Denzel Washington Talks Retirement and Role in ‘Black Panther 3’: NPR

Denzel Washington attends the 16th Annual Museum of Modern Art Film Benefit presented by Chanel honoring Samuel L. Jackson on Wednesday, October 23, 2024 in New York.

Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

hide caption

change caption

Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

Denzel Washington is retiring after his next few projects, he said in a recent interview.

He is currently on a promotional tour for his role in Gladiator IIwhich is released in theaters this month. The Oscar-winning actor said on the Australian version of TODAY show that he has a few more roles left before he retires from the acting world.

“For me, it’s about the filmmaker, especially at this point in my career,” he 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. I want to do things I haven’t done.”

He is set to play Shakespeare’s Othello on Broadway for the second time. (He first got the role when he was 22). He will then play Othello for the third time in a film adaptation, play the characters Hannibal and King Lear in separate projects, and have a role in the third Black Panther film. A third Black Panther the film has not yet been confirmed.

“After that I’ll retire,” he said.