Denzel Washington hints at retirement, opens up about his role in Black Panther 3

In a recent interview with Australia’s Today, Hollywood icon Denzel Washington hinted at his retirement as he discussed his career and upcoming projects, including a role in the highly anticipated Black Panther 3.
While on the promotional tour for Gladiator II, Washington shared that director Ryan Coogler is crafting a role for him in the third instalment of the Black Panther series. This part will stand among Washington’s final cinematic ventures, alongside a new project with director Steve McQueen and an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello.
“It’s all about the filmmakers for me,” Washington said. “Especially at this stage in my career, I’m only interested in working with the best. I’m not sure how many more films I’ll make, but it’s likely not that many. I want to try things I haven’t done before,” he remarked.
Reflecting on his journey, Washington noted, “I played Othello when I was 22. Now, I’m about to play him at 70.”
This reference was to his upcoming Broadway rendition of Othello, co-starring Jake Gyllenhaal, set to open in February 2025.
He continued, “After that, I’ll be playing Hannibal. Then, there’s the project with Steve McQueen, and Ryan Coogler’s writing a role for me in the next Black Panther. Following that, I’ll take on Othello once again, then King Lear*. And after all that — well, then I think it’s time to retire.”
Washington’s involvement in Black Panther 3 holds particular significance.
Before his passing in 2020, original Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman had said that Washington had helped fund his summer acting school expenses, expressing heartfelt gratitude.
“There is no Black Panther without Denzel Washington,” Boseman once said. During the AFI Life Achievement Award ceremony in 2019, Boseman honoured Washington, saying, “My whole cast stands on your shoulders. The daily battles won, the countless achievements, and the cultural sacrifices you made on film sets throughout your career—they laid the foundation for us to follow.”
Denzel Washington will next be seen Gladiator II, alongide Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, and many others. The film will release in India on November 15.