The action extravaganza is about to begin. Ridley Scotts Gladiator II in theaters on Friday and we spoke with Pedro Pascal and Connie Nielsen about the highly anticipated sequel and what it was like working with the iconic director. RT correspondent Nikki Novak also chatted with Scott as he shared his costume and prop selection process and detailed the epic monkey fight scene.

Nikki Novak for Rotten Tomatoes: Can you describe what it feels like the day after you wake up from the fight against Paul (Mescal)? What happens to your body?

Pedro Pascal: I still feel it. Listen, Ridley Scott will set up so many cameras and he’ll shoot something from start to finish. So the point is that the sequence goes from action to cut, and instead of bits (where) we put the stuntman in here and do this bit here, you do the whole thing. We learned the whole thing, but on the day with the costumes, with the cameras rolling, with another actor… yes, he (Ridley Scott), famous, thank God, doesn’t do multiple takes, but Paul is very strong and he is. an athlete and a lot of younger than me and it was amazing to physically experience his power. And what it felt like the next day is a place I never want to be again.