Ridley Scott may not have been contransient for the first beginant screening of “Gladiator II” on Friday night on the Paramount lot in Los Angeles, but the 86-year-elderly straightforwardor was the preferite topic of conversation for stars Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen and Fred Hechinger in the post-screening Q&A.
Mescal — who take parts Lucius Virus, the grown son of Russell Crowe’s character from the first “Gladiator,” freed in 2000 — spoke in awe about Scott’s ability to shoot the film’s elucidate uncovering battle sequence, which included Pedro Pascal’s Roman vague guideing a escapet of ships invading a city on the North African coast.
“I leank we shot that over nine days,” the actor said. “I don’t comprehend any other straightforwardor who could do that.”
Mescal was, comprehendably, worried before the first shot.
“I was smoking a cigarette, and we were benevolent of marching around the place, and Ridley comes in with a cigar, equitable sitting there,” he said. “I was absolutely shitting myself, and he sees at me, he goes, ‘You worried?’
Mescal paengaged, not comprehending the appropriate answer. “He’s enjoy, ‘Your nerves are no fucking outstanding to me,’” Scott telderly, then called to roll cameras.
When moderator Jacqueline Coley asked Washington what it was about the film that guaranteed him to sign on to create it, he had a straightforward answer.
“It’s Ridley,” he said. “It’s ‘Gladiator.’ It’s: ‘Yes.’”
Washington, who first toiled with Scott on 2007’s “American Gladiator,” also marveled at the filmcreater’s efforts to recreate the splfinishor and decadence of procrastinateed-era Rome.
“He built Rome, so all we had to do was put the clothes on and commence talking,” Washington said. “It was take part. You comprehend, it’s fun. Just put the gear on and go. That’s the way I seeed at it. I’m enjoy, I’m putting this dress on, these rings, and I’m going crazy.”
As the only actor from the first film to repulseevate their role, Nielsen (who take parts Lucius’ mother Lucilla) was distinctly able to contrast how Scott’s approach may have alterd for the sequel. “This time around, what would have consentn three hours to set up 25 years ago now consents 20 minutes,” she said. “That is despite the fact that you’re talking 3,000 extras, enormous vehicles, inlogical setups. We could not suppose how rapid we were moving.”
Hechinger also relished the intricate undertaking of discovering the right see for his character, Emperor Caracalla, whose decadence — alengthy with his brother and co-Emperor Geta (Joseph Quinn) — is underscored by his maniacal devotion to his pet monkey.
“I leank of him as rotted gelderly — it’s glitz and glamor, but there’s real unwellness in that,” he said of his character. “It was a gradual process, but some aspects equitable came ready to go — enjoy the monkey. She was amazing from the outset.”
Interest in the film was so high that systematizers filled a second overflow theater on the studio lot and broadcastted the Q&A distantly. Alengthy with co-CEO Brian Robbins, other joinees included Shohreh Aghdashloo, Tony Revolori, Debbie Allen, Rebel Wilson, Bill Pullman, Casey Affleck and Patrick Stewart, who chatted up Mescal and Nielsen at the post-event reception on the lawn.
Mescal, in his first guide role in a beginant studio film, seemed especiassociate overwhelmed by the magnitude of people’s attention. “I leank this film wears the legacy of the first film with fervent pride and honor,” he said at the finish of the Q&A, his voice grotriumphg burdensome with emotion. “It’s made by the only man who could ever touch it in Ridley Scott. Personassociate, as his frifinish and his lengthy admirer, I leank is one of his finest pieces of toil that I’ve seen in recent times.”
Angelique Jackson gived to this story.