Denzel Washington commands the screen with unparalleled authority, yet his latest cinematic venture holds a surprise in store – an aspect his audience won't witness. During an interview with Gayety to herald the release of "Gladiator II," the Oscar-adorned actor opened up about his portrayal of Roman emperor Macrinus. When inquired about the homosexuality prevalence in the Roman empire, he allusioned to a deleted scene. "I actually planted a kiss on a fellow actor in the film, but it got the axe. They sliced it right out," he disclosed with a chuckle. "Seems they got cold feet."
"It was a full-on lip-lock," Washington elaborated, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Guess they weren't quite prepared for that kiss of controversy yet." He then whimsically recounted how his character subsequently dispatched the kissed one, quipping it as a "kiss of death" that sealed fate.
Ridley Scott, the director behind the 2000 classic's sequel, has returned to helm this epochal follow-up. Washington's fellow thespian, Paul Mescal, shared an anecdote from the set that involved another castmate, Pedro Pascal, and an unexpected peck. "While rehearsing my combat scene with Pedro, an impromptu idea popped into my head – to plant a kiss on his forehead at the sequence's close," Mescal recounted to Entertainment Weekly with a grin. "I executed it in one take, then promptly queried Ridley via radio in our video village, 'Ridley, thoughts on the forehead kiss? Thumb's up or down?' Silence enveloped the airwaves momentarily. When Ridley's voice crackled through, he said, 'I fear I did not approve,' his tone laden with jest."
Catch "Gladiator II" in theaters from November 22, where the roar of the gladiators meets the whispers of untold tales.
