Major Gladiator 2 star has a perfect explanation for controversial accent

Denzel Washington’s accent has caused quite a stir among fans amid the release of Gladiator 2, but the screen legend has a pretty good explanation for it. 

The Oscar-winning actor, 69, has returned to screens in the blockbuster sequel to Sir Ridley Scott’s 2000 epic, starring alongside Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, and returning star Connie Nielsen.

He appears as Macrinus, a former slave from North Africa who plots to control Rome and is a ruthless mentor to Lucius (Mescal).

However, when the Gladiator 2 trailer was released earlier this year, fans couldn’t stop talking about one of the leading men, and the accent they’d used. Denzel’s accent, is, well, his normal American accent. 

Sharing a solid reason why he opted not to adopt an accent from an African region or even an English accent like much of the cast, he said: ‘Well, the thing was, where are we? Whose accent would it be? What does that sound like anyway?’ 

He added speaking to Empire: ‘You’re going to end up imitating someone and end up with a bad African accent.’ 

Denzel Washington, and his American accent, appears as Macrinus (Picture: AP)

Reacting to Denzel’s accent, or lackthereof, X account Johnflex87, respected Denzel’s decision: ‘He’s too Denzel Washington to do any other accent other than his own.’

‘Gladiators didn’t have no damn British accent so I’m glad Denzel not doing one for this movie,’ added ForceOriginal.

However, Ankita felt that it was taking her out of the film’s setting. ‘Great sets, good performances, decent cast- sure Gladiator 2’s got all of that. But the script is meh. Another grand movie with a weak story. Paul Mescal is a dreamboat yes. Denzel Washington’s very New York accent was constantly snapping me out of it though. Much didn’t work.’

Former slave Macrinus plots to control Rome (Picture: Paramount Pictures)

Paul Mescal takes the lead as Lucius in the anticipated blockbuster sequel (Picture: Paramount Pictures)

When the trailer was released in July, @alexarecommends wrote: ‘Denzel Washington like other great actors before him Katharine Hepburn and Sidney Poitier has decided that whatever accent he has is what accent the character has.’ 

Admiring Denzel’s choice, @MattZeitlin said: ‘Respect to denzel washington for doing no accent work and acting and sounding like a corrupt cop from yonkers.’ 

Stepping in to defend the Training Day star, @JaFleuTheArtist weighed in: ‘Imagine criticizing THEE DENZEL WASHINGTON about his accent in a movie set in room where everyone is speaking *checks notes* ENGLISH.’ 

‘I love how in the trailer everyone has a British accent and Denzel still sounds like a man from round the way,’ @BrujaBanton quipped. 

Pedro Pascal has even changed his accent for the role (Picture: Paramount Pictures)

Denzel revealed there are few roles that are ‘interesting’ to him these days Getty Images)

Denzel’s accent wasn’t the only talking point in the lead-up to Gladiator 2 as fans also can’t believe how youthful he looked in the trailer, sparking rumours he was de-aged in the film. 

@Rihanatsona previously wrote on X: ‘I don’t know how I’m supposed to act😫. A 60+ man is the oldest and hottest man in this movie.’

Reddit user CalendarAggressive11 wrote: ‘That man ages like the finest wine.’

Fans should enjoy Denzel on their screens while they can as the actor also said that there are ‘few films’ he’s interested in making these days. 

‘I have to be inspired by the filmmaker, and I was tremendously inspired by Ridley. 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,’ he added to Empire.

In an interview with Gayety, Denzel revealed that he kissed another male actor during filming, but the scene was cut.

‘I actually kissed a man in the film but they took it out, they cut it, I think they got chicken,’ he recalled.

‘I kissed a guy full on the lips and I guess they weren’t ready for that yet. I killed him about five minutes later. It’s Gladiator. It’s the kiss of death.’

Gladiator 2 is released in cinemas now.

This article was originally published on September 19.

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