After working alongside Ridley Scott for the Gladiator II is set to follow the next generation of vengeful gladiators through the eyes of Paul Mescal's Lucius Verus. Washington ed the cast as the former slave, Macrinus. The movie is set to be released on November 22 and could help Scott obtain the award that has always eluded him through his decades in Hollywood: The Best Director Oscar.

In an interview with BBC Radio 1, Washington attempted to begin the campaign for Scott to take home Best Director at the Academy Awards. The actor argued that the voters were failing to appropriately reward an exceptional director. When the interviewer prompted him about a potential Honorary Award, Washington shot the idea down, arguing that Scott deserves true recognition for his work. Check out his quote below:

Would you tell somebody how can this man not have an Academy Award? How can he… do your job. I mean seriously though…. Believe me, and I'm not talking out a turn, he doesn't give a… He's got him lined up like planes over Cleveland, and he's excited about it, and he knows what he's going to do next. I mean, I want to be him when I grow up.

What Denzel Washington's Comments Mean For Ridley Scott

Washington Could Help Scott Take Home An Oscar

Ridley Scott has developed a wide variety of movies over the years, ranging from science-fiction horror to historical epics to conventional war movies. He created 1979's Alien, 1982's Blade Runner, 1991's Thelma & Louise, 2000's Gladiator, and 2001's Hannibal and Black Hawk Down. He worked with numerous distributors, all the while crafting well-regarded and memorable features that continue to earn recognition today. Scott has won BAFTA Awards, Golden Globe Awards, and Primetime Emmy Awards, but he has never earned the ever-elusive Best Director from the Oscars.

Ridley Scott has been active in Hollywood for 61 years.

Should his sequel become a critical darling, Scott could very well take home the award. The Gladiator II reviews have already proven to be positive, as he has secured a 75% score on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer so far. Washington's comments could ignite recognition among voters that Scott deserves acknowledgment at this year's Oscars. If he can run his campaign effectively, it could very well sway hearts and minds in March. There is not an excessive amount of competition this year, though Dune: Part Two, Anora, and Conclave could very well stand above the Gladiator sequel.

Our Take On Ridley Scott's Academy Awards Record

It Is Shocking That Scott Does Not Have An Oscar

Washington's comments speak to a surprise that is entirely understandable. After all, 61 years into his career, it is stunning that Scott has never earned that recognition from the Academy. He is a legendary director who has been showcasing his range for decades. If anyone deserves a lifetime achievement award, Ridley Scott is undoubtedly among them. The $250 million Gladiator II could be enough to finally earn him the coveted recognition. If it does, it will finally right a wrong that has endured for decades.

Source: BBC Radio 1