Gladiator 2 has recently revealed the true nature of May Calamawy’s cut character, including how she linked to Denzel Washington’s Macrinus. The reviews for Gladiator 2 were mostly positive, yet some criticism was aimed at the film’s derivative nature in comparison to its predecessor. However, one aspect of the film that received little to no criticism was Gladiator 2‘s cast and their characters, with each performance being praised by audiences and critics alike.

Paul Mescal’s Lucius led Gladiator 2, with him and costar Denzel Washington being the standouts of a well-acted movie. That said, one aspect of Gladiator 2‘s cast that caused some disappointment only came after the film’s release. The theatrical version of the film revealed that May Calamawy’s Gladiator 2 role was cut, causing a spark of controversy concerning the reason why. Regardless of any reasoning, Calamawy was removed from Gladiator 2, with the film’s deleted scenes recently confirming exactly how she would have fit into the sprawling narrative.

May Calamawy’s Gladiator 2 Character Was “Sold” To Denzel Washington’s Macrinus

Calamawy Was Tied To Macrinus & Lucius In Gladiator 2

In one of the film’s deleted scenes, included as part of Gladiator 2‘s digital release, Calamawy’s character is shown visiting Lucius in his cell beneath the Colosseum. Calamawy reveals herself as Fortuna, while also providing some interesting information about her character, her family, and how they link to Washington’s Macrinus. Fortune reveals to Lucius that she was sold to Macrinus alongside her mother and that the two were under his command.

Given that the Gladiator franchise focuses so intently on slavery and how men and women can rise above their bonds, this makes a lot of sense. Macrinus is one of the more antagonistic figures of Gladiator 2, which stems from his own history as a slave, but also how he became a slaver himself. Calamawy’s Fortuna would have furthered this thematic element of Gladiator 2‘s story by being another slave under Macrinus’ control, while also having another important bearing on the film’s plot.

Why Macrinus Wanted Fortuna To Get Close To Lucius

In the deleted scene of Gladiator 2, it is revealed that Fortuna was another tool used by Macrinus to further his own political agenda, just as Lucius was. Fortuna reveals that she has been sent by Macrinus to seduce Lucius as a means of figuring out his true idenтιтy. For much of Gladiator 2‘s story, Macrinus knew Lucius only as Hanno and not the rightful prince of Rome. However, the film makes it clear that Macrinus suspects who Lucius truly is.

With that in mind, it makes sense that Macrinus would have attempted to gain more information about Lucius. This scene supports reports about Calamawy’s role from Dexerto, which claimed that Fortuna’s seduction of Lucius turns into an alliance and open rebellion against Macrinus. The deleted scene shows Fortuna as notably despondent, implying that she has no intention of helping Macrinus. While it would have been nice to see an actor as promising as Calamawy in this role, it would likely have bloated the film’s plot considerably, explaining why she did not appear in Gladiator 2 despite linking so heavily to Macrinus.