“Gladiator II” is set to release next week, bringing audiences the glory and gore of the Roman Empire: swords will be unsheathed, heroes will rise —and in this blockbuster sequel — perhaps share a kiss? Actor Denzel Washington told Gayety that he ...

Denzel Washington recently spilled on a same-sex kiss scene he filmed for “ Gladiator II ” that won’t make it to the big screen this month. “I actually kissed a man in the film, but they took it out, they cut it, I think they got chicken,” said the actor, who plays Macrinus in the “Gladiator” sequel, in an interview with Gayety’s Caitlynn McDaniel.

Denzel Washington has speculated that anxiety was behind the decision to cut a same-sex kiss from Gladiator II. Washington, whose performance as ruthless power broker Macrinus in Ridley Scott’s sequel has picked up considerable awards buzz,