Denzel Washington says that he’s close to retiring but one of his last starring roles will be in the next Black Panther.
During an appearance on Australia’s “Today” while promoting Gladiator II, the Oscar winner spoke about his last films before his retirement. He noted that director Ryan Coogler is writing him a role in the third “Black Panther” film.
“For me, it’s about the filmmakers. Especially at this point in my career, I am only interested in working with the best,” Washington said. “I don’t know how many more films I’m going to make. It’s probably not that many. I want to do things I haven’t done.”
“I played Othello at 22 and I am about to play Othello at 70,” he continued. “After that, I am playing Hannibal. I’ve been talking to Steve McQueen about a film. After that, Ryan Coogler is writing a part for me in the next ‘Black Panther.’ Then I’m going to do the film ‘Othello,’ After that, I’m going to do King Lear. After that, I’m going to retire.”
Although there has been no announcement about the Steve McQueen project, Netflix announced that Washington will star as Hannibal in a film directed by Antoine Fuqua.
When it comes to Black Panther 3, Washington had a deep connection with the late Chadwick Boseman. Before his untimely death in 2020, Boseman shared that Washington paid for his attendance in summer acting class.
“There is no Black Panther without Denzel Washington,” said when he honored Washington with the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2019.
“My whole cast stands on your shoulders,” Boseman said. “The daily battles won, the thousand territories gained, the many sacrifices you made for the culture on film sets through your career, the things you refused to compromise along the way lay the blueprints for us to follow.”
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