Black Panther 3 will be one of his last films

Denzel Washington revealed in August that there are “very few films” he could make at this point in his Oscar-winning career, but now he reveals that “Black Panther 3” is one of them. Speaking to Australia’s Today show during the Gladiator II press tour, Washington said director Ryan Coogler is writing him a role in the third Black Panther film. It will be one of Washington’s final films, along with a new Steve McQueen project and a film adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Othello.”

“For me it’s about the filmmakers. “At this point in my career, I’m only interested in working with the best,” Washington said. “I don’t know how many more films I’ll do. There are probably not that many. I want to do things I haven’t done yet.”

“I played Othello when I was 22. At 70, I’m about to play Othello,” he continued, referring to the Shakespeare production starring Jake Gyllenhaal, which opens on Broadway in February 2025. “After that I’ll play Hannibal.” After that I talked to Steve McQueen about a film. After that, Ryan Coogler is writing a role for me in the next “Black Panther.” After that I will do the film “Othello”. After that I’m going to do King Lear. After that I will retire.”

While the Steve McQueen project is still under wraps, Netflix has already announced its support for Antoine Fuqua’s war film, in which Washington will portray the ancient Carthaginian general Hannibal. As for Black Panther 3, Marvel hasn’t officially announced the sequel yet, but fans have been expecting a third tentpole from Coogler given the success of the franchise.

Washington’s involvement in a third Black Panther film would be a turning point. Before his death in 2020, original Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman revealed that Washington paid for his acting school for a summer and therefore: “There is no Black Panther without Denzel Washington.”

“My entire cast stands on your shoulders,” Boseman told Washington when honoring him with the 2019 AFI Life Achievement Award. “The battles won every day, the thousands of territories won, the many sacrifices you made for the culture on film sets over the course of your career,” the things you refused to compromise on along the way, form the blueprints we follow can.”

Watch Washington speak to Australia’s Today show about the future of his career in the video below.