Two new ones Gladiator II
Images have been released, providing a closer look at Denzel Washington’s scheming hair. Directed by Ridley Scott and serving as a follow-up to his 2000 historical epic with Russell Crowe, the upcoming film follows Paul Mescal’s Lucius as he becomes a warrior in the gladiatorial arena. The Gladiator 2 Supporting character features Washington as Macrinus, a powerful arms dealer with political ambitionsand Pedro Pascal as Marcus Acacius, a fearsome Roman general.
Full film (via Gamesradar +) is now releasing new images from Gladiator 2With both Washington and Pascal. The first image features Macrinus on his own in a red robe looking somewhat suspicious, while the second sees Acacius flanked by two Roman soldiers in full armour, potentially on the field of battle. Check out the new images below:
What Denzel Washington’s character means for the story of Gladiator 2
Macrinus’ role in real history explained
Warning! Potential spoilers for Gladiator 2 ahead as based on the history of Ancient Rome.Gladiator 2 Trailers have already provided a strong idea of what role Macrinus will play in the story. Washington is depicted as saying that Lucius will serve as his “instrument“, suggesting that the film will adopt elements of real ancient Roman history. Marcus Opelius Macrinus, after all, is a real historical figure from the 3rd century AD who played an important role in the empire’s development.
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Macrinus, the historical figure, led a coup d’état against emperors Caracalla and Geta (roles played in Gladiator 2 by Fred Hechinger and Joseph Quinn, respectively). As revealed in the trailers, Lucius becomes a pawn in Macrinus’ larger political maneuverings, and history reveals that this ultimately results in Macrinus sitting on the throne. Lucius does not just Macrinus’ bidding, however, as the story of Gladiator 2 Mescal’s character also seeks revenge against Pascal’s Acacius after someone close to him is killed.
Our take on Macrinus in Gladiator 2
Washington could be a strong addition to the cast
In addition to Crowe’s strong performance as Maximus, one of the reasons Gladiator succeeded because of its compelling array of supporting characters. The sequel is clearly trying to recapture that same magic, and Washington’s character could be crucial in that regard. Washington remains one of the most acclaimed and celebrated actors of his generationAnd he will clearly bring a lot of charisma to Macrinus and the film in general.
Macrinus is a character who pursues his own goals, with Lucius seemingly serving only as a means to an end. This means that, While Macrinus may be an ally at first, it doesn’t take much for the tides to shift with this dynamic.. It remains to be seen how exactly Washington’s character will participate Gladiator 2But Macrinus will obviously be an important figure in Lucius’ journey.
Source: Full film (via Gamesradar +)