September 19th 2024.
As we eagerly await the release of Gladiator 2, fans have been buzzing about Denzel Washington's accent in the upcoming film. The 69-year-old screen legend will be gracing our screens once again this winter, starring alongside Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal in the highly anticipated sequel to Sir Ridley Scott's 2000 epic.
Washington will be portraying the character of Macrinus, a former slave from North Africa who seeks to control Rome and serves as a ruthless mentor to Lucius. However, when the Gladiator 2 trailer dropped this summer, fans couldn't help but notice that Washington was using his normal American accent instead of adopting an African or British accent like the rest of the cast.
But fear not, as Washington has a logical explanation for his accent choice. In an interview with Empire, he shared, "Well, the thing was, where are we? Whose accent would it be? What does that sound like anyway?" He also added, "You're going to end up imitating someone and end up with a bad African accent."
It seems like fans are divided on Washington's decision, with some praising him for sticking to his natural accent and others questioning why he didn't attempt a different accent. On social media, @alexarecommends wrote, "Denzel Washington, like other great actors before him such as Katharine Hepburn and Sidney Poitier, has decided that whatever accent he has is what accent the character has." Meanwhile, @MattZeitlin showed his admiration, saying, "Respect to Denzel Washington for doing no accent work and acting and sounding like a corrupt cop from Yonkers." And @JaFleuTheArtist came to Washington's defense, saying, "Imagine criticizing THEE Denzel Washington about his accent in a movie set in a room where everyone is speaking English."
Aside from his accent, fans have also been raving about how youthful Washington looks in the trailer, sparking rumors that he may have been de-aged for the film. @Rihanatsona wrote, "I don't know how I'm supposed to act. A 60+ man is the oldest and hottest man in this movie." And Reddit user CalendarAggressive11 commented, "That man ages like the finest wine."
As we enjoy Washington's on-screen presence, it's worth noting that the actor has shared that there are only a few roles that pique his interest these days. "I have to be inspired by the filmmaker, and I was tremendously inspired by Ridley," he told Empire. "We had a great go-round the first go-round, and here we are. He's engaged. He's excited about life and his next film. He's an inspiration. We should all want to feel like that at 86."
Gladiator 2 will hit theaters on November 15, and fans can't wait to see Washington in action once again. If you have a celebrity story, video, or pictures, don't hesitate to reach out to the entertainment team at The Agency by emailing us, calling 020 3615 2145, or visiting our Submit Stuff page - we'd love to hear from you.
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