After Creating A Frenzy Online, Denzel Washington Is Clarifying What He Actually Meant When He Said He Was Retiring

Denzel Washington might not be retiring after all.

The iconic actor sent Hollywood into a frenzy yesterday when he revealed in an interview with Australia's Today show that he would not only be starring in a string of big-name projects in the upcoming years, including Ryan Coogler's Black Panther 3, but that he was also retiring.

"For me it's about the filmmaker, especially at this point in my career," Denzel said while promoting his upcoming movie Gladiator II. "I'm only interested in working with the best. I don't know how many more films I'm going to make — probably not that many."

"I want to do things I haven't done. I played Othello at 22. I'm about to play Othello at 70. After that, I'm playing Hannibal. After that, I've been talking with Steve McQueen about a film. After that, Ryan Coogler is writing a part for me in the next Black Panther. After that, I'm going to do the film Othello. After that, I'm going to do King Lear. After that, I'm going to retire."

Well, it looks like he didn't mean retire in the literal sense. During a recent interview with Seasoned BuzzFeed's Ada Enechi, Denzel explained what his real plans are for the future and the shift he plans on making in his career.

"I didn't say I was going to go into retirement," Denzel said. "I said that it has to be a level of interest for me. I'm more interested in getting behind the camera, so that's about five years out."

"It's very difficult. And I may have used the word retire, but I look at life in three sections: you learn, you earn, you return. I'm in the return part of life."

Denzel mentioned that he got some clarity after going on a three-week press tour with his sons and daughter for the upcoming Washington-family-backed film adaptation of The Piano Lesson. He also had this revelation while promoting Ridley Scott's Gladiator II, stating proudly that the new generation is "taking over."

"I'm not retiring," the multi-Oscar winner added. "It's not like on June 5, that's it. But to think that I'm going to run as far as they are or as far as you are, I'd be a fool."

"I think that's the ego that thinks, 'Oh yeah, I can do it.' No you can't. Your stunt man is doing it now. I'm less interested in running and jumping. Let Paul [Mescal] and John David [Washington] jump now."

Whew, I just let out the biggest sigh of relief. I knew he wouldn't be retiring from Hollywood entirely, but I'm glad to hear the clarification come straight from his mouth.

To listen to his full explanation, check out Seasoned BuzzFeed's clip below:

Seasoned BF / ://Twitter: @seasonedbf