Denzel Washington stars in the hugely anticipated Gladiator 2
Denzel Washington has announced he will retire from acting after revealing one of his last ever roles.
The famed actor stars in the hugely anticipated Gladiator 2, with the likes of Pedro Pascal and Paul Mescal joining the 69-year-old on the set.
All three are currently doing the media rounds ahead of the release of the movie, and Washington touched on his future in the industry during a discussion with Today.
The actor stated director Ryan Coogler is writing him a role in the third Blank Panther movie, which will be one of Washington’s final gigs.
Before he enters retirement, he plans on appearing in a new Steve McQueen project and an adaption of Shakespeare’s Othello.
Denzel Washington is planning to retire soon (Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)
The Gladiator 2 actor told Today: “For me it’s about the filmmakers. Especially at this point in my career, I am only interested in working with the best,” Washington said. “I don’t know how many more films I’m going to make. It’s probably not that many. I want to do things I haven’t done.”
He continued: “I played Othello at 22. I am about to play Othello at 70. After that, I am playing Hannibal. After that, I’ve been talking to 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.”
Washington was of course going to be involved with a third Black Panther flick, with star of the series, Chadwick Boseman, paying tribute to Washington while honouring him the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2019.
Washington still has a few more projects left (Kristy Sparow/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures)
“My whole cast stands on your shoulders,” he said. “The daily battles won, the thousand territories gained, the many sacrifices you made for the culture on film sets through your career, the things you refused to compromise along the way lay the blueprints for us to follow.”
Speaking with Empire earlier this year, Washington opened up on why he wanted to be involved with Gladiator 2.
“There are very few films left for me to make that I’m interested in, and I have to be inspired by the filmmaker,” the actor said.
Safe to say the Blank Panther actor was excited by the Gladiator role.
In the hugely anticipated sequel, Washington plays the role of power broker and former slave Macrinus.
Gladiator 2 releases in cinemas across the US on 22 November.
