Summary
Denzel Washington’s highly anticipated performance inGladiator IIsets up the perfect reunion between him and director Ridley Scott.For the long-awaitedGladiatorsequel, Scott scored a remarkable castwho play a raft of new and returning characters in the franchise. TheGladiator IIlineupincludes the likes of ever-growing stars Paul Mescal (Normal People,All of Us Strangers) and Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us,The Mandalorian), plenty of other incredibly notable names, and, of course, superstar Washington to revisit Ancient Rome aroundtwo decades after the events ofGladiator.
Some big story elements are still majorly unclear - buttheGladiator IItrailerreveals that the sequel will focus on Lucius Verus (Mescal), the former heir to the empire, who sets out on a path toward revenge and redemption in the arena after General Marcus Acacius (Pascal) invades his hometown and forces him into slavery. While the focus lies on Lucius,Washington’s character appears integralto his journey. Whether for better or worse remains to be seen, but Washington’s track record of character performances, especially in one previous Scott-directed movie,ensures it’ll be phenomenal nonetheless.
Gladiator 2: Everything You Need To Know
More than 20 years after the original Gladiator, the sequel arrived in 2024. Here is everything you need to know about Gladiator 2.
Denzel Washington Looks Like One Of The Best Parts Of Gladiator 2
Washington Plays Arms Dealer Macrinus
…as more and more information unfolds about Washington’s role, he’s looking to become one of the best parts of the movie.
Washington’s long-standing rapport of genius character portrayals in movies such asGlory,Malcolm X,Training Day,Flight, and countless more should show beyond a doubt that the actor will be a strength ofGladiator II. Yet, as more and more information unfolds about Washington’s role, he’s looking to become one of the best parts of the movie.Washington playsGladiator II’sMacrinus,an arms dealer with morally questionable interests in the businesses and politics of the empire. Moreover, Lucius resolves to join Macrinus' stable of gladiators and fight under his tutelage.
The dynamic between Lucius and Macrinus sets Washington up for major screen time and/or sway in the story. Macrinus' character arc is not yet determined, but Scott describes him as"a very wealthy man"who’s"pretty f***ing cruel"to his inventory of gladiators. Scott’s description suggests Macrinus will joinWashington’s growing list of movie villainsand anti-heroes. If that comes to be the case,audiences are in for more than just a treat because Washington gave his all to a character of a very similar nature in the past.
Denzel Washington’s Gladiator 2 Performance Seems Similar To American Gangster
Washington Plays Crime Kingpin Frank Lucas
Washington previously starred in Scott’sAmerican Gangster, a dramatization of the criminal career ofthe real-life crime kingpin Frank Lucas. In the lead as Lucas, Washington helps depict his role in the heroin trade and organized crime of 1960’s Harlem. Lucas' criminal presence in Harlem becomes nearly all-encompassing, granting him opportunities within the community to open legitimate businesses, befriend politicians and celebrities, and commit or endorse crimes in broad daylight. His position of power and hand in the community seems greatly evocative of Washington’s newGladiator IIcharacter.
The originalGladiator’sRussell Crowe also starred inAmerican Gangsteras Richie Roberts.
As a dealer, Macrinus has a hand in the distribution of wine, oil, and weaponry in Ancient Rome, which maintains his wealth and status in the community quite like Lucas' dealings did in Harlem. Granted, Macrinus and Lucas being so similar wouldn’t be such a bad thing, asWashington was nominated for a Golden Globe for his effort in the latter role and could recreate a comparable performance (or better) for the former. He’s done it before, and to do it again would meanGladiator IIwould mark another highly esteemed collaboration between Ridley Scott and Denzel Washington.
Gladiator II
Cast
Gladiator 2 is the follow-up to Ridley Scott’s award-winning film Gladiator from 2000. Scott returns to direct the sequel, with Paul Mescal staring as Lucius, alongside Denzel Washington and Joseph Quinn as the villain Emperor Geta. Gladiator 2 had been stuck in development hell for years before a script written by David Scarpa finally moved forward.
