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Denzel Washington has spoken out against American politics, warning people of being “manipulated” by both sides of the political spectrum.
In a new interview with the Sunday Times about Gladiator 2, in which Washington co-stars with Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal, the interviewer quotes a line from the movie: “Empires fall, emperors fall.”
“You know, it’s very easy to stand outside of America and say this and that,” the 69-year-old actor responded. “Turn around, you know? Choose your country. Anyone.”
“But listen,” he continued. “It’s all politics. All the promises were not kept. And we’re in the information age, and if anything, it’s better to learn how to use the tools to manipulate people, whether you’re on the left or on the right. .”
He went on to quote a line from his 1985 debut film, Carbon Copy. Yes, there used to be one – it was called the Stone Age. ”
“We are now slaves to information. We really are. We are all slaves,” the Equalizer alum insisted. “So no matter how you feel about leaders, like this person is crazy or that person is sane, you better realize that you are being manipulated by both sides. Period. So go to the movies.”
Critics have praised Washington’s performance as Macrinath, a former slave turned evil slave trader, in the belated Ridley Scott sequel, which is the third Oscar winner for the two-time Oscar winner. I predict that it will be a strong candidate for the Academy Award.
Currently in theaters, Gladiator II follows the 2000 original, starring Russell Crowe as the Roman soldier Maximus and Joaquin Phoenix as the traitor Commodus. The new film stars Paul Mescal as the grown-up Lucius, the son of Maximus, whom Crowe murdered, and follows his journey to reclaim Rome and restore it to its former glory.
Gladiator II has already grossed an estimated $87 million at the international box office, making it the biggest overseas opening for a Scott film.
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Last week, director Washington made headlines for claiming that he plans to retire after producing five more films, including Black Panther 3.
“I play Hannibal, and I’ve been talking to Steve McQueen about the movie ever since,” Washington said. “Then Ryan Coogler is writing my role in the next ‘Black Panther.’ After that, I’m going to do a movie called ‘Othello.’ After this, I’ll do King Lear. After that, I’ll retire. I’m going to do it,” he said on an episode of Australia’s Today show.
Washington has since set the record straight about the future of his career, telling BuzzFeed: I said it had to be at a level of interest to me.
“I’m more interested in getting behind the camera so that’s about five years away. It’s very difficult. I might have used the word ‘retirement’ but… We’re looking at it in three sections – Learn, Earn, and Return. I’m at the halfway point in my life. ”
