WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Gladiator II.

Denzel Washington’s Oscars snub for Gladiator II doesn’t deter his impact on Ridley Scott’s highly-anticipated sequel. Before its theatrical release in November 2024, Gladiator II was speculated to be a heavy contender at the 2025 Academy Awards, which take place on March 2. Surprisingly, Gladiator II was only nominated in one category, Costume Design, despite being the 12th highest-grossing movie of 2024 and receiving mostly positive reviews, resulting in a Rotten Tomatoes score of 71%.

Not much was known about Washington’s Gladiator II character Macrinus before the film’s release, creating an air of suspense around whether he would be a friend or foe of Paul Mescal’s Lucius. Macrinus is revealed to be an ex-slave who became a highly lucrative merchant with a hidden political agenda and an eye on the throne. Lucius and Macrinus have a thrilling showdown at the end of Gladiator II, which is only one of the many fantastic scenes Macrinus adds to the blockbuster sequel.

Despite The Oscars Snub, Denzel Washington Was Still The Best Part Of Gladiator 2

His Macrinus Character Elevated The Sequel Even In A Supporting Role

Forget the lack of award nominations, the divisive Rotten Tomatoes scores, and all the commentary about Gladiator II not living up to the original – Washington’s character was the best part of the movie.

Even in a supporting role, Washington commands the screen with such a formidable presence as his character Macrinus snakes his way to the Roman throne. Like Gladiator’s version of Littlefinger from Game of Thrones, Macrinus is deceptive and manipulative, making it impossible to take your eyes off him.

Washington was an early favorite to win Best Supporting Actor at the 2025 Oscars, which makes it even more stunning that he failed to receive a nomination. Washington isn’t concerned about his Oscars snub, however, saying in a recent interview, “I’ve been around too long. I’m getting wiser, working on talking less and learning to understand more — and that’s exciting.” He’s currently preparing to star in a Broadway production of Shakespeare’s Othello alongside Jake Gyllenhaal.

How Denzel Washington’s Macrinus Improves The Legacy Of Ridley Scott’s Gladiator Movies

Macrinus Stands Beside Gladiator Franchise Icons Maximus & Commodus

While it’s evident that the Gladiator sequel didn’t hit the box office or critical acclaim of the original movie, it was still an achievement based on Washington’s role as Macrinus. As time goes on, viewers will likely remember his performance in the same breath as Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix’s roles before him in the 2000 Oscar-winning original.

Both Mascal and Pedro Pascal gave strong performances in Gladiator II but Washington’s Macrinus instantly became one of the pillars of the Gladiator franchise, which is even more impressive considering he had a limited role. Washington should have another sH๏τ at an Oscar-winning performance in Spike Lee’s upcoming film Highest 2 Lowest, an adaptation of Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low.