Gladiator II will feature a range of exciting new and returning characters, but Denzel Washington’s role is perhaps the most intriguing for the franchise’s future. The Gladiator II cast is full of potential, with industry veterans like Washington featuring alongside relative newcomers like Paul Mescal, Fred Hechinger, and Joseph Quinn. Yet while the story will mostly revolve around Mescal’s new protagonist Lucius, it seems the seeds of the future are already being sown elsewhere.

Gladiator II will pick up the story decades after Maximus’ death in the original movie’s ending. Although Gladiator promised that Rome would become a republic after Commodus’ death, it’s clear that the empire is just as autocratic as ever – with two emperors ruling as Gladiator II begins. Against this backdrop, Mescal’s Lucius finds himself fighting in the arena after his home is besieged by Roman forces. While, once again, the main story seems to focus on Lucius’ mission for revenge, there is another undercurrent lurking in the background, concerning Washington’s Macrinus. It’s this story that holds the key to Gladiator‘s future.

Denzel Washington Is Playing A Real Person In Gladiator 2

Washington Is Set To Play Macrinus

While many of the figures that inhabit the Gladiator universe are fictional, Denzel Washington’s Gladiator 2 character is not. Although aspects of his personality will undoubtedly be distorted for dramatic effect (as was the case with real people in the original Gladiator), Washington’s Macrinus has a fascinating history that makes him a perfect protagonist in an action epic.

In the movie, Macrinus is described as a businessman with no shortage of political ambition. As director Ridley Scott explained in an interview (via Vanity Fair):

“Denzel is an arms dealer who supplies food for the armies in Europe, supplies wine and oil, makes steel, makes spears, weapons, cannons, and catapults. So he is a very wealthy man. Instead of having a stable of racehorses, he has a stable of gladiators. He’s beautiful. He drives a golden Ferrari. I got him a gold-plated chariot.”

While fascinating for the potential direction of Gladiator II‘s story, it is only a limited reflection of the real figure. In fact, the historical Macrinus was a bureaucrat under the emperor Septimius Severus – father of Geta and Caracalla, the two emperors featured in Gladiator II. He then rose to become a prefect of the Praetorian Guard – the elite forces seen protecting the emperor in the original Gladiator. This proves that there is already some divergence between the real Macrinus and Denzel Washington’s character. However, it’s what comes next in Macrinus’ history that makes him the perfect lead for Gladiator 3.

Macrinus’ Real History Is Perfect For Gladiator 3

He Himself Became Emperor After Caracalla

Unlike other forgotten Roman figures, Macrinus holds a special place in history since he himself became emperor after successfully assassinating Caracalla in 217. The Gladiator 2 trailer makes it very clear that Macrinus’ ambitions extend far beyond success in the arena. However, the real history of Ancient Rome means that his scheming will not only be successful, but that there is clear precedent for a further sequel to explore Macrinus’ own reign as emperor – itself a story of corruption, ambition, and ultimately murder.

From Gladiator II‘s trailer, it seems the movie will focus on the relatively short period when Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger) ruled as co-emperors. Given that, in reality, after assassinating his brother, the real Caracalla ruled for six more years before Macrinus, it seems unlikely that the movie will cover this entire historical sweep. It may well be, therefore, that Gladiator II doesn’t tell Macrinus’ full story, potentially making Gladiator 3 even more essential. In any case, the fact that Macrinus’ rule was defined by civil war and political strife makes the prospect of seeing his character’s full tragic arc incredibly compelling.

Denzel Washington’s Career Would Make A Gladiator Return Incredible

The Role Has Parallels To Another Washington Character

Another reason that Washington’s Gladiator II bodes well for a second sequel is that his career has already proven that he is extremely adept at bringing tragically ambitious characters like Macrinus to life. In 2021, for instance, Washington played Shakespeare’s legendary anti-hero Macbeth in The Tragedy of Macbeth – the story of a Scottish noble who becomes obsessed with the idea of usurping the throne until it destroys him. The parallels between this character and Macrinus are uncanny, and the prospect of seeing Washington return to such familiar territory is tantalizing.

It’s unclear from the information currently available where Washington’s Gladiator II story will end. However, given everything historians know about the real Macrinus, it’s highly likely that there will be much more to be told about his character – whatever course the narrative takes. While the focus is understandably on Gladiator II for now, the introduction of Macrinus suggests the franchise’s future is in very safe hands.

Source: Vanity Fair