Yahoo Lifestyle Chadwick Boseman Once Said, "There Is No Black Panther Without Denzel," And Now The Superstar Is Reportedly Starring In The Next Film — Talk About A Full Circle Moment
Denzel Washington is adding a few exciting projects to his résumé before possibly retiring in the near future, and I'm both thrilled and saddened by what's to come.
Throughout my entire 34 years on this earth, I've never known Hollywood without Denzel. In my eyes, you can't have one without the other.
But I'm not biased. When outlets compile lists of the best actors of the 21st century, Denzel always makes the cut. Working both the stage and screen, Denzel is a true master of his craft.
Denzel was the second Black actor in history to take home an Oscar for Best Actor. He took home the gold in 2002 for Training Day.
While promoting his upcoming film Gladiator II, Denzel sat down with Richard Wilkins of Australia's Today show to discuss the sequel. After being asked if he experienced any trepidation or pressure taking on the role, Denzel immediately responded, "No," and explained just how selective he'd become after being in the business for nearly 50 years.
"For me it's about the filmmaker, especially at this point in my career," Denzel said. "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."
Denzel stars alongside Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, and Connie Nielsen in Ridley Scott's new historical action drama. He plays Macrinus, a former slave-turned-arms dealer plotting a Roman takeover. He mentors and trains Lucius, the former heir to the Roman Empire, with the stable of Gladiators he keeps in his possession.
"I want to do things I haven't done," Denzel added. "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."
That's right — Denzel is reportedly joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe with a special role written specifically for him by writer and director Ryan Coogler! We lost Angela Bassett in the franchise, but gained Denzel? I don't know how we got so lucky.
This news is extra noteworthy because Denzel helped Chadwick Boseman early on in his career. Believe it or not, Denzel once paid Chadwick's tuition so that he could attend the British American Drama Academy's (BADA) Oxford Summer Program.
Chadwick recounted the tale while honoring Denzel with the American Film Institute’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019.
“As fate would have it, I was one of the students that he paid for,” Boseman said. “Imagine receiving the letter that your tuition for that summer was paid for and that your benefactor was none other than the dopest actor on the planet.”
He went on to add, "An offering from a sage and a king is more than silver and gold. It is a seed of hope, a bud of faith. There is no Black Panther without Denzel Washington. And not just because of me, but my whole cast — that generation — stands on your shoulders.”
After dropping that news, along with the other major titles he plans to star in, Denzel then proceeded to casually let fans know he'll be retiring. Although he didn't specify whether he was retiring completely or just from acting, I don't see the superstar removing himself entirely from Hollywood, especially since his wife and children are all still active in the business.
His son Malcolm Washington made his directorial debut with the upcoming film adaptation of The Piano Lesson for Netflix. It stars Malcolm's brother, John David Washington, with a special appearance by their mother, Pauletta Washington, and Malcolm's twin sister, Olivia Washington. And for the full-circle moment, Denzel is a co-producer on the film, while his daughter Katia Washington is an executive producer.
The day Denzel retires will be a sad day in history, but what a legacy he'll be leaving behind!
To learn more about Gladiator II and Denzel, be sure to watch the full Today interview below:
