Denzel Washington has teased the dark side of him Gladiator II Character Macrinus, hinting at how he gained so much power and why he wants more. The coming Gladiator II The focus is on the elderly Lucius Verus (Paul Mescal), who wants revenge on the emperors Caracalla (Fred Hechinger) and Geta (Joseph Quinn) after Roman soldiers invaded Numidia and killed his wife. After being captured by the Empire, he becomes a gladiator and is taught by Macrinus, who has his own ambitions for power in the Roman Empire.

In conversation with Screen rant, Washington explained the dark side of Macrinus, which is revealed in Gladiator IIteased a tough upbringing that secretly made him politically smarter. He also mentions several times how he is doing.in bed with the devil“, teasing that this highlights his decision to conquer everything he can. It also means that he will do whatever it takes to get what he wants, even if that means manipulating situations to his own advantage. Check out what Washington had to say below:

We don't have enough time for all of this, but he did it the hard way. The long way, the slow way. And he knows how to work from behind, from the back of the room. He is in bed with the devil and wants to dominate, destroy and own everything and everyone.

He has made a decision. He went to bed with the dark side. He wants to dominate, to control the entire empire, and he will use anyone to do that and he will do anything to get what he wants.

What Washington's Statement Means for Macrinus in Gladiator 2

Lucius' mentor may have secrets of his own

Of all the characters in Gladiator II, Macrinus is one of the most central, whose mentor Lucius aids him in his quest for revenge parallel to his own. While the arms dealer's full backstory has not yet been revealed, his attempt to usurp the Twin Emperors hints at a dark past that drove him to his actions. In addition to training gladiators, he also offers food and oil to the European armies, suggesting that he is profiting from the war in Rome and that he wants conflict to benefit his personal interests.

Related

Denzel Washington is breaking the Gladiator 2 sequel drought and it could define the next 10 years of his film career

Gladiator II is Denzel Washington's second sequel and first appearance in an existing franchise and could define his career for the next 10 years.

In relation to the real historical figure Gladiator IIIn Macrinus, on which Macrinus is based, he sought power in the same way as his on-screen portrayal, orchestrating events to gain power. However, It's unclear how much of the story in Ridley Scott's film will be accuratemeaning some liberties could be taken with his character to give him a darker side than the story shows. What this means is unclear, but Washington's words could hint at a secret his character holds that no one yet knows.

Our take on Macrinus' dark side in Gladiator 2

He won't be a noble hero

Although Macrinus will play an important role in Lucius' development as a gladiator, it doesn't sound like he will be a noble hero trying to save Rome. Instead, we believe Gladiator II will put him in a gray area, someone who tries to overthrow tyrannical rulers but who is also a tyrant in some ways. While it's unclear how his character will develop over the course of the film, he could have some big surprises in store as the convoluted plot progresses.

Gladiator 2 is the sequel to Ridley Scott's award-winning 2000 film Gladiator. Scott returns to direct the sequel, starring Paul Mescal as Lucius, Denzel Washington and Joseph Quinn as the villain Emperor Geta. Gladiator 2 was stuck in development hell for years before a script written by David Scarpa finally moved forward.

Release date

November 22, 2024

Studio(s)

Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures, Scott Free Productions, Red Wagon Entertainment

Sales partner

Paramount Pictures

writer

David Scarpa, Peter Craig, David Franzoni

Pour

Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Derek Jacobi, May Calamawy, Peter Mensah, Matt Lucas, Alexander Karim, Tim McInnerny, Lee Charles, Chidi Ajufo, Alfie Tempest, Riana Duce, Chi Lewis Parry, Paul Candelent, Hadrian Howard, Alexander Simkin, Mikhail Basmadjian, Matthew Charlery-Smith, Maxime Durand, Lior Raz

Character(s)

Lucius Verus, Marcus Acacius, Macrinus, Lucilla, Emperor Caracalla, Emperor Geta, Gracchus

Main genre

adventure

Expand