As a cinephile who has witnessed the grandeur of cinematic history unfold before my eyes, I can confidently say that the upcoming sequel, “Gladiator II,” is set to redefine the bar for epic storytelling. The star-studded cast, which includes some of today’s most talented actors, is undeniably a testament to the film’s potential greatness.
Gladiator II has a star-studded cast with the likes of Paul Mescal, Connie Nielsen, and Pedro Pascal barely making up a fraction of the talent the film is offering. So, when the movie’s own Denzel Washington is singing the praise of one cast member in particular that he believes to be the standout, we should listen, right? Well, said performance came from none other than Sherry, the monkey who played Dundas in the Gladiator II sequel, and her costar Fred Hechinger will not rest until she gets her flowers in show business.
In a recent conversation with the cast prior to the 2024 film premiere, I learned that when the topic of Dundas arose, Hechinger shared with me his intensive “monkey schooling” which enabled him to convincingly portray the eccentric leader Caracalla.
Essentially, the character is named Dundas, however, she’s portrayed by the remarkable simian actress Sherry in the film. I suspect that everyone who watches it will share my admiration… To prepare for our roles, I arrived a bit early and began working with her to build comfort between us. By the time we stepped onto the set, we functioned more like a team. While Paul was honing his gladiator skills, I focused on monkey training.
In the movie “Gladiator II”, Dundas is portrayed as Caracalla’s loyal companion, often seen playfully leaping on his shoulders. This behavior aligns with comparisons to Commodus, played by Joaquin Phoenix, but Hechinger intentionally avoided mimicking Phoenix. Instead, he and his brother Geta (played by Joseph Quinn) chose to carve their unique paths, deviating from the traditional heroic actions like riding a rhinoceros. They found an entertainingly eccentric route instead.
In the movie, it wasn’t just Fred Hechinger who formed a bond with Sherry. The clever monkey could be spotted scampering across Denzel Washington’s back and shoulders too! When I asked Washington about the performances that left an impression on him, he was quick to commend Sherry. Moreover, he hinted that Sherry showed signs of understanding Caracalla’s psychopathy and even attempted to escape with Washington instead.
The monkey named Dundas seemed determined to stay close by. I believe he was beginning to understand the situation. It felt like he was saying, ‘I need to escape from here.’ I think he could sense something was amiss.
That’s high praise from Denzel, who is already receiving Oscar buzz for his performance in the film. Our own Sarah El-Mahmoud also confirmed that his performance is worth the price of admission in her official Gladiator II review. He’s obviously a worthy addition to the legacy of the now-franchise, as is Sherry the monkey, and although it took a considerable amount of time for the sequel to come our way, the talent involved alone makes it worth the wait.
marked on my calendar that I’ll be catching “Gladiator II” in theaters on November 22! Denzel Washington, Fred Hechinger, and even Sherry the monkey are set to grace the silver screen alongside this epic production. The buzz among critics has been deafening, with many praising it highly. So, I’m excited to join the conversation and see what makes this film so special for myself!
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2024-11-18 23:07