The drama in Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II, out Nov. 22, not only takes place in the Colosseum arena floor, but also in the stands, between the emperors Geta and his older brother, Caracalla, played by Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger, respectively. Geta and Caracalla were real emperors, and the movie takes place during their joint rule, from 209-211.

Geta and Caracalla are the twin Roman Emperors of Gladiator 2, and they take direct inspiration from a pair of real life figures from Ancient Rome.

Gladiator 2 takes place 16 years after the first movie’s events and depicts a Rome with not one but two emperors: twins Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger). They are cruel, incompetent,