Denzel Washington appeared starstruck as he shook hands with King Charles III at the Gladiator II premiere at London’s Leicester Square. The King, attending the screening at the Odeon Luxe Theatre solo on the eve of his 76th birthday, spoke with director Sir Ridley Scott, 86, and members of the cast on the red carpet.

“I actually kissed a man in the film but they took it out,” says acting icon Denzel Washington, who is already garnering Oscar buzz for his role in “Gladiator II.”

See "Gladiator II" premiere photos of Ridley Scott, Denzel Washington, Paul Mescal, Connie Nielsen, Pedro Pascal and others.