Actor Fred Hechinger has discussed Gladiator 2‘s representation of LGBTQ life in Ancient Rome in a new interview with Attitude.
In the film, Hechinger plays the seemingly queer-coded Emperor Caracalla, who in one scene is seen reclining on a male companion while his twin brother Emperor Geta (played by Joseph Quinn) is seen with women.
Speaking last week, Hechinger said LGBTQ life in Rome was a matter of “human truth” and any opportunity to reveal that is “exciting”.
“The history is so there, even if other movies or narratives have tried to hide that,” The White Lotus star said.
“That’s a kind of political lie that’s been told to us,” the 24-year-old continued. “Any opportunity to reveal truth, human truth, is exciting.”
Elsewhere in his Attitude interview, Fred reflected on his character’s heavily made-up look, calling it “a thrill.”
“There was a moment where I was putting rings on,” the star remembered. “This moment of ‘this guy’s gonna have a ring on every finger! There’s no naked finger here! He’s gonna be covered in all the glitz and glamour!’”
Elsewhere in the movie, Denzel Washington plays the villainous Macrinus, a character director Ridley Scott has described as having a “twinkle” of bisexuality.
However, in an interview with Gayety, Washington revealed he shot a gay kiss scene which was ultimately cut from the final version of the movie.
“I actually kissed a man in the film but they took it out,” he said. “They cut it – I think they got chicken.”
“I kissed a guy full on the lips,” he added. “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.”
Gladiator 2, starring Paul Mescal and directed by Ridley Scott, is in UK cinemas now.
