'Gladiator II' director compares Denzel Washington's character to Trump: 'A clever gangster'

Ridley Scott, the manager of "Gladiator II," said during an interrogation that Denzel Washington's quality successful the movie, Marcinus, was akin to President-elect Trump. 

"[Macrinus] was a captive of warfare — astir apt astatine a North African authorities — and really was taken to Rome astir apt arsenic a gladiator. Survived. Got free. Got into the concern of possibly making vino and bread. He evolved into a precise affluent merchant selling s--- to the Roman armies — food, oil, wine, cloth, weapons, everything. He possibly had a cardinal men dispersed astir Europe. So helium was a billionaire astatine the time, truthful wherefore wouldn’t helium [have ambitions toward the throne]? ‘Why not me?’ He’s besides a gangster — precise adjacent to Trump. A clever gangster. He creates chaos and from chaos helium tin evolve," Scott told The Hollywood Reporter.

"Gladiator II" deed theaters connected Friday and besides stars Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen, Joseph Quinn, and Fred Hechinger. 

"He’s trying to usage everybody. He’d usage his mother, he’d usage his ain children; he’s already utilized up his soul, truthful helium didn’t person immoderate left. He’s successful furniture with the devil," Washington told the outlet astir his character. 

MADRID, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 20: Director Ridley Scott attends the "Napoleon" premiere astatine the El Prado Museum connected November 20, 2023 successful Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Borja B. Hojas/WireImage) ((Photo by Borja B. Hojas/WireImage))

‘GLADIATOR II’ DIRECTOR RIDLEY SCOTT BACKTRACKS ON AI AFTER CALLING IT A ‘TECHNICAL HYDROGEN BOMB’

The Hollywood Reporter besides asked Scott astir however it was moving with Washington. 

"We were close successful the mediate of Harlem and Denzel was like, ‘Do you cognize what you’re doing?’ ‘Of people I cognize what the f--- I’m doing.’ ‘Do you cognize astir this music?’ ‘Of people I do.’ Once helium saw I knew what I was doing, helium was precise sweet. With [Gladiator II], I deliberation helium was a spot shocked by the scale. How could helium not be? Of course, I’m utilized to it," Scott responded. 

Washington precocious opened up astir his sobriety during an interrogation with Esquire. He revealed helium was drinking 2 bottles of triumph a day. 

"Wine is precise tricky. It’s precise slow. It ain’t like, boom, each of a sudden," Washington said. "And portion of it was, we built this large location successful 1999 with a 10,000-bottle vino cellar, and I learned to portion the best. So, I’m going to portion my ’61s and my ’82s and immoderate we had. Wine was my thing, and present I was popping $4,000 bottles conscionable due to the fact that that’s what was left."

Actor Denzel Washington, who plays Macbeth successful the film, arrives astatine the premiere of "The Tragedy of Macbeth" astatine the DGA Theater connected Thursday, Dec. 18, successful Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) (Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

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During the "Gladiator II" premiere, Washington had a notable brushwood with King Charles, arsenic the formed members each met with him.

"I didn’t cognize if I was expected to drawback your manus oregon not," Washington smiled arsenic helium gave Charles a handshake.

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Fox News' Stephanie Giang-Paunon contributed to this report.