The release of Gladiator II finally tells the story of what happened to Lucius Verus after the events of the first Gladiator film, but some inconsistencies surrounding the character’s portrayal raised public eyebrows. Played by Paul Mescal, the character Lúcio returns to Rome after spending many years abroad. He seeks revenge against General Acácio (Pedro Pascal) for the death of his wife, killed during the battle of Numidia. After arriving in Rome, Lucius is purchased to be a gladiator slave by Denzel Washington’s character Macrinus.
This eye-catching bow means everything in Gladiator II revolves around Lúcio. Consequently, Mescal’s performance is permanently in the spotlight as he struggles to reconcile his anger, his complex relationship with his mother Lucilla (Connie Nielsen), and the dangers of the arena. Unfortunately, the Gladiator II the cast suffers several problems throughout the story, including the accent. As the main protagonist, Lucius and Mescal are the main examples.
Paul Mescal’s Irish accent is often heard in Gladiator 2
Affects immersion in Gladiator II
For the most part, Paul Mescal, who is Irish, spoke with an English accent in Gladiator II. However, there were several moments during the film where Mescal’s natural accent shined through. The frequency with which this occurs inevitably breaks the film’s cinematic charm and takes the viewer out of the film. In many cases, the consistency of a character’s voice can be overlooked – as long as the drama is working. However, in the case of Gladiator II, the fluctuation of Mezcal’s accent is often so jarring that it affects viewers’ ability to stay connected to the story.
The multiple discoveries of Mescal’s natural accent were not necessarily an overtly strong negative for the film, but the inconsistency was noticeable on several occasions. In one scene, for example, Macrinus (Washington) is discussing with Lucius how he knew he would be a great gladiator. When Lucius responds, Mescal’s natural Irish intonation is palpable. This inconsistency is a small thing that happens often enough to diminish the film’s ability to engage its audience.
Paul Mescal isn’t the only 2-star gladiator who draws attention because of his accent
Many have questioned why Denzel Washington has a clear New York accent
The most confusing accent in Gladiator II comes from its most renowned star. Denzel Washington’s controversy Gladiator II the accent is essentially your own voice. When this was revealed after the release of the film’s official trailer online Many wondered why Washington didn’t try to change his character’s voice. Fans were disappointed that Washington didn’t give Macrinus a more period and geographically appropriate accent. For some, hearing Denzel’s natural voice in Rome 221 AD is very off-putting, further diminishing the film’s immersion.
When Denzel Washington responded to his Gladiator II accent controversy, he told Empire Magazine,
“Well, the question was: where are we? Whose accent would it be? What does it sound like anyway? You’re going to end up imitating someone and end up with a bad African accent.”
Washington was clearly hesitant to turn Macrinus (who comes from a Roman province in North Africa) into a caricature. The fear of having a bad African accent led Washington to the decision that it was better to use his own voice rather than create one that might be poorly received. Although his performance was a highlight Gladiator II, it was still a little strange to hear a modern New York accent in ancient Rome.
What Language and Accents Should Gladiator 2 Characters Have (If Historically Accurate)
Both Lucius and Macrinus would have had influence in North Africa
Lúcio de Paul Mescal was born in Rome, but was forced to flee Rome at the age of 12, following the death of his father at the hands of Maximus in the arena. He fled to Numidia, a Roman province. Today, this area consists of northern Algeria, as well as parts of Morocco, Tunisia, and Libya. After spending 16 years in the northwestern part of Africa, Lucius would probably have acquired the local Numidian language as a second language in addition to Roman Latin. Lucius’ accent with his second language would probably sound strange, given his Latin background.
Although the exact origin of Denzel Washington’s Macrinus is unknown, he was born under Roman rule in North Africa. This could mean many things. He could have been born in the province of Africa, which contained the city of Carthage or the city of Cyrene. He could, theoretically, have come from the far east, in the province of Aegyptus, which contained Egyptian lands, including the city of Alexandria. Although it is impossible to say exactly how Lucius or Macrinus would have spoken, their true Gladiator II the accents would probably be a far cry from Irish and American.