The narrative unfolds in 285 BC, as Ptolemy I Soter (@anthony-hopkins) serves as the film's narrator. He reveals how history elevated Alexander’s image beyond reality. At this time, the Persians dominated the East, and Greece was weakened, with Persians bribing Greek kings to serve as mercenaries. This landscape shifted with King Philip’s vision of unity, creating a professional army that eventually led to his assassination—a plot that placed Alexander (@colin-farrell) at the helm.
Fueled by a desire for revenge, Alexander embarked on a campaign that annihilated cities across Western Asia and Egypt, where he was crowned Pharaoh. The climax emerged in Babylon, during the intense battle against the Persian forces, where Alexander, leading 45,000 Greeks against 100,000 Persians commanded by King Darius, showcased not just military prowess but his deep bond with his beloved Hephaestion.
As the Persians utilized cavalry and chariots, Alexander cleverly employed phalanxes to exploit a weakness in their lines, nearly eliminating Darius from the battle. By merely 25 years old, he attained the title of King—having already transformed the fate of the empire.
Raised by his enigmatic mother Olympias (@angelina-jolie) and tutored by Aristotle (Christopher Plummer), Alexander developed a multifaceted identity, intertwined with themes of honor, exploration, and the complexities of love. Olympias, often resembling a sorceress in her ways, cultivated beliefs about Alexander’s divine lineage, claiming that he was the son of Zeus. This relationship with his mother clashed with that of his father, Philip II of Macedon (Val Kilmer), particularly when Philip married Eurydice (Marie Meyer), stirring jealousy and discord within the family.
Following Philip’s sudden death in 336 BC, Alexander was swiftly crowned King amid the ensuing turmoil. Amidst the triumph, suspicion lingered over Olympias' involvement in the assassination, marking a tragic rift between mother and son.
Ptolemy recounts the violent campaigns including the razing of Thebes and the significant battles against Darius III in the Persian expedition. The rise of Babylon marked a new chapter as Alexander navigated personal relationships, including a growing attraction to Bagoas (Francisco Bosch), whilst honoring the dignity of Darius’s queen.
As Alexander’s campaigns extended into Persia, he discovered Darius’s body, a poignant reminder of betrayal that propelled him further into conflict. Marrying Roxana (@rosario-dawson), a commoner, stirred tension with his Macedonian commanders, who desired an heir of noble lineage.
The emotional complexity peaked through Alexander's interactions with Hephaestion (Jared Leto), his childhood friend and lover, showcasing a bond that transcended friendship. Hephaestion’s jealousy flared upon Alexander’s marriage to Roxana, leading to tragic misunderstandings and ill-fated decisions.
As Alexander journeyed deeper into India, he grappled with the failures of his ambitions, a reality juxtaposed with a quest for glory and honor, culminating in the brutal Battle of Hydaspes where he sustained life-threatening injuries yet emerged victorious. The return journey, fraught with peril, became a monumental mistake, leading to further loss of life among his ranks.
Heartbreak enveloped Alexander when Hephaestion succumbed to illness—his untimely death igniting grief and paranoia about possible foul play involving Roxana. Soon after, Alexander himself fell ill, mirroring the tragic fates that had befallen so many around him. On June 10, 323 BC, he breathed his last in Babylon at just 33 years old, leaving a legacy that would be challenged by those seeking power over his fragmented kingdom.
As history reflects, the empire crumbled in the wake of his passing, and the bloodline ended tragically with Cassander (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) executing Olympias and Roxana, sealing the fate of Alexander's lineage.
Ptolemy concludes his narrative by confessing to the conspiracy that led to Alexander's demise—a means to prevent an enduring reign that threatened the balance of power. He immortalizes Alexander’s story, ultimately lamenting its loss as he records, with bittersweet admiration, that Alexander had become a figure lost to time, his memoirs consumed by flames in the Library of Alexandria.
