Even if Gladiator II is essentially an unapologetic ... for Denzel’s benefit. Denzel didn’t just laugh at every joke; the sound coming from his mouth was more like a schoolboy’s giggle.

Washington has high hopes for Gladiator II, calling it “the biggest” production he’s worked on in terms of scale. “It is big, and it's brutal, and it's violent, and it's fun and escapism ...