be left scratching their head wondering how lead pipes could drive someone mad, Scott’s answer is rooted in historical fact. There’s a reason they were banned from being installed in U.S. homes back in 1986, because in truth, lead can cause a number of health problems. In addition to damaging the brain, it can also cause kidney issues, damage soft tissue and other organs, and throw your red blood cell count all out of whack. In addition to physical ailments, it can also aid in depression, irritability, and make it difficult for your brain to focus.

Now, imagine you’re a Roman Emperor that has been consuming water delivered through lead pipes since you were a baby. According to recents tests (via Science.org), “tap water from ancient Rome likely contained up to 100 times more lead than local spring water.” That amount at such a young age can do major damage to your brain, and stunt your intellectual growth. Like Scott said, “No wonder they’re f**king crazy.”

So, while Gladiator II might have some historical inaccuracies, it’s clear that when it comes to Geta and Caracalla, Scott has his facts straight. You can see for yourself what other details he manages to nail when the long-awaited sequel hits theaters on Nov. 22 from Paramount Pictures.