November 19th 2024.
Sir Ridley Scott has recently addressed Denzel Washington's claim that he had a same-sex kiss scene in Gladiator II, only for it to be cut from the final version of the film. In his typical straightforward manner, Sir Ridley dismissed Washington's story as "bullshit". The sequel, which has been highly anticipated, follows the son of Maximus and Lucilla, named Lucius, who becomes a gladiator and seeks revenge against General Acacius for destroying his life.
Lucius impresses his new owner, the manipulative Macrinus, with his skills in the arena and is groomed to become a star under the rule of the Roman Empire. Washington's character, Macrinus, has relationships with both men and women, and in one scene, Washington claimed to have kissed a man before killing him. However, the scene was ultimately cut from the film, much to Washington's disappointment.
Washington mentioned in an interview with LGBTQ+ outlet Gayety that the world was not ready for his same-sex kiss in the film, but he believed it was an accurate portrayal of the Roman Empire, where same-sex relationships were common. However, Sir Ridley has a different recollection of events and stated that the kiss never happened.
Washington's co-star, Connie Nielsen, also mentioned that there were other scenes that did not make it into the final edit, including her character's grieving scene. Producer Michael Pruss added that there was a lot of material that was not included in the film.
Despite the scene being cut, fans were still shocked and disappointed, with many calling for the "Denzel Washington cut" to be released. The movie has gained a devoted LGBTQ+ fanbase, with actors such as Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal being favorites. However, Washington's performance in the film has received critical acclaim, with some even predicting it to be Oscar-worthy.
Washington, who is approaching the end of his career, stated that he is only interested in working with the best filmmakers and wants to take on roles that he has not done before. He has a few projects lined up, including a collaboration with Sir Steve McQueen and a role in Ryan Coogler's Black Panther 3.
Gladiator II is currently in theaters in the UK and will be released in the US on Friday, November 22.
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