Denzel Washington’s gay kiss was cut from Gladiator II: ‘I guess they weren’t ready for that’
Denzel Washington revealed one of the Gladiator II scenes that ended up on the cutting room floor ahead of the release of Ridley Scott’s $310 million budget historical epic.
The 69-year-old acting veteran plays the enslaved power broker Macrinus, who maintains a stable of gladiators and longs to become Roman emperor.
“I kissed a guy on the lips, but he got cut,” Denzel said Cheerfulness on October 31.
‘I think they have chicken. I kissed a guy full on the lips and I don’t think they were ready for that yet.’
Washington noted that his ruthless nature then kills the same man “about five minutes later” in a symbolic gesture he called “the kiss of death.”
Denzel Washington revealed one of the Gladiator II scenes that ended up on the cutting room floor ahead of the release of Ridley Scott’s $310 million budget historical epic (pictured Wednesday)
Macrinus marked the two-time Oscar winner’s first bisexual role, playing a famed lawyer who overcame his homophobia after winning a $5 million wrongful termination lawsuit for an AIDS-infected client (Tom Hanks) in the film Philadelphia from 1993 by Jonathan Demme.
And Denzel wasn’t alone, as the 86-year-old filmmaker also cut a same-sex kiss between gladiator Lucius Verus (Paul Mescal) and Roman general Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal).
“There was a moment when we were rehearsing my fight scene with Pedro, and towards the end of the scene I had the idea to kiss Pedro on the forehead,” the 28-year-old Englishman said. EW last month.
‘I did it in one of the takes, and then we send the radio messages back to Ridley and I was like, “Ridley, kiss on the forehead, did you like it? Yes or no?” There was a second of radio silence. His radio crackles again and [sarcastically] says, “I’m afraid so.” I think Ridley is one of the funniest guys I’ve ever met.”
Gladiator II – in UK theaters this Friday and US theaters on November 22 – currently has a 76% certified fresh approval rating (from 121 reviews) on Rotten Tomatoes.
On Wednesday, Washington had an awkward first meeting with King Charles III during the royal screening of Gladiator II at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London.
The New York-born, LA-based actor seemed nervous before the 76-year-old monarch extended his hand and he admitted: ‘I didn’t know whether to take your hand or not.’
The pair smiled and shook hands before King Charles III complimented Denzel: “You’ve been in so many films, it’s fantastic!”
The 69-year-old acting veteran plays enslaved power broker Macrinus, who maintains a stable of gladiators and longs to become Roman Emperor
Denzel told Gayety on October 31: “I kissed a man on the lips, but it got cut. I think they have chicken. I kissed a man full on the lips and I don’t think they were ready for that yet.”
Washington noted that his ruthless nature then kills the same man “about five minutes later” in a symbolic gesture he called “the kiss of death.”
Macrinus marked the two-time Oscar winner’s first bisexual role, playing a famed lawyer who overcame his homophobia after winning a $5 million wrongful termination lawsuit for an AIDS-infected client (Tom Hanks) in the film Philadelphia from 1993 by Jonathan Demme.
And Denzel wasn’t alone, as the 86-year-old filmmaker also cut a same-sex kiss between Roman general Marcus Acacius (L, Pedro Pascal) and gladiator Lucius Verus (R, Paul Mescal)
The 28-year-old Englishman (R) told EW last month: “There was a moment where we were rehearsing my fight scene with Pedro, and I had an idea towards the end of the scene to kiss Pedro on the forehead.”
![Paul continued, “I was like, "Ridley, kiss on your forehead, did you like it? Yes or no?" There was a second of radio silence. His radio crackles again and [sarcastically] go "I'm afraid I did"' (photo Wednesday)](https://nybreaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/1731560168_940_Denzel-Washingtons-gay-kiss-was-cut-from-Gladiator-II-I.jpg "Denzel Washington's gay kiss was cut from Gladiator II: 'I guess they weren't ready for that' 14")
Paul continued: ‘I was like, “Ridley, kiss on the forehead, did you like it? Yes or no?” There was a second of radio silence. His radio crackles again and [sarcastically] says: “I’m afraid so”‘ (photo Wednesday)
Gladiator II – in UK theaters this Friday and US theaters on November 22 – currently has a 76% certified fresh approval rating (from 121 reviews) on Rotten Tomatoes
On Wednesday, Washington had an awkward first meeting with King Charles III during the royal film screening of Gladiator II at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London
The New York-born, LA-based actor appeared nervous before the 76-year-old monarch extended his hand and admitted, “I didn’t know whether to take your hand or not.”
The pair smiled and shook hands before King Charles III complimented Denzel: “You’ve been in so many films, it’s fantastic!”
On Monday, Washington announced the Australian version of TODAY that he officially plans to retire after completing his next planned four projects.
The piano lesson producer will play Othello opposite Jake Gyllenhaal in director Kenny Leon’s Broadway revival of William Shakespeare’s 1603 play Othello, from March 23 to June 8 at the Ethel Barrymore Theater in Manhattan.
Denzel will also star in Spike Lee’s remake of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 crime thriller High and Low, Antoine Fuqua’s untitled biopic about the Carthaginian general Hannibal, and Marvel’s untitled third Black Panther film.
On a personal note, Washington has four children: son John, 40; daughter Katia, 36; and twins Olivia and Malcolm, 33 – from his 41-year marriage to Pauletta Pearson Washington.
The Equalizer 3 producer-star and the 74-year-old Reasonable Doubt actress originally met on the set of 1977 NBC film Wilma, and they renewed their vows at a 1995 ceremony led by anti-apartheid activist Desmond Tutu in South -Africa.