Denzel Washington Reveals Apology to Black Panther Director for Spoiling Threequel Role (2025)

Denzel Washington looks set to make his long-awaited Marvel Cinematic Universe debut, with the legendary actor recently revealing he has a developing role in Black Panther 3. However, the Oscar-winning star admits he apologized to the MCU film series' director for letting the secret part slip long before cameras get rolling.

Speaking with Variety, Washington was asked about his pending part in the yet-to-be-confirmed Black Panther 3 and his excitement about joining the MCU. Though Washington kept details about the potential Black Panther threequel role quiet, he praised franchise helmer Ryan Coogler's vision for the film series and reached out to him for spoiling the news. “Ryan’s a genius,” Washington said. “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.”

Washington surprised everyone by announcing that Coogler was working on a Black Panther 3 role for him when discussing the upcoming movies he had left on his docket before retiring from acting. During an interview with Australia's Today show in November, Washington said, "I want to do things I haven't done. I 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 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 doing to do King Lear. After that, I'm going to retire."

Though the Black Panther threequel has been discussed since Wakanda Forever, Marvel has yet to confirm whether a third installment is happening. Star Letitia Wright claimed the third film was being developed at the studio early last year, though she retracted her comments. Considering the widespread success of the first two Black Panther movies, including multiple Academy Award wins, a historic Golden Globe Award for Angela Bassett and well over $2 billion at the box office, making a third film makes sense for Marvel.

Marvel must overcome some creative hurdles to make a third Black Panther work. The film series is now without its two main stalwarts after Chadwick Boseman's real-life death and the killing of Bassett's character, Queen Ramonda, the mother of Boseman's T'Challa. Additionally, there are questions regarding whether Tenoch Huerta's Namor will be brought back after the actor's sexual assault allegation and how T'Challa's son, introduced at the end of Wakanda Forever by Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o), will factor into the story.

Denzel Washington Has Impressed With Gladiator II

Washington's latest film, Gladiator II, is another well-received feature for the Hollywood stalwart, portraying the morally bankrupt former slave-turned power broker, Macrinus. The epic historical action sequel, which also stars Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal and Joseph Quinn, has earned over $371 million at the box office and holds a 72% critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Gladiator II is now showing in theaters across North America. Meanwhile, fans can stream the first two Black Panther films via Disney+.

Source: Variety

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6

10

Gladiator II

R

Action

Drama

Epic

History

Adventure

Follows Lucius, the son of Maximus' love Lucilla, after Maximus' death.

Director

Ridley Scott

Release Date

November 22, 2024

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

Writers

David Scarpa, Peter Craig, David Franzoni

Character(s)

Lucius Verus, Marcus Acacius, Macrinus, Lucilla, Emperor Caracalla, Emperor Geta, Gracchus

Runtime

148 minutes

Main Genre

Adventure

prequel(s)

Gladiator

Studio(s)

Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures, Scott Free Productions, Red Wagon Entertainment

Distributor(s)

Paramount Pictures