Denzel Washington Reveals Why THIS Controversial Scene Was Cut From Gladiator II; Says ‘They Weren’t Ready’

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As a lifestyle expert with a keen eye for cinematic history and a deep appreciation for the art of acting, I find myself intrigued by the revelation of Denzel Washington‘s kiss with a fellow actor in Gladiator II, a scene that unfortunately didn’t make it to the final cut.

In the sequel to Gladiator, Denzel Washington shared a kiss with one of his on-screen adversaries, but this scene was ultimately left out during editing. Just before the movie’s premiere, the actor discussed playing a gay Roman emperor under Ridley Scott’s direction. During an interview with Gayety, Washington disclosed that he “indeed shared a kiss with another man in the film.

Initially, the scene involving the actor’s passionate kiss and subsequent action was not included in the final version. The actor suggests that the producers found it too daring and chose to omit the dramatic scene. He humorously commented, “I planted a full kiss on him. I suppose they weren’t quite prepared for that just yet.” Later, he joked, “I ended his life about five minutes later. It was Gladiator; it was a fatal kiss.

It’s not just the actor from Training Day who had an on-screen romance with a male character in the Gladiator sequel; Paul Mescal, portraying Lucius, disclosed to Entertainment Weekly that he and Pedro Pascal’s character had a private scene together. In the midst of battle, these adversaries share a touching moment, which was actually improvised by Mescal himself.

During our rehearsal for the fight scene with Pedro, a thought struck me near the end – I decided to give Pedro a peck on the forehead. After finishing the take, I used our radio communicators to ask the director if they liked that gesture, “Is it a yes or no?” I inquired.

Mescal recalled that the radio was silent for a second, and then Scott went, “’I’m afraid I did.'” The actor let out a chuckle after narrating the story and called his director “one of the funniest men I’ve ever come across.”  

The long-awaited follow-up takes place twenty years following the climactic scenes of the 2000 hit movie, where Maximus (Russell Crowe), having slain the cruel Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), succumbed to his wounds on the battle-scarred gladiatorial arena floor.

In the next installment, we find Lucius (Mescal) being taken captive by General Marcus Acacius (Pascal) and forced into the brutal world of gladiators in Rome. To survive this treacherous city and the terrifying arena, Lucius must navigate the corrupt politics and outwit his enemies. With the help of the cunning and ruthless gladiator manager Macrinus (Washington), he begins to plot a revenge against his Roman captor.

Gladiator II will hit the theaters on November 15. 

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2024-11-14 23:08