Pompey v. Spartacus (film)

Pompey v. Spartacus is a historical action film based on the Spartacus uprising in Ancient Rome. It is set in the Ancient Rome Cinematic Universe (ARCU). The film takes place between 78 and 71 BC. It is a prequel to the Caesar Trilogy, notably The Conquest of Caesar.

The film stars Logan Lerman, Keanu Reeves, Tommy Flanagan, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, and Peter Mensah. Like the rest of the ARCU, the film is mostly historically accurate, with some minor adjustments in order to make it cinematic.

Plot
Film begins showing Roman legions conquering Thracian lands, with Spartacus (Keanu Reeves) and his family getting separated and taken as prisoners/slaves by Claudius Glaber (Craig Parker). Spartacus becomes a gladiator. Meanwhile, Pompey (Logan Lerman) and the Optimates raise troops to defeat Marius (Ciaran Hinds) and install Sulla (Armand Assante) as dictator. For his bravery, Pompey is called The Great.

A few years later, a dying Sulla talks to Pompey and tells him to beware of uprisings and warns him against installing Marcus Lepidus (Sebastian Croft) as consul. Pompey argues with Sulla, who eventually excludes Pompey from his will.

Lepidus starts a rebellion against the Optimates and raises legions. Pompey fails to quench the legions, but is then assisted by Quintus Catulus (Andy Garcia). Lepidus escapes to Sardinia. During this chaos, Spartacus and many other slaves escape from gladiator owner Quintus Batiatus (John Hannah).

Rome becomes preoccupied with a few overseas battles and lacks legions on home soil. Spartacus uses this opportunity to gather slaves and peasants from across Italy to join his rebellion.

Pompey, upset over the humiliation against Lepidus, is sent to Hispania to fight in the Sertorian War against Marius' ally, Quintus Sertorius (Aiden Gillan). Spartacus' rebellion grows larger. Marcus Crassus (Tommy Flanagan), the richest man in Rome, volunteers to lead legions against Spartacus. Pompey sees the Spartacus rebellion as an opportunity to make up for his missteps against Lepidus and to prove to the ghost of Sulla that he could be a worthy dictator.

Crassus begins to gain the upperhand against Spartacus, however Cilician pirates then aid Spartacus. Pompey returns to Italy to assist in stopping the rebellion. Crassus is jealous and there is in-fighting on the Roman side. Spartacus is close to winning, however the Cilician pirates betray him and separates the Spartacan forces on purpose, and bring them right to Crassus' forces. Crassus paid off the pirates.

The Spartacan forces, however, are still able to escape the Crassus forces. Then, Pompey's forces comes in and fight the tired Spartacan forces. Spartacus fights Pompey one-on-one. Spartacus escapes and his forces surrender. Crassus and Pompey argue over who won the war.

Cast

 * Logan Lerman as Pompey the Great
 * Keanu Reeves as Spartacus
 * Tommy Flanagan as Marcus Crassus
 * Cynthia Addai-Robinson as Naevia
 * Peter Mensah as Doctore
 * John Hannah as Quintus Batianus
 * Sebastian Croft as Marcus Lepidus
 * Scott Adkins as Oenomaus
 * Andy Garcia as Quintus Catulus
 * Patrick Kilpatrick as Mersin, a Cilician pirate
 * Manu Bennett as Cirxus
 * Armand Assante as Lucius Sulla
 * Aiden Gillan as Quintus Sertorius
 * Dustin Clare as Gannicus
 * Craig Parker as Gaius Claudius Glaber
 * Ciaran Hinds as Gaius Marius
 * Antonio Tei Maioha as Barca
 * Greg Vaughan as Marcus Cicero