Even before the release of his next film, Denzel Washington appears as one of the favorites for the next Oscar ceremony.
He is one of the greatest actors of his generation. Since its beginnings in Coriolanus in 1979, Denzel Washington established himself as an essential actor of his generation, both thanks to strong roles (Malcolm X, Philadelphia, Training Day, Glory, American Gangster…) as well as for its commitments, particularly against anti-black racism.
Denzel Washington won two Oscars during his career: Best Actor for Training Day and that of Best Supporting Actor for glory. In total, he was nominated 8 times to win a prestigious statuette. While we will see him very soon in the cinema, observers are already predicting a ninth nomination for him in the supporting role category, next March.
It’s in Gladiator II by Ridley Scott that we will soon find Denzel Washington. And according to the first journalists who were able to see the peplum worn by Paul Mescal and Pedro Pasal, the actor, who will celebrate his 70th birthday in December, has a special place in it. Denzel Washington would indeed play Macrinus, a businessman and a wealthy arms dealer who owns a stable of gladiators.
On social networks, the first observers who were able to discover the film are already predicting him a third Oscar thanks to this role: “Denzel Washington is having a blast in one of his deadliest roles to date,” notes Clayton Davis of Variety. “Denzel Washington steals the show from the rest of the otherwise brilliant cast of Gladiator II”, notes journalist Don Kaye for his part. For journalist Landon Johnson, Denzel Washington gives an “electric” performance in the film.
For the press therefore, the nomination (or even the victory) of Denzel Washington now seems confirmed, but it is up to the Academy voters to decide. The nominees for each category will be known on January 17, 2025, while the 97th ceremony will take place two months later, on March 2, 2025. In the meantime, the French public will be able to discover Gladiator II in theaters on November 13.