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“We didn’t want to… soil with some kind of poor rendition”: Not Joaquin Phoenix’s Nefarious Commodus, These Two Actors Inspired Joseph Quinn’s Gladiator 2 Performance

“We didn’t want to… soil with some kind of poor rendition”: Not Joaquin Phoenix’s Nefarious Commodus, These Two Actors Inspired Joseph Quinn’s Gladiator 2 Performance
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Joseph Quinn is a name that is on the lips of millions of cinema lovers. He has won everyone’s hearts with his work in Stranger Things, Dickensian, Howards End, and Make Up. He is also a part of upcoming movies like The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Avengers: Doomsday, and Gladiator II. 

Joseph Quinn as Koner in The Game of Thrones (Credits: HBO)
Joseph Quinn as Koner in Game of Thrones | Source: HBO

The Stranger Things actor certainly has great taste in actors, especially when he has to take inspiration from them. When it comes to learning from them, his choice is quite interesting and impressive. For his role in Gladiator II, Quinn has revealed the names of two actors who inspired him a lot. 

Joseph Quinn on the Actors That Inspired His Role in Gladiator II

Jospeh Quinn in Gladiator II
Joseph Quinn in Gladiator II | Source: Paramount Pictures

Recently, Joseph Quinn revealed the names of the actors who played a great role in inspiring him for his role. The upcoming epic historical action movie is directed and co-produced by Ridley Scott. Quinn was locked for the role of Emperor Geta and the actor took his inspiration from the best of actors before his role. 

Although Quinn initially mentioned that Phoenix’s Commodus in Gladiator is something that he has a lot of respect for, he didn’t credit him as his inspiration. Quinn told EMPIRE

For obvious reasons, Joaquin Phoenix’s performance was something that was in our minds. It was something we had a reverence for, but we didn’t want to…. soil with some kind of poor rendition.

Instead of Phoenix, Quinn revealed that Gary Oldman and Philip Seymour Hoffman as his sources of inspiration behind his role. He added that these two actors have a relish for being horrible that fascinates him to a great extent. 

Is Gladiator II a Worthy Successor of Ridley Scott’s Historical Epic Film That Was Released 24 Years Ago? 

russell crowe gladiator 1
Russell Crowe in a still from Gladiator | Source: Universal Pictures

Directed by Scott, the film also features stars like Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal. Although the movie was initially set to have a budget of $165 million, it ended up far exceeding the budget and is now reported to have a budget of $250-310 million (via Movie Web).

The movie is a highly anticipated release as it is the sequel to Gladiator. The Russell Crowe-starrer film was a successful project and fans as well as critics showered the movie with appreciation. Although the early buzz for its sequel is pretty strong, the fact can’t be avoided that the sequel resembles its predecessor a little too much.

However, it was a wise move by the filmmakers to not undo the poignant ending of Gladiator where Maximus dies and gets reunited with his family in the afterlife. Although the sequel seems to be a replica of the original movie, surprises might be just around the corner that could leave fans spellbound. 

Gladiator II is scheduled for release on November 22, 2024.

Frequently asked questions

Which actors inspired Joseph Quinn’s performance in Gladiator II?

Joseph Quinn revealed that Gary Oldman and Philip Seymour Hoffman inspired his performance in Gladiator II, saying the two actors share a relish for playing horrible characters that fascinates him. While Quinn acknowledged Joaquin Phoenix’s Commodus from the original Gladiator, he deliberately chose not to emulate it, explaining the team “didn’t want to soil with some kind of poor rendition.”

What character does Joseph Quinn play in Gladiator II?

Joseph Quinn plays Emperor Geta in Gladiator II, ruling Rome as co-emperor alongside his twin brother Caracalla (Fred Hechinger). The role places him among the antagonists in Ridley Scott’s epic historical action sequel, and Quinn drew on the menacing, villainous energy of Gary Oldman and Philip Seymour Hoffman to shape how he portrayed the emperor.

When was Gladiator II released and what was its budget?

Gladiator II was released on November 22, 2024 in the United States. The film was initially set with a budget of about $165 million but reportedly exceeded it, with a final budget reported at $250-310 million. It was directed by Ridley Scott, with a cast that also includes Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal.

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