‘Gladiator II’ could finally bag Denzel Washington that elusive third Oscar
Denzel Washington has consistently delivered standout performances — including as a director in recent years! — across his decades-long career. He already has two Oscars to his name and could be on his way to a third Academy Award with his role in Ridley Scott‘s “Gladiator II.”
This follow-up to the 2000 Best Picture champ stars Lucius (Paul Mescal) as Lucius, the grandson of Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius. Lucius is forced into slavery but resolves to fight as a gladiator under the leadership of power broker Macrinus. And that’s where Washington comes in. The titanic Washington plays Macrinus, who is the mentor figure to Lucius and also opposes the rule of emperors Caracalla (Fred Hechinger) and Geta (Joseph Quinn).
We are predicting that Washington will be nominated for Best Supporting Actor alongside Samuel L. Jackson (“The Piano Lesson”), Clarence Maclin (“Sing Sing”), Kieran Culkin (“A Real Pain”), and Stanley Tucci (“Conclave”). This would be his 10th Oscar nomination. He has contended for Best Supporting Actor twice — in 1988 for “Cry Freedom” and in 1990 for “Glory.” He has also been up for Best Actor seven times, for: “Malcolm X” in 1993, “The Hurricane” in 2000, “Training Day” in 2002, “Flight” in 2013, “Fences” in 2017, “Roman J. Israel, Esq.” in 2018, and “The Tragedy of Macbeth” in 2022.
Ten bids would tie him with Bette Davis and Laurence Olivier (Nine noms is the same number as Spencer Tracy, Paul Newman, and Al Pacino). Jack Nicholson and Katharine Hepburn received a dozen nominations each while Meryl Streep reaped a record 21.
Were Washington to win, he would join this exclusive of three-time champs:
Walter Brennan — Best Supporting Actor for “Come and Get It” in 1937, Best Supporting Actor for “Kentucky” in 1939, and Best Supporting Actor for “The Westerner” in 1941.
Ingrid Bergman — Best Actress for “Gaslight” in 1945, Best Actress for “Anastasia” in 1957, and Best Supporting Actress for “Murder on the Orient Express” in 1975.
Jack Nicholson — Best Actor for “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” in 1976, Best Supporting Actor for “Terms of Endearment” in 1984, and Best Actor for “As Good as it Gets” in 1998.
Meryl Streep — Best Supporting Actress for “Kramer vs. Kramer” in 1980, Best Actress for “Sophie’s Choice” in 1983, and Best Actress for “The Iron Lady” in 2012.
Daniel Day-Lewis — Best Actor for “My Left Foot” in 1990, Best Actor for “There Will Be Blood” in 2008, and Best Actor for “Lincoln” in 2013.
Frances McDormand — Best Actress for “Fargo” in 1997, Best Actress for “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” in 2018, and Best Actress for “Nomadland” in 2021.
Hepburn holds the record for most acting Oscar wins with four victories. She won Best Actress four times: in 1934 for “Morning Glory,” in 1968 for “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner,” in 1969 for “The Lion in Winter,” and in 1982 for “On Golden Pond.”
Hepburn also holds the record for biggest gap between acting Oscar wins with 48 years between her respective “Morning Glory” and “On Golden Pond” victories. If Washington were to win, it would be 22 years after his last victory for “Training Day.” For more stats on biggest gap between acting bids, visit here.
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