Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Gladiator II
In Ridley Scott’sGladiatorII, it’s strongly implied that Denzel Washington’s Macrinus is bisexual. Introduced as a cunning member of Rome’s elite who gains friends and influence by buying slaves and turning them into gladiators, Macrinus is as ruthless as he is charismatic. Furthermore, it’s teased on more than one occasion thatGladiator II’sprimary antagonist is attracted to both men and women.
Set 16 years after the events of Ridley Scott’s firstGladiatormovie, Rome is full of corruption and has fallen under the rule of twin emperors, Geta (Joeseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger). Likewise, Lucius (Paul Mescal) is the grown-up son of the late Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe) and the secret heir to the Roman throne as Marcus Aurelius' grandson, following in his father’s footsteps as a slave-turned-gladiator under the control of Macrinus who seeks to rule Rome himself.To that end, it’s confirmed both off-screen and on thatGladiator II’sMacrinus is more than likely bisexual in the new sequel.
Gladiator 2 Suggests Macrinus Is Bisexual
It’s Implied Macrinus Doesn’t Just Prefer Women
One of the first moments in whichDenzel Washington’s Macrinusis teased as being bisexual inGladiator IIcomes during a conversation with one of his Roman allies about Connie Nielsen’s Lucilla and the fate of her son Lucius who was believed to have been lost shortly after the deaths of Maximus and Emperor Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). Already suspicious about his gladiator’s true identity, Macrinus learns there were false rumors that Commodus was Lucius' father despite being Lucilla’s brother.However, Macrinus is also told that Commodus was seemingly not attracted to women, to which Macrinus replies that some days the same is true of himself some days.
Gladiator 2 Cast, Character & Cameo Guide
Gladiator 2’s casts includes legendary actors and up-and-coming stars, continuing the story established by Ridley Scott’s 2000 epic, Gladiator.
Keeping this response in mind,it’s not hard to surmise from this scene inGladiator IIthat Macrinus is implying that some days he might prefer men over women. However, any verbal confirmation one way or the other doesn’t come about during this scene, nor any other in the new sequel. However, some key points have been made off-screen that further confirm Macrinus' sexuality beyond what’s seen on the screen alone.
Gladiator 2 “Cut” A Same-Sex Kiss Involving Macrinus
A Point Of Debate Between Washington and Director Ridley Scott
It’s well worth noting that Denzel Washington did say in interviews that Macrinus is meant to be bisexual inGladiator II, regardless of what’s seen or inherently said on screen. Furthermore,Washington recently claimed that a same-sex kiss between Macrinus and a Roman senatorwas ultimately cut from the film. As such,the character in question was most likely Tim McInnerny’s Senator Thraex, one of Macrinus' allies in the film who ends up owing him a large sum of moneythanks to Lucius' ongoing victories in the coliseum.
Thraex is also the senator who tips Macrinus off to General Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal) and his attempt to free Lucius at Lucilla’s request. Likewise,Macrinus and Thraex do share multiple kisses on the cheeks, head, and hands during one scene inGladiator II, so it’s not hard to imagine an outright kiss was cut at some point. That said,director Ridley has refuted those claims from Washington, having clarified that while the duo might have acted as if they had had a same-sex kiss before Macrinus kills a Roman senator, it was never filmed to begin with.
Would Macrinus Being Gay or Bisexual Fit With Ancient Rome?
Most Emperors Where Bisexual According To Actual History
While the real-life Macrinus was not bisexual,Denzel Washington’s Macrinus being bisexual inGladiator IIdoes fit with what’s known from Ancient Roman history in general. After all, almost every Roman emperor was reportedly quite fluid in their sexual preferences, and hardly any were heterosexual. To that end, it’s a prominent facet of Ancient Roman society that’s featured to a degree with Macrinus and even more so with the movie’s twin emperors, whom Macrinus eventually murders ahead ofGladiator II’sending and final scenes.
Gladiator II
Cast
Gladiator 2 is the follow-up to Ridley Scott’s award-winning film Gladiator from 2000. Scott returns to direct the sequel, with Paul Mescal staring as Lucius, alongside Denzel Washington and Joseph Quinn as the villain Emperor Geta. Gladiator 2 had been stuck in development hell for years before a script written by David Scarpa finally moved forward.
