Denzel Washington said he plans to retire from acting after these 6 projects

Cory Woodroof
·2-min read
TOKYO, JAPAN - NOVEMBER 05: Denzel Washington attends the "Gladiator II" TIFF Asia Premiere at TOHO Cinemas Hibiya on November 5, 2024 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures)
TOKYO, JAPAN - NOVEMBER 05: Denzel Washington attends the "Gladiator II" TIFF Asia Premiere at TOHO Cinemas Hibiya on November 5, 2024 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures)

After a decades-long acting career that has given him two Academy Awards, Denzel Washington said this week that he will soon retire from the profession.

Appearing on Australia's TODAY to discuss his upcoming role in Gladiator II, Washington shared the projects he plans on completing before he steps away from acting.

The news comes as somewhat of a surprise, as Washington remains one of the bona fide movie stars in an industry hurting for them. However, the Oscar winner will turn 70 next month and understandably may want to enjoy retirement after working for so many years as one of Hollywood's most beloved actors.

Washington recently reunited with fellow Oscar winner Spike Lee on a remake of Akira Kurosawa's High and Low and will soon star on Broadway opposite Jake Gyllenhaal in a new rendering of Othello.

Washington said he has six more projects he wants to complete, including next winter's Othello, before stepping away from the silver screen. Here's what we know about them.

Othello on Broadway

PARIS, FRANCE - NOVEMBER 10: Denzel Washington attends the "Gladiator II" Paris Special Screening at Pathe Palace on November 10, 2024, in Paris, France. (Photo by Kristy Sparow/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures)
PARIS, FRANCE - NOVEMBER 10: Denzel Washington attends the "Gladiator II" Paris Special Screening at Pathe Palace on November 10, 2024, in Paris, France. (Photo by Kristy Sparow/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures)

Washington will appear in the William Shakespeare classic opposite Gyllenhaal starting Feb. 24, 2025, at New York City's Barrymore Theatre.

A film about Hannibal from Antoine Fuqua

May 2, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Movie director Antoine Fuqua (left) with actor Denzel Washington before the boxing fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
May 2, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Movie director Antoine Fuqua (left) with actor Denzel Washington before the boxing fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Washington will reunite with his longtime collaborator Fuqua on a film about the Carthaginian general Hannibal for Netflix. Gladiator scribe John Logan is writing the film.

A film with Steve McQueen

Washington said he is discussing a project with McQueen, the Oscar winner behind films like Widows, Small Axe, 12 Years a Slave and this fall's Blitz.

Black Panther 3

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 26: Ryan Coogler speaks onstage at Careers in Music: The Making of "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" Soundtrack at The GRAMMY Museum on February 26, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 26: Ryan Coogler speaks onstage at Careers in Music: The Making of "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" Soundtrack at The GRAMMY Museum on February 26, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

Washington said filmmaker Ryan Coogler (above) is writing a role for him in the third Black Panther film.

An Othello film

2/6/17 12:51:40 PM -- Beverly Hills, CA, U.S.A -- Denzel Washington arrives at the 2017 Oscar Nominees Luncheon at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA. -- Photo by Dan MacMedan, USA TODAY contract photographer ORG XMIT: DM 136009 Oscar Lunchemacm 2/6/ [Via MerlinFTP Drop]
2/6/17 12:51:40 PM -- Beverly Hills, CA, U.S.A -- Denzel Washington arrives at the 2017 Oscar Nominees Luncheon at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA. -- Photo by Dan MacMedan, USA TODAY contract photographer ORG XMIT: DM 136009 Oscar Lunchemacm 2/6/ [Via MerlinFTP Drop]

Washington said he will also take his Othello performance to the big screen for a new project.

King Lear

US actor, director and film producer Denzel Washington poses during a photocall ahead of the premiere of movie "Gladiator II" at the Pathe Beaugrenelle movie theatre, in Paris, on November 10, 2024. (Photo by Kiran RIDLEY / AFP) (Photo by KIRAN RIDLEY/AFP via Getty Images)
US actor, director and film producer Denzel Washington poses during a photocall ahead of the premiere of movie "Gladiator II" at the Pathe Beaugrenelle movie theatre, in Paris, on November 10, 2024. (Photo by Kiran RIDLEY / AFP) (Photo by KIRAN RIDLEY/AFP via Getty Images)

Washington said he plans to act in Shakespeare's King Lear before he retires, though he did not specify if it was for film or stage.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Denzel Washington said he plans to retire from acting after these 6 projects

Latest stories