The director explains the backstory behind Washington's scene-stealing character, and how he's not unlike the president-elect.

Now, director Ridley Scott is returning to ancient Rome with the long-awaited sequel, "Gladiator II" which hits theaters Friday. The film stars Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen, and Pedro Pascal in a story set in the same brutal Roman Empire —one that didn't leave Scott's mind in the years since its first release.

It’s been nearly 25 years since legendary director Ridley Scott made sword-and-sandal epics popular again with his box office juggernaut. That 2000 blockbuster boasted