Warning: Spoilers ahead! We’re revealing details about ‘Gladiator II’ (currently in theaters), so if you haven’t seen it yet, you may want to skip this.

Grab your old sandals and weapons; “Gladiator II” is here, and we’re diving back into the bloody glory of ancient Rome. (Rumor has it that “Gladiator III” might be in the works too.)

Brace yourself for intense battle scenes with gladiators pitted against rabid monkeys, gigantic rhinos, and even… sharks? Yes, it seems like sharks were swimming in the Colosseum!

Director Ridley Scott responds to the question of the film’s authenticity with, “the short answer is, were you there?”

The narrative kicks off 16 years after the tragic end of Russell Crowe’s beloved gladiator Maximus, who met his fate at the conclusion of the original “Gladiator” in 2000. This leaves behind his lover Lucilla (played again by Connie Nielsen) and their young son Lucius, now transformed into a muscular young man portrayed by Paul Mescal.

In a whirlwind of relentless combat (the Colosseum now looks more perilous than ever) and heinous treachery (thanks to Denzel Washington who plays the utterly treacherous Macrinus), “Gladiator II” portrays Lucius as a captive slave, where dominance in the arena is the sole path to freedom.

Here’s how “Gladiator II” blends historical facts with thrilling storytelling:

Did naval battles with sharks really take place in the Colosseum?

We can’t say for sure, but Scott believes that it could have been possible, especially since the Colosseum and other ancient Roman locations like today’s Piazza Navona were indeed flooded to allow for flat-bottomed boats and to reenact sea battles.

“Have you seen the Colosseum? Building something like that today would be a feat, let alone back then,” he notes. “If they managed to do that, then why not bring water in? And if you could do that, I wouldn’t be surprised if they got a shark in there too.”

Did gladiators really fight against wild monkeys and men riding rhinoceroses?

It’s established that the Colosseum staged lethal fights between gladiators. However, a different type of fighter, more akin to a hunter than a gladiator, was sometimes tasked in the arena with hunting various wild animals. This could include rhinos and monkeys, but lions are often the primary image associated with these brutal combats, frequently targeting unsuspecting Christians.

In “Gladiator II,” a scene depicts a fighter entering the Colosseum atop a massive rhino, which is improbable since these animals were mainly present for hunting purposes rather than rides.

Did emperors Caracalla and Geta truly exist? And did one assassinate the other?

Yes and no. In 211 A.D., around the same time “Gladiator II” is set, brothers Caracalla and Geta briefly reigned as shared emperors of Rome, appointed by their father, Septimius Severus, on his deathbed.

However, these brothers, portrayed as twins though they were actually about a year apart, had a mutual dislike that escalated after their father’s passing. Eventually, Caracalla had Geta murdered in front of their mother, a plot point reflected in the film. “Their father (Septimius) wasn’t a bad man and did some commendable things,” notes Scott. “But the two sons were as wild as anyone from the Sex Pistols.”

Was a monkey really an emperor’s right-hand companion?

One of the most memorable moments in “Gladiator II” is when Caracalla, who has become the sole emperor after  the death of his brother, a dramatic announcement is made by his trusted advisor in front of an attentive group of Roman senators. The unexpected choice? Not a fellow senator, but his pet Capuchin monkey named Dundus.

“Wasn’t Dundus fantastic?” Scott remarks. Although historical records lack references to monkeys playing a role in the political arena of ancient Rome, this choice by the director humorously hints at the current state of American politics.

“Yep, that was on purpose,” he laughs. “But as for which political side I’m on, I’m keeping that to myself.”