Denzel Washington Talks 'Gladiator II' Role: "I'm Going Crazy" | THR News Video - video Dailymotion

Hollywood Journal

Denzel Washington is saying Ridley Scott made it easy to get into his 'Gladiator II' role. The legendary actor joined the 'Gladiator' sequel cast at an early screening of the film over the weekend. During the Q&A portion, the actor who plays a wealthy arms dealer and former gladiator who plots to control Rome, joked to the audience, "He's misunderstood. He's a nice fellow" before adding that his character is, "in bed with the devil."

Transcript

00:00I own you now, but whose head could I give you to satisfy your fury?

00:06Denzel Washington is saying Ridley Scott made it easy to get into his Gladiator 2 role.

00:11The legendary actor joined the Gladiator sequel cast at an early screening of the film over the weekend.

00:16During the Q&A portion, the actor, who plays a wealthy arms dealer and former gladiator who plots to control Rome,

00:22joked to the audience, he's misunderstood, he's a nice fellow,

00:25before adding that his character is, quote, in bed with the devil.

00:29Washington also explained that Scott made their work easy by building life-size sets as they shot in Malta.

00:35When you would walk around, you were in Rome, and it seemed like 10,000 extras and horses.

00:39It was make-believe. It was play. It was fun.

00:41Just put the gear on, put the dress on, and go. That's the way I look at it.

00:45I'm putting this dress on, these rings, and I'm going crazy.

00:48It will clear my path to the throne.

00:51You will be my instrument.

00:53I will never be your instrument.

00:54The film sees Paul Meskel playing Lucius, a nephew of Emperor Commodus from the original film played by Joaquin Phoenix.

01:01Lucius returns to Rome after being forced into slavery to battle not as a ruler, but as a gladiator out for revenge and power,

01:08seeking to return the glory of Rome to its people.

01:11The Normal People star told a story about how on the first day of shooting,

01:14he was sitting in the production tent when Scott came in with a cigar.

01:17I was absolutely shitting myself, and he looks at me, he goes,

01:21you nervous? And I didn't know what the appropriate answer was, so I was like, eh.

01:25He's like, your nerves are no f***ing good to me. March is out, cameras are turning over.

01:29Meskel noted that the sequel, coming 24 years after the original,

01:33wears the legacy of the first film with intense pride and honor,

01:36but I think it takes it in a direction that drives that honor and respect through the roof.

01:40Lucius, take your father's strength.

01:43His name was Maximus, and I see him in you.

01:48For more on this story, head to THR.com.

01:50And for the latest entertainment news and updates, keep watching The Hollywood Reporter News.

Denzel Washington Talks 'Gladiator II' Role: "I'm Going Crazy" | THR News Video

Category

Transcript

Be the first to comment

Recommended