 But soon, Marcus Aurelius is murdered by supporters of his no-good son, Commodus, played by Christopher Plummer. Hail Commodus! Hail Caesar! As Caesar, Commodus doesn't care about much. He likes games and frivolities and sets about ending his father's policies of equality and justice. We will have games. The people of the city will be fed. You and your eastern provinces will send us twice the grain they have been sending. The taxes on them will be doubled.