Warning: SPOILERS lie ahead for Gladiator II!Gladiator II director Ridley Scott discusses the fate of Macrinus at the end of the movie, and the thematic connections to the rest of the movie. In the film, Macrinus, played by two-time Oscar-winner and longtime Scott collaborator Denzel Washington, is the charismatic and wealthy trader, who has designs on reshaping the political landscape of Rome, and keeps a stable of gladiators, including lead character Lucius. Washington’s performance as the gangster-like villain has been at the forefront of many of Gladiator II‘s rave reviews, with early buzz for an Oscar nomination swirling.

https://screenrant.com/gladiator-2-ending-macrinus-fate-thematic-connections-ridley-scott-explained/