Isn't this year's exciting and unpredictable Oscar race entertaining you? Well, you should be, because Ridley Scott's epic and potentially huge blockbuster sequel Gladiator II has exploded onto the scene after its first screening in Los Angeles in front of an audience of AMPAS and SAG voters.

The long-awaited sequel to Best Picture winner Gladiator (2000) ignites the spark in Scott, the three-time Oscar-nominated director, to be in the running to win his long-awaited Oscar. Additionally, its stars Paul Mescal and Denzel Washington are now contenders in their respective acting competitions.

After earning his first Best Actor Oscar nomination for 2022's “Aftersun,” Mescal could find himself back in the category for his lead role in “Gladiator II.” Meanwhile, Washington, who has already won two acting Oscars, could be in contention for a third, potentially joining a small list of three-time acting winners including Frances McDormand, Jack Nicholson and Daniel Day-Lewis. Washington will be in the supporting cast race.

To read: You can see all Oscar predictions in all 23 categories on one page diversity Awards ceremony.

Most initial reactions from attendees at the first screening in Los Angeles were positive.

Jillian Chilingerian of OffScreenCentral wrote“In this case, put Denzel Washington's name in the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for Gladiator 2.”

Scott Mantz, KTLA contributor, called The film is “an epic sequel,” adding that it features “great action, amazing visual effects and outstanding performances across the board.”

“'Gladiator II' offers the richest feast of epic action set pieces and deliciously bawdy betrayals.” wrote Freelancer Simon Thompson.

Matt Brennan of the LA Times said tThe film is “absolutely crazy shit” and further describes it as “the 'We're so back' of bloody costume epics.”

“Gladiator II” takes place 16 years after the events of the first film. The story revolves around Lucius (Mescal) – the grandson of former Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius and son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) and Maximus (Russell Crowe). Lucius now lives in Numidia with his wife and child. However, when Roman soldiers led by General Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal) invade, he is forced into slavery. He must fight as a gladiator at the behest of the current young emperors Caracalla and Geta (Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger).

Scott's awards campaign is a major focus for Paramount Pictures, which is also pushing musical biopic “Better Man,” about Robbie Williams, and newly acquired hostage tragedy “September 5,” about the 1972 Munich Olympics, this awards season. Of Scott's three previous directing Oscar bids – which also include “Thelma & Louise” (1991) and “Black Hawk Down” (2001) – “Gladiator” was his best chance at winning, losing to double nominee Steven Soderbergh for “Traffic”. (his other nomination was for “Erin Brockovich”).

While Scott's critical reception has been mixed in recent years (e.g. “Robin Hood” and “Exodus: Gods and Kings”), “Gladiator II” may be his best work since “Black Hawk Down.” Even though the sequel shines primarily in technical categories, history has shown that visually stunning films like Ang Lee's “Life of Pi” or Alfonso Cuarón's “Gravity” can still catapult directors onto the Dolby Theater stage. Of course, Denis Villeneuve's stunning film Dune: Part Two will appeal to the same categories. Is there room for both?

Interestingly, Oscar history shows that a director whose film won Best Picture but lost in the Director category can still return to the winner with a sequel. Francis Ford Coppola achieved this when he lost the best director award for The Godfather (1972), but won the category with The Godfather II (1974), which took home six Oscars that night, including the Oscar for best film. Could the “Gladiator” franchise follow a similar pattern? An adapted screenplay nom would be crucial, but this category is already teeming with candidates.

“Gladiator II” could also be a favorite in the acting industry. Washington's entertaining and sinister portrayal of the villainous Macrinus, a former slave plotting to control Rome, is considered one of his most charismatic and compelling portrayals. With the most stunning costumes and a pair of mesmerizing earrings, his work is reminiscent of his second Oscar win as corrupt drug agent Alonzo in Training Day.

Villain roles traditionally fare well in the supporting actor category, with previous winners including Javier Bardem (“No Country for Old Men”), Christoph Waltz (“Inglourious Basterds”) and Heath Ledger (“The Dark Knight”). Washington recently nearly secured a third Oscar for his self-directed role in 2016's “Fences,” only to fall behind Casey Affleck for “Manchester by the Sea,” even after winning the SAG Award. However, Washington could position itself as the new favorite to win, as the list of candidates appears to be thinner and no clear front-runner emerges. At least he could also score his first BAFTA nomination after more than 50 films and countless snubs.

“Gladiator II” hits theaters November 22nd from Paramount.