Denzel Washington is basically playing himself in Gladiator II and we’re here for it

If you ever wondered what a Denzel Washington character would sound like in a fictional Roman world, you are in for a treat. It is exactly as awesome as you imagined.

On Tuesday, the first trailer for Gladiator II dropped, the follow-up to Ridley Scott’s brutal, Oscar-winning hit from 2000. Among the various little stories and characters sprinkled in here and there is Washington as Macrinus, a shady power broker clearly at the absolute top of his game.

Did Washington do any accent work to sound more “Roman”? Does his character sound or act any meaningfully different than a corrupt Los Angeles cop in Training Day?

Nope! And that’s what will probably make Washington’s performance so exceptional:

From director Ridley Scott, watch the new Official Trailer for #GladiatorII starring Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen, Joseph Quinn, and Fred Hechinger – Only in theatres November 22. pic.twitter.com/4BtyPbkGjd

— Gladiator Movie (@GladiatorMovie) July 9, 2024

Given the history of some of Washington’s more well-known characters, I have little doubt that his Macrinus knows precisely how to move all of the chess pieces in his favor. We will almost certainly see some trademark Washington verbal manipulation in the heat of battle, and we will see him deliver brooding glances at wounded warriors that pierce through their souls.

I have suddenly never wanted more from a movie.

Featured image courtesy of Paramount Pictures