In a video interview with Gatey, Denzel Washington revealed that he kissed a man on the lips while filming Gladiator II, but the scene was cut from the theatrical cut of the long-awaited sequel. The Oscar winner plays Macrinus, a wealthy power broker who manages a stable of sporting gladiators in Rome, in the Ridley Scott-directed film.
The script for “Gladiator II” mentions that Macrinus had had affairs with other men in the past, which led Gaity to ask Washington, “How gay was the Roman Empire?”
“I actually kissed a guy in the movie and they took it out and cut it up. I think they made me eat chicken,” Washington revealed. “I kissed a guy full on the lips, and I don’t think they were ready for that yet. I killed him after about five minutes. ‘Gladiator.’ It’s the kiss of death.” ”
Washington is receiving buzz for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his mesmerizing performance as Macrinus. The role reunites him with director Ridley Scott since they co-starred in the 2007 crime drama American Gangster, but it was only Scott’s involvement that convinced Washington to star in the sequel.
“I have to be inspired by this filmmaker. I was hugely inspired by Ridley,” Washington told Empire magazine earlier this year. “He had a great first round and now he’s here. He’s engaged. He’s excited about life and his next movie. He’s an inspiration. We all… I hope I still feel that way when I’m 86.”
Washington admitted in a recent interview that working with great directors is most important for the rest of his career, as he doesn’t know how much acting work he has left before he retires.
“For me it’s about the filmmakers. Especially at this point in my career, I’m only interested in working with the best people,” he told the Australian show “Today.” “I don’t know how many more movies I’ll make. Probably not that many. I’d like to do something I’ve never done before.”
“Gladiator II” will be released in theaters on November 22nd by Paramount Pictures. Watch Washington’s full interview with Gaty in the video below.
