MOVIE NEWS – Denzel Washington reveals why he finally decided to join the MCU…
Denzel Washington blew up the internet when he revealed that Ryan Coogler had cast him in Black Panther 3 – viewers didn’t even know there was a 3rd! For more than a decade, Marvel fans have been desperately waiting for the star of Training Day, American Gangster and – most recently – Gladiator II to join the MCU. Now, it’s finally happening. Although the reveal came with the bittersweet news that Washington will soon be retiring from acting, the star has now revealed why he’s joining the MCU after a decade of fan-wooing.
Speaking to HeyUGuys, Denzel Washington said it was all thanks to director Ryan Coogler. “It’s all Ryan Coogler,” the actor said when asked why he’s making the jump to the MCU. Washington didn’t say if he’s a fan of Marvel movies (or superhero movies in general). However, the two-time Oscar-winning actor is joining Black Panther 3 because he loves Ryan Coogler’s work. He continued:
“Ryan talked to me about it. I said, ‘Whatever it is, I love you. Go do it, and I’ll read it.”
Marvel Studios probably wasn’t prepared for the Black Panther 3 announcement, as the project wasn’t mentioned at any of the studio’s convention panels this year. Judging by what Washington said next, Ryan Coogler hasn’t even finalized the script. “I don’t even know what it is yet. He just said he was gonna write something.” But Washington is taking it easy on the way the news was reported. “I guess I didn’t ask for permission. But he came to me,” he joked that he was the one who dropped the bomb. But Washington said he called Ryan Coogler the next day to apologize. He continued:
“I called him yesterday, and I was like, ‘I’m sorry.’ I didn’t know it was gonna happen like this.’ I don’t know why. I guess it’s news or something. But, the bottom line is, I don’t even know what it is; if it’s one line, one scene, or… I really don’t. But I told him, whatever it is, I’ll do it because it’s Ryan.”
Denzel Washington commented on his gay kiss scene being cut from Gladiator II
Denzel Washington has revealed that there was originally a scene in Gladiator II in which he kissed another male character on the lips. But this was cut from the film because, as he put it, “they got chicken.” The actor is one of many big names to appear in the epic sequel directed by Ridley Scott. He was happy to share some behind-the-scenes details about his much-anticipated role in what is expected to be one of the year’s biggest films.
Washington’s new instalment has reopened a century-old debate over the portrayal of same-sex relationships and gay characters in historical films. It is a well-documented fact that the Romans and many other ancient civilizations were well aware of various forms of homosexual relationships. Although some fictional movies and series with a historical context have touched on this theme, Washington seems to believe that the scene was cut from Gladiator II for reasons other than reducing the film’s running time.
During an interview with Gayety, Washington was asked how accepted he thought gayness really was in the Roman Empire. Speaking of which, there are scenes in Gladiator II that clearly indicate that Macrinus’ character has had relationships with men before. After laughingly being asked if that meant “the whole empire,” he replied:
“I actually kissed a man in the film but they took it out, they cut it, I think they got chicken. I kissed a guy full on the lips and I guess they weren’t ready for that yet. I killed him about five minutes later. It’s Gladiator. It’s the kiss of death.”
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