Exclusive: Denzel Washington calls Gladiator II ‘Cecil B. DeMille on steroids’ as he opens up on playing Macrinus

Ridley Scott is all set to bring his historical epic Gladiator II to theatres worldwide on November 15 this year. The show stars an ensemble cast including Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Lior Raz, Derek Jacobi, Connie Nielsen, and Denzel Washington. Indiatimes got in touch with Denzel and thought why not have a quick chat on how he feels like being a part of such a magnum opus?

Denzel Washington is no ordinary actor—he’s a force of nature and a veteran star having entertained audiences for more than four decades now. In Gladiator II, he steps into the role of Macrinus, a formidable mogul whose ambition pulses through every scene. As Macrinus, he redefines what it means to hunger for power, transforming the character into a figure shaping his own empire, and rewriting the rules as he goes.

In an exclusive conversation with Indiatimes, Washington labelled his character Macrinus as possibly the richest man in Rome. He told us, “Today, many rich men build a stable of racehorses. Macrinus has a stable of gladiators. And when he adds Lucius to that stable, he has a much bigger goal in mind. Lucius is a natural-born leader and a great fighter, which makes him useful in many ways.”

“But pure rage is not a tool; it’s a disadvantage. Macrinus never wants to lose control. He doesn’t want to be the emperor. He wants to control the emperor. And power is an addictive drug. Once you have it, you can’t live without it. Once he had a taste for taking, he had to have more. He doesn’t really care about anyone. He uses them. If people can’t make him more powerful, he has no interest in them,” Denzel shared with us.

Denzel Washington, already a multiple award-winning actor, thinks?Gladiator II?is the biggest film he’s ever seen.

The 69-year-old further told Indiatimes, “It’s huge — like Cecil B. DeMille on steroids. Ridley doesn’t have a hundred guys in the battle scenes, he has a thousand of them. He doesn’t have 20 horses. He has 20 scores of horses. Everywhere you turn on this film, you’re in that world. Being on set with thousands of soldiers in beautiful costumes, brilliant colours, swords, shields, and horses made this seem like more than a movie for me. It’s a world unto itself. People are going to be blown away by what they see.”

Watch the saga that only gets?bolder, bloodier, and more epic than ever.?Gladiator II?will arrive in theatres near you on 15?November in English, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.

For more news and updates from the world of?OTT, and?celebrities?from?Bollywood?and?Hollywood, keep reading?Indiatimes Entertainment.