Iconic actor Denzel Washington recently revealed in an interview with Gayety that a same-sex kiss he filmed for the movie “Gladiator II” was cut from the final version. Washington plays the character Macrinus, a wealthy power player in Rome, who owns a troop of gladiators in Ridley Scott’s sequel to the 2000 epic. In the film, Macrinus is portrayed as having had relationships with other men in the past, prompting Washington to share the story of the same-sex kiss that did not make the final cut of the movie. He described the kiss as a “kiss of death” and mentioned that it was not a sexy kiss but rather a pivotal moment in the storyline.
The revelation of the cut kiss comes in the wake of news that another intimate moment, a forehead kiss shared by actors Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal in the same film, was also left out of the final edit. While Mescal expressed nervousness about the forehead kiss, director Ridley Scott ultimately approved of it before it was cut for reasons unknown. Scott, who maintains final cut authority over his films, stated that there will not be a director’s cut of “Gladiator II” and that his cut of the film is final.
Washington’s candid revelation about the cut kiss has sparked curiosity among fans and the LGBTQ community, highlighting the importance of representation and inclusion in Hollywood films. The actor’s openness in discussing the deleted scene has drawn attention to the complexities of filmmaking and the decisions that go into shaping the final product. The Post has reached out to representatives for both Washington and Scott for further comment on the matter.
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