Gladiator 2’s Fred Hechinger reveals improvised monkey moment

As a die-hard movie enthusiast with years of film buffdom under my belt, I must say that Fred Hechinger‘s journey in “Gladiator II” has been nothing short of enthralling! The young actor not only shared screen space with Joseph Quinn but also with an unexpected co-star – Sherry the Monkey.


In the movie “Gladiator II,” Fred Hechinger’s main acting partner wasn’t only Joseph Quinn, but the other one turned out to be somewhat unforeseeable as well.

In the sequel, Co-Emperor Hechinger frequently appears alongside his pet monkey, Dundus, marking the debut of Sherry the monkey in her film career.

He shared, “I sincerely hope this isn’t her final appearance; she’s fantastic.” This sentiment was expressed to Digital Spy, noting several crucial instances where Sherry exercised decision-making that ultimately found their way into the film.

In a striking departure from the original script, Sherry introduced an essential transition leap performed by Dundus between characters, which isn’t typically seen. Since Ridley has eight cameras constantly rolling, every angle is captured thoroughly.

Gladiator 2's Fred Hechinger reveals improvised monkey moment

When a monkey performs unexpected, amazing actions during filming, it’s crucial that these moments are captured and included in the final film.

For some actors, the unpredictability of a co-star might be a challenge, but Hechinger welcomed the unique nature of filming with Sherry.

As an actor, I truly appreciate moments of unexpectedness. I’m constantly seeking out the unanticipated, as it jolts me from my routine and undeniably, animals are always full of surprises, he clarified.

Gladiator 2's Fred Hechinger reveals improvised monkey moment

For this particular character, his nature is quite spontaneous, which explains why he has such a strong bond with the similarly impulsive monkey.

Hechinger also spoke to Digital Spy about the criticism of the historical accuracy of Gladiator 2, while Denzel Washington has responded to the early Oscar buzz for his role as Macrinus.

Gladiator II is out now in UK cinemas and is released in US cinemas on November 22.

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2024-11-15 17:48

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