Denzel Washington Outlines the Future of His Career, Including Plans for Retirement

Denzel Washington during CinemaCon in Las Vegas on April 24, 2023. Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Acclaimed actor Denzel Washington says he plans to step away from the spotlight following the completion of his upcoming projects.

During an interview with Australia’s “Today” on Nov. 11, the 69-year-old raved about his new film “Gladiator II,” the sequel to the 2000 original by director Ridley Scott, before admitting all good things must come to an end.

“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 said.

When it comes to which project is the right fit, the Oscar-winning actor said he is now selective in his choices, saying he is “only interested in working with the best.”

While the actor has not specified an exact timeline for his on-screen departure, he did outline what the future looks like for him, including a return to Broadway and potentially a third installment of the Marvel Studios “Black Panther” franchise.

Washington is starring alongside Jake Gyllenhaal in a new production of the Shakespeare Classic “Othello” next year, a role he played more than four decades ago, which also now includes a film adaptation.

“I’ve 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’s writing a part for me in the next ‘Black Panther,’” he said.

“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.”

This isn’t the first time that Washington teased a retirement, telling Empire magazine back in August that there are very few films left for him to make that peak his interest, noting, however, that Scott left him “inspired.”

Marvel Studios has not officially confirmed a third “Black Panther” film, although the franchise gained notoriety back in 2018, garnering more than $1.3 billion at the box office at the time.

With more than 60 credits throughout his career, Washington got his start on television in the late 70s, before his breakthrough role in the 1987 drama “Cry Freedom.”

He quickly became a household name over the years, best known for his performances in “Training Day,” “The Book of Eli,” “Fences,” and “American Gangster.”

Washington received multiple Golden Globe Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards, and Tony Awards, with more than 200 total nominations.

Behind the scenes, Washington found passion in filmmaking, acting as both director and producer on a number of his own starring credits, a testament to his range and storytelling.