Fan Casting Swordsmoke: Gladiator

Marc wakes up in a massive barn with dozens of men. A door opens--armed guards order them to line up. They’re led to a brutal arena where a voice echoes: “Welcome to the Games.” A giant figure descends--General Ceaser. He announces the contest: 100 elite men, only a few will earn a place in his army. Sgt. Rain appears, revealing he works for Ceaser now and handpicked Marc. Ceaser splits them--50 red, 50 blue. First game: capture the flag. Marc is approached by John Alexander, a stockbroker from Apollo Island. His allies are Red Caraway, a resistance fighter, and Ken Thomas, a farmer with a missing brother. During the chaos, Marc grabs the flag and wins it with John’s help. Red Team wins. The Blue Team is forced to fight guards or die. Most fall--only a few survive. 38 remain. Next game: Simon Says--with death for mistakes. 14 die quickly. 24 left. Mino, a brute, targets John. In a brutal standoff, John kills Mino. 12 remain. Final round: gladiator duels. Red fights ex-boxer Aaron Devhart and is slain. Ken wins his match. Then Marc faces John. Marc pleads for unity--John refuses. Marc wins. The last six are presented to Ceaser--but Marc surprises everyone, stabbing Ceaser with a hidden blade. He takes control. “You work for Ghost now,” he tells the survivors. As Sgt. Rain escapes, he makes a call: “Ren.” The film ends with Marc returning to base, leading his new army, only to hear Norman whisper with tears, “Bo is dead.”