A few weeks ago, Hollywood legend Denzel Washington did something he shouldn’t have done. During an appearance on The Today Show, Washington revealed that he was working on a new film in the MCU: Black Panther 3. Nevertheless, he wasn’t supposed to spill the details, and now, Washington reveals he had to call Ryan Coogler in order to apologize for the spoilers about the super-secret sequel in the MCU.
Washington spoke to Variety’s Award Circuit podcast, and provided some details about what he had to do after he accidentally spilled the beans about his casting in the third Black Panther movie. But it’s Denzel Washington; half the industry probably already forgave him. Per the actor’s claims:

“Ryan’s a genius. I called him and apologized for talking about the movie, and right there sitting with him was his beautiful wife. He’s still Ryan, humble and full of ideas. Whatever he writes, I’ll read.”

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It’s still a mystery how Coogler, writer and director of the previous Black Panther films, responded to Washington, but he most likely let it slide. There’s no news about Black Panther 3 yet, as Disney and Marvel Studios haven’t exactly announced the project. Nevertheless, Washington has enough credibility. Even though he apologized to Coogler, he didn’t deny the project was still on the docket. It is just a matter of time until there’s a formal announcement.
In the meantime, the Academy Award-winning star of films like Malcolm X, Training Day and Inside Man is seeing a formidable return to the spotlight. Gladiator II, his latest film, is receiving all the acclaim it deserves, and Washington is regarded as one of the essential gears of the film. For his performance in Ridley Scott’s sequel to the 2000 epic, Washington received a Golden Globe nomination. Not bad for an actor who’s kept a relatively low profile in recent years.
Denzel Washington Feels Better Than Ever

The legendary performer is about to turn 70, but he isn’t slowing down. Washington recalls preparing for Gladiator II and seeing the result as the motivation he needed for a new lifestyle: “I’ve been training, eating better, and focusing on feeling good. And watching my family grow — it’s the greatest reward. I’ve been downsizing. I cleaned out 40 years’ worth of stuff from my closet — 98% of it I didn’t even wear anymore. It’s liberating.”
Washington will most likely stick to his new regimen due to his upcoming projects. He’s not only making a superhero film in the MCU, but he will also reunite with Spike Lee for an intriguing remake of Kurosawa’s High and Low. Washington also shared a few details about that project in the podcast: “Spike is cooking up something special. I’ll be watching the cut soon. He’s a visionary, and I trust him completely.”
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves yet. Washington may surprise us all during awards season. Accolades for Gladiator II are still being announced, and Washington is a frontrunner for the Best Supporting Actor category. Will the performer snatch his third Oscar in 2025? It’s still too early to speculate, but isn’t that the best way to honor the actor’s legacy?

Release Date

November 22, 2024

Runtime

148 minutes

Cast

Paul Mescal
, Pedro Pascal
, Denzel Washington
, Connie Nielsen
, Joseph Quinn
, Fred Hechinger
, Derek Jacobi
, May Calamawy
, Peter Mensah
, Matt Lucas
, Alexander Karim
, Tim McInnerny
, Lee Charles
, Chidi Ajufo
, Alfie Tempest
, Riana Duce
, Chi Lewis Parry
, Paul Candelent
, Hadrian Howard
, Alexander Simkin
, Mikhail Basmadjian
, Matthew Charlery-Smith
, Maxime Durand
, Lior Raz

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