Director Ridley Scott presents the sequel to 'Gladiator' (2000) after 24 years. When asked about his return with a sequel after such a long time, he laughed, saying, "How do you think? Are you kidding?"

He shared, "I get a lot of questions about why the production took so long. Sequels are risky because many think they're often not as good as the first one."

And with good reason, as 'Gladiator' won five awards at the 73rd Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It has a solid fan base worldwide, and expectations are high.

They diligently paid attention to quality. In fact, a sequel was written four years after the first movie. However, the satisfaction level was low. Revising the script took more time.

On the 25th, the team of 'Gladiator 2' held a virtual press conference. Attendees included actors Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen, Fred Hechinger, and director Ridley Scott.

'Gladiator 2' is set over twenty years after the death of Maximus and tells the story of Lucius, who engages in a life-and-death duel at the Colosseum for the fate of Rome.

Director Ridley Scott recalled the preparation process. "The writer started working on the sequel four years after the release of the first film. We shelved it for about four more years because it didn’t feel quite right."

He continued earnestly, "I kept waiting. I was busy with various things. I believed there would be some sort of milestone that would guide us."

He found the answer in the first film. "I thought it would be about the story of the surviving mother and son from the first film. Once conceptualized, we decided to create this story and worked hard on it."

Lucilla (played by Connie Nielsen) serves as the link between the first and second films. Connie Nielsen shared, "After the first film, I gave birth to five children and was able to take on this role again. It's unbelievable."

She added, "Returning to this universe and working with Ridley again felt like a gift. I feel that my first working experience is etched deeply within me," she said with a smile.

The new film reflects director Ridley Scott’s concerns. "While our movie aims to entertain, it also requires historical accuracy," he emphasized.

"It's a story over a thousand years old. We examined everything in detail, from Roman architecture and costumes to lifestyle ceremonies, until it felt like we could smell ancient Rome," he pointed out.

He continued, "The Roman Empire occupies a significant part of history. We approached it by fully understanding historical facts and figuring out how to create my version of it on film."

The director mentioned, "Movies should be intriguing while also providing information. During that time, Christians were eaten alive. I hope people consider the fact that such horrifying events happened."

Denzel Washington was impressed by the director's planning skills. "The set had many steps and was overwhelmingly large. The director made it possible for the actors to become Romans of the time," he recalled.

"It was overwhelmingly large."

He added, "I felt that this person (the director) was serious and not joking around. The actors are internally immersed, but they are ready once they physically arrive on set."

Director Ridley Scott reduced the actors' burden with a fast-paced shoot. "Before I became a film director, I shot many commercials, including an Apple ad featuring Steve Jobs," he revealed.

That experience led to quick filming. "I believe you can deliver all the information in 30 to 60 seconds. In fact, actors would prefer to shoot 39 times, if possible," he explained.

He continued, "Good casting is a director’s skill. A director's role is to let the actors shine. There's no need to shoot multiple times. Two takes are enough to get good results."

He quoted a saying:

"Acting is like sex, Don't talk about it. Just do it"

Director Ridley Scott said, "Actors are anxious about whether the first take will be in the movie. But they do it anyway. I like that. It's interesting," he emphasized.

'Gladiator 2' introduces a new hero and completes a narrative full of tension. It promises even more powerful and spectacular action scenes and raises expectations with the inclusion of talented actors.

The inclusion of talented actors raises expectations.

Paul Mescal becomes the new gladiator, taking on the role of 'Lucius'. He recalled, "I never imagined joining the second film." He delivers charismatic and delicate emotional performances.

He recalled, "The director's ability to implement plans was quick. At that time, I thought my life was really going to change," he smiled. "I bulked up to an unprecedented level, training every day," he recalled.

Denzel Washington reunited with the director after a long time since 'American Gangster' (2007). "The previous film was a huge success. This time, too, he created a great movie worthy of a master," he stressed.

Finally, the actors left greetings for the Korean audience. "Enjoy watching with popcorn," "Thank you so much, Korea," "We hope you watch it on the big screen at the cinema," they concluded.

Meanwhile, 'Gladiator 2' is set to premiere worldwide in Korea on the 13th of next month.

<Photo courtesy of Lotte Entertainment>