Gladiator II star Denzel Washington discussed his opinions on the historical inaccuracies related to his character, Macrinus. In the sequel, Macrinus is an ambitious arms dealer, gladiator owner, and businessman,who uses Paul Mescal's Lucius to scheme his plot in Rome. The scheming Roman is based on the real-world Emperor, who was a unique Emperor in that he not only reigned for just one year, but also held no familial connection to the Senate. There are many differences between the real Emperor Macrinus and Denzel Washington'scharacter inGladiator II, but much of the focus concerns the fact that the real Macrinus wasn't Black.
In an interview withThe Times, Washington addressed the historical inaccuracy of Macrinus being adapted as a Black man in the sequel. While he acknowledged that the real Macrinus wasn't Black, Washingtonargued that there were definitely Black people in Romeat the time. Macrinus may not have been a Black man, but including Black people was hardly concerning. Therefore, he does not believe it matters that he does not necessarily look exactly like the real-life figure he plays inGladiator II. Read Washington's full comment below:
I started heading down that hole, but I’ve done enough biopics, and I’m sure people are already saying, 'Macrinus wasn’t black!' They’ll say, 'Well, there were no black people in Rome.' Oh, really? Well, how did they get so dark-skinned? You know, somebody rolled through there. Go call up Hannibal. Maybe he did.
What The Macrinus Historical Inaccuracies Mean For Gladiator 2
Washington's Macrinus Is Perhaps The Best Character InGladiator 2
Warning: The rest of this article contains major SPOILERS for Gladiator II!There are severaltrue elements inGladiator II. Key figures, includingMacrinus, Geta, and Caracalla, all existed in Ancient Rome and took inspiration from their real-world actions. However, the writer ofGladiator II, David Scarpa, had to change aspects of these real-life historical figures, so that they would fit into the story. The real-life Macrinus actually did kill Caracalla to become Emperor of Rome, making his portrayal fairly historically correct. Yet other aspects of Washington's character were different from the historical figure.
The real Macrinus also ruled Rome for just over a year, while Washington's character was killed shortly after becoming Emperor.
The real Macrinus reportedly never bought gladiators, which is a major difference compared to the character inGladiator II, as his relationship with hischampion gladiator Lucius is one of the most intriguing dynamics in the film. Furthermore, Macrinus is known as the first Emperor who never visited Rome while he was in power. SinceMacrinus took control of the Senate while in Rome inGladiator II, this is another major change. The real figure also ruled Rome for just over a year, while Washington's character was killed shortly after becoming Emperor. Being Black, by contrast, is hardly a massive deviation.
Gladiator Was Also Not Perfectly Accurate
Expecting Gladiator 2 To Be An Accurate Translation Is Unfair
There were numerous examples of historical fiction in the first movie. Marcus Aurelius, for instance, did not ban gladiators during his reign, but instead made matches more safe by featuring blunted weapons. The Roman Senate is also depicted as a benevolent or democratic organization, but it was instead simply filled by rich families with little regard for the people. Additionally, Marcus Aurelius was never killed by Commodus, who similarly was killed by a wrestler, rather than a gladiator.Maximus' entire character was a completely ahistorical inclusion, as there is no indication that he ever existed at all.
TheGladiatorfranchise has always been inspired by history, but it never attempted to be accurate.
Expecting complete accuracy from the sequel, rather than the original, is unfair.Hollywood often deviates from history to better serve narratives, and audiences enjoy the movies regardless.300 (2007), for instance, neglects to include the vast amount of non-Spartan warriors who remained on the pass.Dances With Wolves(1990) completely undermined the agency of the Lakota Sioux. Eventhe belovedBraveheart eschewed accuracy in favor of blue face paint and an entirely original backstory for William Wallace. Expecting the 2024Gladiatormovie to completely live up to history, while ignoring simultaneous issues in those classics, is unjust.
Our Take On The Macrinus Historical Inaccuracies In Gladiator 2
The differences prove that Scarpa and Ridley Scott had to change a lot about Macrinus to make the character work in the sequel. Despite featuring massive changes, these shifts work surprisingly well, asGladiator II manages to create an original narrative that builds on concepts invented in the original. All the while, it is expected to gross $61 million in its opening weekend. That impressive amount would never have been possible without pleasing audiences and critics alike. Its second weekend drop, however, will decide if that momentum can last beyond the initial marketing draw. If so, then this controversy was overstated.
Is Denzel Washington's Macrinus Supposed To Be Bisexual In Gladiator 2?
Macrinus is one of the primary antagonists of Gladiator II, and there are a handful of hints that point to the villain's potential bisexuality.
Even if audiences did reject it for its various inaccuracies, the sequel never aimed to be a perfect retelling of Roman history. Just as the original did not necessarily mind historical inaccuracies, the sophomore outing values character over accuracy. Its message is far more important than anything else, and out of all the changes, especially, Macrinus' skin color is the least concerning. Washington's portrayal of the power-hungry Roman Emperor is one of thebest aspects ofGladiator II, as he truly managed to communicate Macrinus' ever-shifting aims and cunning qualities, and could very well bring him a coveted Oscar this March.
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Source:The Times
- Release Date
- November 22, 2024
- Runtime
- 148 minutes
- Director
- Ridley Scott
- Writers
- David Scarpa, Peter Craig, David Franzoni
- Prequel(s)
- Gladiator
Cast
Lucius Verus
Marcus Acacius
- Studio(s)
- Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures, Scott Free Productions, Red Wagon Entertainment
- Distributor(s)
- Paramount Pictures
- Main Genre
- Adventure
