Not entertained by this year’s exciting and unpredictable Oscar race? Well, it should be, because Ridley Scott’s epic and potentially major blockbuster sequel, ‘Gladiator II’, has hit the scene after its first screening in Los Angeles to an audience of AMPAS and SAG voters.

The highly anticipated sequel to Best Picture winner “Gladiator” (2000) ignites the spark for Scott, the three-time Oscar-nominated director, to win his long-coveted Academy Award. Moreover, its stars Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington are now contenders in their respective acting races.

After earning his first Oscar nomination for best actor for “Aftersun” (2022), Mescal was able to return to the category for his leading role in “Gladiator II.” Meanwhile, Washington, who already has two acting Oscars, could be in contention for a third and potentially join a small list of three-time acting winners including Frances McDormand, Jack Nicholson and Daniel Day-Lewis. Washington will join the supporting actor race.

Read: You can see all Academy Award predictions in all 23 categories on one page Variety Awards circuit.

Most initial reactions from attendees at the first screening in Los Angeles were positive.

Jillian Chilingerian of OffScreenCentral wrote“Engrave Denzel Washington’s name on the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for ‘Gladiator 2’ here.”

Scott Mantz, KTLA contributor, called the film ‘an epic sequel’, further stating that the film has ‘great action, stunning visual effects and great performances across the board’.

“’Gladiator II’ serves up the richest feast in its epic action scenes and deliciously bawdy betrayals,” wrote Freelancer Simon Thompson.

Matt Brennan of the LA Times said TThe film has “absolutely sick shit”, further calling it “the ‘we’ll be right back’ of bloody costume heroes.”

“Gladiator II” takes place 16 years after the events of the first film. The story follows Lucius (Mescal) – the grandson of the former Emperor of Rome Marcus Aurelius and son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) and Maximus (Russell Crowe). Lucius now lives with his wife and child in Numidia. However, when Roman soldiers led by General Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal) invade, he is forced into slavery. He must fight as a gladiator on behalf of the current young emperors, Caracalla and Geta (Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger).

Scott’s awards campaign is a major focus for Paramount Pictures, which is also highlighting Robbie Williams’ musical biopic “Better Man” and the newly acquired 1972 Munich Olympics hostage drama “September 5” this awards season. Of Scott’s three previous Oscar bids – which also included ‘Thelma & Louise’ (1991) and ‘Black Hawk Down’ (2001) – ‘Gladiator’ was his best shot at victory, losing to double nominee Steven Soderbergh for “Traffic” (his other nomination was for “Erin Brockovich”).

Although Scott’s critical reception has been inconsistent in recent years (i.e., “Robin Hood” and “Exodus: Gods and Kings”), “Gladiator II” may be his best work since “Black Hawk Down.” Even though the sequel mostly excels in technical categories, history has shown that visually stunning films like Ang Lee’s “Life of Pi” or Alfonso Cuarón’s “Gravity” can still propel directors to the Dolby Theater stage. Of course, Denis Villeneuve’s stunning “Dune: Part Two” will be fishing for the same categories. Is there room for both?

Interestingly enough, Oscar history shows that a director whose film won Best Picture but lost the director category can still return to win with a sequel. Francis Ford Coppola achieved this when he lost best director for “The Godfather” (1972), but won the category with “The Godfather Part II” (1974), taking home six Oscars that night, including best film. Could the ‘Gladiator’ franchise follow a similar playbook? An adapted scenario name would be crucial, but that category is already overflowing with candidates.

“Gladiator II” could also be a favorite with the Actors Branch. Washington’s funny and sinister portrayal of the evil Macrinus, a former slave plotting to take control of Rome, ranks as one of his most charismatic and compelling performances. With the most stunning costumes and a pair of hypnotic earrings, his work harkens back to his second Oscar win as the corrupt narcotics officer Alonzo in ‘Training Day’.

Villain roles traditionally perform well in the supporting category, with past winners including Javier Bardem (“No Country for Old Men”), Christoph Waltz (“Inglourious Basterds”) and Heath Ledger (“The Dark Knight”). Washington came close to nabbing a third Oscar quite recently with his self-directed role in “Fences” (2016), but fell just short of Casey Affleck for “Manchester by the Sea,” even after winning the SAG Award. However, with a seemingly smaller roster of contenders and no clear frontrunner emerging, Washington could be positioned as the new favorite to take it all. At the very least, after more than fifty films and countless criticisms, he could also receive his first BAFTA nomination.

“Gladiator II” opens in theaters from Paramount on November 22.