The Conquest of Caesar (film)

The Conquest of Caesar is a historical action film based on the conquests of Julius Caesar before he became the dictator of Rome. It is the sequel to The Rise of Caesar and is set in the Ancient Rome Cinematic Universe (ARCU). It takes place between 53 and 48 BC.

The film stars Tye Sheridan, Logan Lerman, Ashton Moio, Linda Cardellini, Ben Barnes, Greg Vaughan, Orlando Bloom, and Billy Zane. Like the rest of the ARCU, the film is mostly historically accurate, with some minor adjustments in order to make it cinematic.

Plot
The film begins as a meeting between the First Triumvirate - Julius Caesar (Tye Sheridan), Pompey (Logan Lerman), and Marcus Crassus (Tommy Flanagan). It is evident that Pompey and Caesar are at odds on a lot of things, but the alliance is kept in tack by Crassus, and the marriage between Caesar's daughter, Julia, and Pompey. Caesar goes off to fight the Gauls, while Crassus goes off to fight the Parthian Empire. If both return victorious, the Roman Empire will be stronger than ever. Pompey stays in Rome to govern.

The optimates, led by Cato the Younger (Billy Zane), are completely opposed to the triumvirate, especially Caesar and his populist agenda. They attempt to swoon and corrupt Pompey to their side by offering him sole consulship (almost dictatorship) of Rome. Pompey, who is technically a populist, has been at odds with Caesar, but did not defect to the optimates due to his marriage to Julia and alliance with Crassus.

Caesar begins his Gallic campaign, joined by his second-in-command, Titus Labienus (Ashton Moio). Also on the campaign are Mark Antony (Orlando Bloom), Quintus Cicero (Robert Adamson), Servius Galba (Lee Boardman), and Decimus Brutus (Ben Barnes). Calpurnia (Linda Cardellini) is the wife of Caesar and is worried.

Julia passes away in childbirth, which hurts the relationship between Caesar and Pompey. Caesar, meanwhile is successful on his campaign in Gaul, and even goes to Britain. He then faces stiff competition from the legendary Gaul commander, Vercingetorix (Dolph Lundgren). Labienus becomes frustrated with Caesar's command.

Crassus, meanwhile, is killed in Parthia. This is the final nail in the coffin for the alliance. Pompey starts to listen to the optimates and is now convinced that he should join them for the health of the republic. The tyrannical Caesar must be stopped, he believes. The optimates take control of Rome. The articulate Marcus Cicero (Greg Vaughan) sees endless wars coming.

After a fierce battle, Caesar defeats Vercingetorix, and offers pacification for the Gauls under Roman control. Shortly after, Pompey strips Caesar of his titles and accuses him of insubordination and treason, demanding he disband his army. Labienus sees this as the opportune time to defect from the Caesar camp, and joins Pompey. The rest of Caesar's army is incredibly loyal, however.

Caesar refuses the demands and approaches the Rubicon river in an intense standout between him and Pompey. In an extraordinary move (considering he was outnumbered), Caesar and his legions cross the Rubicon and have a climactic battle. Caesar wins mostly due to his impressive commandeering. Pompey flees, while Labienus is killed in battle. Caesar is appointed dictator and is celebrated in Rome.

In the mid-credits scene, Caesar learns that Pompey fled to Egypt and decides to go there.

Cast

 * Tye Sheridan as Julius Caesar
 * Logan Lerman as Pompey the Great
 * Ashton Moio as Titus Labienus
 * Billy Zane as Cato the Younger
 * Dolph Lundgren as Vercingetorix
 * Orlando Bloom as Mark Antony
 * Linda Cardellini as Calpurnia
 * Greg Vaughan as Marcus Cicero
 * Tommy Flanagan as Marcus Crassus
 * Ben Barnes as Decimus Brutus
 * Lee Boardman as Servius Galba
 * Robert Adamson as Quintus Cicero

Sequel
The third and final film in the Julius Caesar trilogy is titled The Reign of Caesar.