Gladiator II's Fred Hechinger Says Acting with Denzel Washington Was Something He 'Couldn't Even Dream Up' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Fred Hechinger and Denzel Washington in Gladiator II.Photo:Paramount Pictures (2)

Paramount Pictures (2)

The White LotusactorFred Hechingermoves from the resort to the Colosseum inGladiator II— but even more daunting than starring in his first major blockbuster was acting opposite two-time Oscar winnerDenzel Washington.

Hechinger tells PEOPLE it was “a great honor” to share scenes with an actor as esteemed as Washington, 69. “It’s also an immense joy,” he says. “He’s such a deep and true actor.”

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Fred Hechinger in Gladiator II.Paramount Pictures

Paramount Pictures

Describing watching Washington’s process, Hechinger says he got “really wrapped up in it.”

“I feel that the scenes were one thing on the page, and then you walk into it and you start to play and stuff comes up,” he recalls. “That’s just so of the moment, and that’s what it was every day with him. He’s just so there.”

Hechinger, who also stars in the upcoming dramaNickel Boysand action filmKraven the Hunter, adds that he had many “pinch-me” moments on set with the legendaryTraining Dayactor.

“There are dreams and then there are things that are beyond dreams that you couldn’t even dream this up,” he says. “And working with him in this way felt like that.”

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Gladiator IIis in theaters now.

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source: people.com