Denzel Washington Is Taking part in Emperor of Rome in 'Gladiator II'?

In early July 2024, a rumor circulated on social media that Denzel Washington can be enjoying the emperor of Rome within the film “Gladiator II,” set to be launched in November 2024.

“Meet Hollywood’s Marcus Macrinus, Emperor of Rome. The bastardization and blackwashing of European historical past continues. This can be a sick joke,” one X post (archived) learn, reaching greater than 842,000 views and 13,000 likes as of this writing.

(X consumer @Klaus_Arminius)

“After they swap a fictional White character, their excuse is: ‘it is simply fiction, not actual’. After they swap a historic White individual, their excuse is: ‘it is simply appearing’,” one X consumer commented below the put up. “As soon as once more, we’re seeing historic blackwashing with the casting of Macrinus, a Roman emperor of Numidian (Amazigh) descent, being portrayed by a black actor,” one other put up claimed.

In brief, Washington shouldn’t be enjoying the emperor of Rome in “Gladiator II,” however reasonably a personality named Macrinus, a “dashing powerbroker” and arms seller. Due to that, now we have rated this declare “False.”

“Gladiator II” is ready to be launched on Nov. 22, 2024. Vainness Truthful printed the photograph of Washington used within the viral posts in a “first look” article concerning the film, writing in a caption that “Denzel Washington’s Macrinus is an arms seller who lives lavishly and retains a secure of gladiators for sport.” The article went on to explain Washington’s character:

All through Gladiator II, the reluctant hero encounters a lot of different colourful and doubtful characters. Denzel Washington performs a dashing powerbroker named Macrinus. “Denzel is an arms seller who provides meals for the armies in Europe, provides wine and oil, makes metal, makes spears, weapons, cannons, and catapults. So he’s a really rich man. As a substitute of getting a secure of racehorses, he has a secure of gladiators,” [director Ridley] Scott says. “He is lovely. He drives a golden Ferrari. I acquired him a gold-plated chariot.”

The rumor about Washington enjoying a Roman emperor might have arisen as a result of there was, actually, a Roman emperor named Macrinus in 217 and 218. Nevertheless, he doesn’t seem within the film “Gladiator II.” The Vainness Truthful article famous that Fred Hechinger performs Emperor Caracalla and Joseph Quinn portrays Emperor Geta in “Gladiator II.”

This is not the primary time we have checked out a declare relating to Washington. As an example, in June 2024, we fact-checked a rumor claiming he and Clint Eastwood joined forces to launch a “non-woke” film manufacturing studio. In June 2023, we investigated whether or not Washington as soon as stated, “With so many issues coming again in model, I can not wait till morals, respect, and intelligence develop into a pattern once more.”

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