“I kissed a man in the film”- Denzel Washington opens up about the deleted gay kiss in Gladiator 2

Gladiator 2 is set to hit theatres on November 22, 2024. The movie, which comes more than two decades after the original film, stars Paul Mescal as Lucius, the son of Maximus, and follows him on his own revenge mission. The movie also stars legendary actor Denzel Washington as Macrinus, a former slave who has his own plans to control Rome and teaches Gladiators as well.

In a recent interview with Gayety, while discussing Gladiator 2, Denzel Washington disclosed that there was a scene in the film where he kisses a man. However, he expressed disappointment as he revealed that the scene was cut out of the film. Saying that the people behind the movie "chickened out" and that they weren't "ready" for it.

“I kissed a man in the film but they took it out, they cut it, I think they got chicken… I kissed a guy full on the lips and I guess they weren’t ready for that yet," said Washington.

He later joked that he killed the guy five minutes later in the movie. In Gladiator 2, Macrinus is confirmed to be bisexual. His character used to be a prisoner of war before in the world of the film, and he later on earned his freedom by becoming a Gladiator himself. He is also an arms dealer who provides food to armies in Europe.

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Cast of Gladiator 2 explored

Joining Denzel Washington in the film are actors Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, and more. Here is the entire cast of the film:

• Parul Mescal as Lucius Verus
• Pedro Pascal as Marcus Acacius
• Joseph Quinn as Emperor Geta
• Fred Heschinger as Emperor Caracalla
• Lior Raz as Vigo
• Derek Jacobi as Senator Gracchus
• Connie Nielsen as Lucilla
• Denzel Washington as Macrinus
• Tim McInnerny as Thraex
• Alexander Karim as Ravi

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What is Gladiator 2 about?

The upcoming historical epic is directed by Ridley Scott and is based on a script written by Peter Craig and David Scarpa. It is a sequel to the 2000 film Gladiator and follows Maximus' (played by Russell Crowe in the original movie) son, Lucius. It is set 20 years after the first movie and focuses on Maximus getting his revenge on those who wronged him while making allies on the way.

The official logline, as per the film's website, reads as follows:

"From legendary director Ridley Scott, Gladiator II continues the epic saga of power, intrigue, and vengeance set in Ancient Rome. Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Paul Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist."

It continues:

"With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honor to return the glory of Rome to its people."

Fans can check out Gladiator 2 exclusively on the big screens when the film is released in theatres on November 22, 2024, in the United States of America. However, in countries like India and the United Kingdom, the film will premiere a week earlier, on November 15, 2024. The film will be released in theatres in Australia and New Zealand on November 14, 2024.