As some countries, including the UK, prepare to receive Gladiator 2 this weekend ahead of its North American premiere next week, we’re hearing more and more behind-the-scenes from the big-name actors in the long-awaited sequel Highlights. Perhaps the most talkative so far is Denzel Washington, who said a few days ago that he would be a part of Black Panther 3.
Now, in an interview with Getty, the veteran actor has confirmed that he kissed a man in the movie, but that the scene (at least in its original form) didn’t make the cut.
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“I actually kissed a guy in the movie, but they took it out and cut it out and I guess they got the chicken…I kissed a guy on the lips and I guess they weren’t ready. I killed He was about five minutes into Gladiator and was the kiss of death.” The actor responded to questions about queerness in the Roman Empire, as the script reportedly highlighted Macrinus’ relationships with other men multiple times.
With a running time of 148 minutes, the studio wasn’t trying to make this historical epic as short as possible, but you know how these things happen in mainstream movies, they have to appeal to as many people as possible. Regardless, he seemed happy with the experience, with critics praising his performance as one of the best parts of the sequel, which currently holds a 76% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Washington has also mentioned in the past that at this point in his career, he was looking for the right filmmakers to work with, so reuniting with Ridley Scott after 2007’s American Gangster was a natural fit for him. Makes sense. “I have to be inspired by filmmakers, and I’m hugely inspired by Ridley… We had a great run in the first round, and now we’re here. He’s engaged. He’s so excited about life “Excited about his next movie, he’s something we should all hope to feel when we’re 86,” he told Empire magazine earlier this year.
“I don’t know how many more movies I’m going to make. Probably not that many. I want to do something I haven’t done,” the actor revealed to Australia’s Today newspaper just days ago. That might explain why he’s eyeing the Black Panther trilogy, which has yet to be officially announced.
Incidentally, Scott is already toying with the idea of a third Gladiator, if the studio is willing to foot the bill after the second Gladiator’s theatrical release. Will you be grabbing it in the next few weeks?
