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Denzel Washington has spoken out against American politics and warned people that they are being ‘manipulated’ by both sides of the political spectrum.

In a new interview with The Sunday times for Gladiator 2 – in which Washington stars alongside Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal – the interviewer quoted a line from the film and said: “Empires fall, so do emperors.”

“You know, it’s so easy to stand outside America and say this and that,” the 69-year-old actor responded. “Turn around, you know? Choose a country. Everyone.”

“But listen,” he continued. “It’s all political. All promises not kept. And with the information age being what it is – if it is anything – the left, right or whatever had better learn how to use those tools to manipulate the people.”

He then quoted a line from his 1985 debut film Carbon copy: “Power to the people? Yes, they had it once – it was called the Stone Age. ”

‘We are all slaves to information now. We really are. We are all slaves,” The equalizer alum claimed. “So whatever you think about the leaders, like this guy is crazy or the other guy is sane, you better realize you’re being manipulated by both sides. Period. So go to the movies.”

Washington’s performance as former slave and scheming slave trader Macrinus in the late Ridley Scott sequel is being praised by critics, who predict the two-time Oscar winner could be a shoo-in for his third Academy Award.

Now in cinemas, Gladiator II picks up after the events of the 2000 original, which starred Russell Crowe as Roman soldier Maximus and Joaquin Phoenix as his traitor Commodus. Starring Paul Mescal as an adult Lucius, the son of Crowe’s murdered Maximus, the new film follows his journey to reclaim Rome and restore it to its former glory.

Gladiator II has already debuted to an estimated $87 million at the international box office, making it the biggest overseas opening for any Scott film.

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Last week, Washington made headlines for claims that he is about to retire after making his next five films, including: Black Panther 3.

“I play Hannibal. Then I talked to Steve McQueen about a movie,” Washington said. “After that, Ryan Coogler writes a role for me in the next Black Panther. Then I’ll make the film Othello. Then I’ll do it King Lear. Then I’ll retire,” he said on an episode of Australia’s Today show.

Washington has since rectified the future of his career Buzz Feed: “I didn’t say I was going to retire. I said it had to be an interest level for me.

“I’m more interested in being behind the camera, so that’s about five years from now. It’s very difficult. I may have used the word “retire”…but I look at life in three parts: you learn, you earn, and you come back. I am in the last part of life.”