Director Ridley Scotts Gladiator II may be set in ancient Rome, which was relatively tolerant of certain forms of same-sex relationships, but dont expect to see much queer smooching in the film.In fact, according to star Denzel Washington, a scene in which his character kisses another man was cut from the film. Related Gay kiss restored in Pixar film after employees blow the whistle on Disney censorship Looks like corporate statements can make a difference after all. In a recent video interview with Gayety, the LGBTQ+ outlets reporter noted that Washingtons character, ruthless Roman businessman Macrinus, remarks several times in the film about having a relationship with other men. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today I actually kissed a man in the film, Washington responded, adding that the moment was ultimately left on the cutting room floor. I think they got chicken.I kissed a guy full on the lips and I guess they werent ready for that yet, he added.Even if the scene had remained in the film, it doesnt sound like the Washingtons Macrinus and the unnamed character were headed for a happy ending.I killed him about five minutes later, the actor said, describing it as the kiss of death.The highly anticipated sequel to Scotts Academy Award winning 2000 epic picks up more than 20 years after the events of the original film and finds Paul Mescals Lucius Verus taken into slavery and forced to become a gladiator after Pedro Pascals Marcus Acacius invades his home city.Gladiator II, has already made headlines after it was reported that Scott also cut another same-sex kiss from the film, this one involving Mescal planting a peck on Pascals forehead.I didnt tell Ridley I was gonna do it, Mescal told Cinema Blend this week. And then I was nervous after we did it because I thought he was going to f***ing hate it. So I nervously go over the radio being like, Ridley? Did you like the kiss on the forehead? Yay or nay? And there was this kind of, like, [static] Im afraid I did. So, I dont know where it got lost in the edit, but I trust this man entirely, though, how he cuts his films. Scott has promised that the Mescal-Pascal kiss will be restored in the films directors cut.Still, Gladiator II isnt without queer cache. Last year, Mescal starred in Andrew Haighs acclaimed gay romance All of Us Strangers, while Pascal played a gay cowboy in Pedro Almodovars Strange Way of Life and has been a vocal supporter of his transgender sister, actress Lux Pascal. Washington, meanwhile, starred opposite Tom Hanks in the 1993 AIDS drama Philadelphia, and out British actors Derek Jacobi and Matt Lucas both have supporting roles in Scotts film.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.