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Few actors, if any, on the planet have a resume that can go toe-to-toe with that of Denzel Washington. The 69-year-old superstar has won just about every award there is to win and starred in several legendary films such as Remember The Titans, John Q, and Malcolm X.
But sadly for fans, Washington’s iconic career is winding down as he announced Monday that he has just a handful of films and two stage plays left before he retires.
Washington also revealed that he’s set to make his comic book movie debut in Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther 3. Washington told the Today show that Coogler is currently writing a part for him in the next movie.
Denzel Washington reveals his final films before retiring:
• Spike Lee’s ‘HIGH N LOW’
• Antoine Fuqua’s ‘HANNIBAL’
• Untitled Steve McQueen Project
• ‘BLACK PANTHER 3’
• ‘OTHELLO’ adaptation pic.twitter.com/QVmC3HSTS3
— Cinema Solace (@SolaceCinema) November 12, 2024
The additional films are Spike Lee’s High and Low, which is set to release in 2025. Antoine Fuqua’s Hannibal, which will be released exclusively on Netflix. He announced an unnamed project with Steve McQueen, as well as a film adaptation of Othello, which he’s currently set to start in on Broadway.
Denzel Washington Appearing In ‘Black Panther 3’ Brings Things Full Circle
Black Panther 3 would be the first comic book movie of Washington’s storied career. He reportedly turned down an opportunity to star in Marvel’s newest adaption of the Fantastic Four where he was rumored to be cast as the villain Galactus.
For many fans, the news of Washington’s career winding down conflicted with the Black Panther 3 news.
“WE GETTING DENZEL WASHINGTON STARRING IN BLACK PANTHER 3…and then he’s retiring after a few more projects. Best news of my life and then the worst in one interview. We’re gonna see Denzel in MARVEL before he hangs up his jersey,” one fan tweeted.
But Washington’s appearance in Black Panther 3 is special for another reason as well.
In 2019, Chadwick Boseman, who originated the role of the Black Panther, spoke at the American Film Institute Awards as part of a tribute to Washington.
He revealed that Washington was responsible for funding scholarships to the British American Drama Academy’s summer program at Oxford. Boseman was one of the attendees at said program.
Sadly, Boseman passed away just one year later after a battle with colon cancer.
Whether intentional or not, Washington’s decision to appear in Black Panther 3 as one of his last roles is a fitting way to honor Boseman’s life.