Denzel: Gladiator II Gay Kiss Got Cut

Actor says filmmakers maybe 'got chicken'
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 15, 2024 2:45 AM CST
Denzel Washington: My Gay Kiss in Gladiator Got Cut
This image released by Paramount Pictures shows Denzel Washington in a scene from "Gladiator II."   (Cuba Scott/Paramount Pictures via AP)

Denzel Washington says he filmed a notable moment for Gladiator II, out next week, that didn't end up in the final version of the movie. "I actually kissed the man in the film, but they took it, they cut it. I think they got chicken," said Washington in an interview with Gayety that was just picked up by NBC News. "I kissed a guy full on the lips, and I guess they weren't ready for that yet." The actor, who plays a Roman businessman in the sequel to the iconic 2000 Gladiator, added, "I killed him about five minutes later. It's Gladiator. It's the kiss of death."

His co-star Paul Mescal almost managed to sneak a same-sex kiss into the film, albeit not on the lips. "There was a moment when we were rehearsing my fight scene with Pedro [Pascal], and I had an idea towards the end of the scene to kiss Pedro on the forehead," he says. "I did it in one of the takes, and then we're getting the radio messages back to [director] Ridley [Scott] and I was like, 'Ridley: Kiss on the forehead, did you like it? Yea or nay?' There was radio silence for a second. His radio crackles back and goes 'I'm afraid I did.'" The kiss ultimately didn't end up in the final version of the film, but Scott has said it could show up in the director's cut, CinemaBlend reports. (More Denzel Washington stories.)

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