Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Gladiator II.
Ridley Scott’s sequel to his 2000 Oscar-winning film Gladiator, Gladiator 2, features an all-new cast of characters, set decades after Maximus’ story. The film’s costume designer, Janty Yates, revealed that a proposed headpiece for Macrinus, played by Denzel Washington, was initially considered, but ultimately rejected by Scott and Washington.
Yates wanted to emphasize Macrinus’ vanity by having him wear a headpiece, but the idea was scrapped due to the two not liking it. Instead, Washington wore clip-on earrings, which gave him a slightly off-center feel, according to Yates. This decision allowed for a more subtle exploration of Macrinus’ character.
Without the headpiece, other costume elements were designed to emphasize Macrinus’ status and duality as both an influential player and an outsider. He wears a white jacquard silk draped fabric with gold trim, which created a sense of innocence. Yates explained that the goal was to make Macrinus look “sort of almost innocent,” as he is revealed to be the true antagonist of the film.
The decision to nix the headpiece was part of a long line of ideas that were ditched during development, production, and Scott’s final cut. Washington had previously mentioned that a kiss between him and an unnamed gladiator was also cut from the film.
By rejecting the headpiece, Washington and Scott may have sought to emphasize Macrinus’ commanding presence through subtler visual cues, such as his opulent tunics, gold-plated chariot, or the hand-embroidered drapes decorating his royal box alongside the emperors. This subtle approach allows Macrinus’ wardrobe and character design to be a more nuanced nod to his role as one of the most interesting villains in the film.