The article « Gladiator 2: a quick tour of its historical accuracy with Eric Teyssier, a specialist in gladiators » from Sciences et Avenir discusses the historical accuracy of the upcoming film « Gladiator 2. » According to Eric Teyssier, a historian specializing in gladiators, the film is likely to take some liberties with historical facts for the sake of storytelling.
One of the main points of the article is that gladiators were not the « superheroes » they are often portrayed as in modern media. Instead, they were often slaves or criminals who fought to the death for the entertainment of the crowds. The weapons and armor used by gladiators were also heavily regulated and standardized, so it is unlikely that a gladiator would have been able to use the wide variety of weapons and armor seen in « Gladiator » and its sequel.
Teyssier also notes that the gladiatorial games were not always held in large, elaborate amphitheaters like the Colosseum. Instead, they were often held in smaller, more makeshift arenas.
Overall, while « Gladiator 2 » may be an entertaining film, viewers should not expect it to be a completely accurate representation of the historical reality of gladiators.