Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II” is being hailed as one of the director’s best works in years. The sequel revisits the high-stakes world of ancient Rome with a new generation of characters, while keeping the spirit of the Oscar-winning original alive.

Academy Award winner Denzel Washington stars as Macrinus, a wealthy arms dealer hungry for power. Paul Mescal plays Lucius, the son of Russell Crowe’s Maximus from the original film, who is now under the control of Macrinus. Connie Nielsen returns in her role as Lucilla, mother of Lucius and daughter of Emperor Marcus Aurelius.

“It’s about bloodline, it’s about legacy. It’s about all those things,” Mescal said. “Gladiator II is about what’s left after Gladiator I. So you have to acknowledge the spirit of it.”

Washington confidently stated that the sequel holds its own compared to its 24-year-old predecessor.

“Gladiator II is Gladiator II,” Washington said. “It stands alone.”

Mescal admitted he was nervous about stepping into the role and battling imposter syndrome. But he remained focused on the film’s legacy.

“We have to make a movie. We have a legacy to uphold with this movie. I have people I admire,” Mescal said.

Collaborating with Ridley Scott

Washington praised director Scott’s ability to bring an authentic and compelling world of ancient Rome back to life.

“It made our job easy,” Washington said. ‘He built Rome. All we had to do was put on the gear, you know, put on an accent if you want – or not – and do that.”

Mescal shared a memorable moment while filming in Morocco, where he saw different techniques Scott used to get the actors into character.

“What (Scott) had set up: eight cameras, all the cameramen are dressed in costumes so you can’t really see them. I thought, if I can’t act in this environment, it’s game over,” Mescal said.

Nielsen described Scott’s directing style as dynamic and constantly evolving.

‘With him everything is always a living organism. Everything is being changed,” she said. “He wants you to bring that stuff up when you walk in there. He doesn’t want you sitting down and talking about that two weeks early. He wants you to take it to the set, try this, try that. “

“He’s a master at what he does. I’m pretty good at what I do, too. So there’s understanding and freedom,” Washington said. “Sometimes I trap him, sometimes he traps me. It’s inspiring.”

“Gladiator II” will be in cinemas from November 22.