Washington portrays Macrinus in Gladiator II, the sequel to Ridley Scott’s iconic 2000 Oscar winning film, Gladiator, which had starred Russell Crowe.
Scott, a director whom Washington has long admired, invited him to join the cast, and the experience proved to be deeply humbling.
Washington praised the scale of the production, the vastness of the set, and the talented ensemble cast.
“The sheer size of this particular production and the incredible cast of actors and crew he assembled, not to mention what he literally built of ancient Rome, humbles me – it humbled me every day on set,” he said. “And giving me Macrinus – to embody, to enjoy, to create – what an incredible honor this is, and has, been.”
“I didn’t say I was going to go into retirement. I said that it has to be a level of interest for me. I’m more interested in getting behind the camera, so that’s about five years out,” he explained.
“I’m not retiring,” Washington emphasized, acknowledging the physical demands of action roles as he gets older. “It’s not like on June 5, that’s it. But to think that I’m going to run as far as they are or as far as you are, I’d be a fool.”
One of Hollywood’s most celebrated and respected actors, and with Gladiator II, he has once again shown his ability to bring depth and gravitas to any role, regardless of the scale.
