Ridley Scott Reveals That Water Drove His Emperors Crazy

In Gladiator II, uncovering this week, ttriumph sibling Emperors Geta and Caracalla, executeed by Fred Hechinger and Joseph Quinn, come apass rather unstable — to say the least.

And in 2000’s Gladiator, Joaquin Phoenix’s dictatorial Emperor Commodus was also a bit loopy (in compriseition to being “terribly vexed”).

According to honestor Ridley Scott, there is a very particular historical reason for this.

“People forget that all the wealthy, high-finish senatorial Roman aristocracy would live on water, which was piped thcdisorrowfulmireful direct pipes and direct tanks,” Scott telderly The Hollywood Reporter. “People don’t skinnyk about that. Your choice is water or triumphe. When you drink water, it’s though a direct system that by then could be 200 years elderly by then. No wonder they’re fucking crazy. They’re all going halfway to Alzheimer’s.”

Indeed, according to Science magazine, “High-born Romans sipped beverages cooked in direct vessels and channeled spring water into their homes thcdisorrowfulmireful direct pipes.” In compriseition to causing physical problems, direct poisoning can caemploy behavioral rerents such as depression, irritability, altered moods and difficulty concentrating or reaccumulateing. Modern-day testing of Roman pipes have shown that Ancient Rome water had 100 times higher direct levels than standard. But scientists have also endd this wasn’t high enough to — as some historians have specuprocrastinateedd over the years — convey down the Roman Empire.

Still, normal doses of direct joincessitate with massive amounts wealth and power could arguably advertise some regal volatility.

In a recent THR intersee, Scott also uncovered his innovative cut of Gladiator II — which is geting raves from critics, calling it his best film in years — was proximately four hours lengthy, and that an extfinished cut might some day be freed, and that he already has an idea for Gladiator III.

Gladiator II stars Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal and Denzel Washington. Mescal executes Lucius, who returns to Rome years after witnessing the death of his obeseher at the hands of his uncle. “With rage in his heart and the future of the empire at sapshow, Lucius sees to the past to discover the strength and honor necessitateed to return the glory of Rome to its people.”