Denzel Washington’s Gladiator II role echoes a storyline from the original movie, making the actor’s character a perfect replacement for one of the 2000 movie’s most memorable personalities. Directed by Ridley Scott, Gladiator 2 is a sequel to the filmmaker’s Oscar-winning Gladiator. While the first film followed Russell Crowe’s Maximus, a betrayed Roman general-turned-gladiator, Gladiator 2 centers on Lucius (Paul Mescal). A former heir to the Roman Empire, Lucius becomes a gladiator only after general Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal) invades his home under the rule of co-emperors Caracalla (Fred Hechinger) and Geta (Joseph Quinn).

Any Gladiator 2 cast and character guide will reiterate that legacy is a key part of the sequel. After all, Lucius is the grandson of Rome’s former emperor, Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris), who was murdered by his power-hungry son, Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) at the beginning of Gladiator. Marcus Aurelius’ death is what prompts Maximus’ entire story arc. Needless to say, the ramifications of Commodus’ actions are still shaping his descendants’ lives decades later. However, Lucius is far from the only Gladiator 2 character who echoes someone from Scott’s original film — case in point being Denzel Washington’s character, Macrinus.

Denzel Washington’s Gladiator 2 Character Can Fulfill The Role Of Proximo

In the wake of Marcus Aurelius’ murder, Crowe’s Maximus is enslaved and, eventually, purchased by a gruff gladiator trainer called Antonius Proximo (Oliver Reed). Based on the few details released about Gladiator 2, it sounds like Denzel Washington’s Macrinus will fill a similar role to Gladiator‘s Proximo. Scott has shared that Denzel Washington’s Gladiator 2 character, Macrinus, is a formerly enslaved person who has gone on to gain great wealth and influence. While Macrinus initially found success as a merchant, he eventually became a sponsor of gladiators. In short, he’s an arms dealer who’s heavily involved in Rome’s gladitorial scene.

…there’s no denying the parallels between Washington’s character and Reed’s gladiator trainer.

With both Lucius and Marcus Acacius, Pedro Pascal’s Gladiator 2 character, pushed into being gladiators for various reasons, it’s pretty clear how and why Macrinus figures into the story. Still, there’s no denying the parallels between Washington’s character and Reed’s gladiator trainer. In the original film, Proximo enslaves warriors like Maximus and Juba (Djimon Hounsou), Maximus’ ally, and even reveals that he was freed from being enslaved as a gladiator by the late Marcus Aurelius. In Gladiator 2, Washington’s Macrinus is an arms dealer with a stable of gladiators, making his character the perfect Proximo replacement from a narrative standpoint.

Will Denzel Washington’s Gladiator 2 Character End Up Helping Paul Mescal’s Lucius?

Macrinus Also Has Reason To Hate Gladiator 2’s Co-Emperors

Gladiator‘s Proximo really can’t be considered a good person. Although he mentors Maximus and Juba and aids their revenge quest, he also enslaves the men. According to Vanity Fair, Washington’s Gladiator 2 character is considered “cruel” by his own stable-full of gladiators. A formerly enslaved person himself, Macrinus grows his power by leveraging the same corrupt system that harmed him in the first place. While Macrinus is described as having a grudge against the emperors, he seems more like a secondary antagonist. Of course, Macrinus might have a change of heart and aid Lucius before Gladiator 2‘s credits roll.

Gladiator II is slated for a November 22, 2024 theatrical release.