Denzel Washington says same-sex kiss was cut out from Gladiator 2
Topics: Film and TV, Denzel Washington
Yasmeen Hamadeh
Featured Image Credit: Karwai Tang/WireImage / Paramount Pictures
Topics: Film and TV, Denzel Washington
Denzel Washington has revealed that a same-sex kiss he filmed for Gladiator 2 didn't make the final cut.
A sequel to Ridley Scott's prolific epic, Gladiator 2 invites audiences back into the colosseum for another round of fights, foes, and everything in between.
Alongside Washington, the film also stars Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, and Stranger Things' Joseph Quinn in what's already being called one of the most entertaining films of the year by critics.
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In Gladiator 2, Washington plays a character named Macrinus, a former slave who becomes a wealthy powerbroker in Rome with his eyes set on the Emperor.
Along with being one of Gladiator 2's key players, Washington also revealed in a recent video interview with Gayety that Macrinus is queer with the film's script noting that he had a few relationships with men in the past.
The actor further disclosed that he filmed a scene where he kissed a man on the lips, but it was ultimately cut out from the sequel's theatrical cut.
"I actually kissed a man in the film but they took it out, they cut it, I think they got chicken," Washington told the outlet. "I kissed a guy full on the lips and I guess they weren't ready for that yet."
"I killed him about five minutes later," the actor added. "It's Gladiator. It's the kiss of death."
Whilst promoting Gladiator 2, the legendary actor also dropped another bombshell earlier this week, telling Today that he soon plans to retire after he's done working on a final batch of films.
"For me it's about the filmmakers. Especially at this point in my career, I am only interested in working with the best," Washington told Today. "I don’t know how many more films I’m going to make. It’s probably not that many. I want to do things I haven’t done."
"I played Othello at 22. I am about to play Othello at 70," he continued.
"After that, I am playing Hannibal. After that, I’ve been talking to Steve McQueen about a film. After that, Ryan Coogler is writing a part for me in the next Black Panther. After that, I’m going to do the film Othello. After that, I’m going to do King Lear. After that, I’m going to retire."
Gladiator 2 releases in theaters in the US on November 22.