WATCH: Denzel Washington On Power, Ambition And The Allure Of ‘Gladiator II’

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The Academy Award-winning actor portrays Macrinus in Ridley Scott’s new epic, which premieres in theaters November 22.

Transcript

00:00I own you now

00:02But whose head could I give you to satisfy your fury?

00:06The general will do Rome has taken everything from me

00:12But I will have my vengeance

00:16People are greedy, you know people will do anything power corrupts the more we change the more we stay the same

00:30My name is Oakley Jones. I would essence and I want to thank you for taking this interview. I really appreciate you

00:36So for my first question, um, what drew you to the character of Macrinus and how did you approach?

00:41Embodying such a complex figure in the Roman Empire

00:45Ridley Scott call

00:47Ridley made a wonderful film that I was in called American gangster

00:52I was hopeful that he would call me again to do something. You know, I loved working with him

00:58This is what he came with and I said, yes, David Scarpa fashioned

01:03I think a wonderful wonderful script and in a very interesting character and then I go about doing what it is

01:09I do I do the work and from the inside out and

01:13It becomes what you what you see

01:15So you're you're very versatile as an actor, but I've noticed within the past decade or so

01:21You've been in the arm a lot of period pieces to you. You spoke about it on American gangsta came out

01:25107 I think but I'm thinking about the tragedy big bad fences the Magnificent Seven

01:31What's the allure of period piece for you?

01:33And does your preparation change at all since there's a heavier historical aspect in those time? I didn't think about that

01:40Actually, I didn't realize that

01:44Each role is different. There's no same way of getting in

01:51Sometimes it's simple as well speaking of

01:53Magnificent Seven and this film

01:56sometimes this is as simple or starts with definitely in the case of Magnificent Seven starts with

02:02The my relationship with my horse, you know

02:05And and just you know, and you build from there and and taking care of him and him taking care of me

02:13You know just looking for different challenges new challenges

02:16now I kind of wanted to talk about Magnus a little more too because

02:21I love a lot of your films, but my favorite performances from you is when you know, you play the quote-unquote villain

02:28Can you speak to me about?

02:30playing the villain in

02:33Your films and how did you approach? You know the the villain role in gladiator 2 never played a villain

02:40I've never played a villain. I don't know what that is to play a villain. I can be accused of that

02:47But I would never play a villain see I got you already that's what he does he reels you in slowly

02:54But this right behind you look. Yes behind you just turn to your left turn to your left. Yeah

03:01All the way around the other left. Yeah. Yeah, you see it. Yes. Okay. Okay, you can turn back around

03:07That was me behind you. That's where Macrinus is coming from. That was that was me behind you

03:14What you saw was yourself

03:16in my eyes

03:18Which would have been the last thing that you see

03:21That's where Macrinus is coming from and less

03:25You have something that he can take advantage of that. He could use you'd make a good gladiator. I can tell I

03:34Appreciate that I appreciate it. So can you fight you go James? I'm good. I can tell I think I'm okay

03:42Okay

03:45So but staying on Macrinus too, you know, I'm cuz I'm actually glad that you answered it like that too because a lot of

03:52Villains are or bad guys quote-unquote. They have a perception of you know

03:57What they're trying to do and they don't see themselves as that. Um, how did you navigate the balance between?

04:03Macrinus's ambition and his restraint in trying to seize that power and gladiator, too. I just think he is

04:11willing

04:14To risk everything I

04:17Think he sold his soul to the devil. I

04:20think I

04:22Don't know if he's an agent for the devil. I won't go there go go go go that far, but

04:27He's just he's bought into the dark side. He wasn't ultimate power. He's a liar. He's a thief. He's a cheap

04:36He'll do anything to anyone at any time

04:40He wants to dominate and then you spoke about of your your collaboration with really Scott

04:47earlier, too, and I know

04:49you're known for a lot of

04:52Improvisation in your portrayals to how collaborative were you and really Scott in bringing the carrots of Macrinus to life

04:59He totally gives me freedom, you know, really doesn't doesn't mess with me. He has

05:0410 12 14

05:06the cameras at the same time and and

05:10You know the this film is called gladiator not Macrinus. So the focus was on

05:15Paul and what he was doing and that that actually probably freed me up to to have more fun or to

05:22you know

05:24Manipulate and the the film touches on themes of revenge power and loyalty

05:31Um, what do you hope that our audiences would take from this film specifically from the eyes of Macrinus and your characters John?

05:38You get what you deserve

05:40You know, I I don't know what they're gonna take from it

05:45Hopefully a good time, you know and enjoy the movie. I don't want to get too deep. I don't think it necessarily reflects

05:52any political situation anywhere in the world today other than the fact that

05:58People are greedy, you know people will do anything power corrupts

06:04The more we change the more we stay the same

06:08Well, mr. Washington. Thank you. Thank you so much

06:10It's really been an honor the film is amazing and I look forward to everything that you're gonna do in the future

06:15Thank you so much. You left hand or right hand right hand it. Okay. Yeah, right hand now

06:20I was watching the way you move. I was like, okay, he might be soft boy. It was pretty good

06:25Now my mother's left. He's a lefty. Yeah, my mother's a lefty, but I'm not good with my left hand on you know

06:30I'm more of a righty

06:32You go what you're right though, great great with the right

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