One Of Denzel Washington’s Last Movies Will Be ‘Black Panther 3,’ He Reveals

There's a lot of talk that Denzel Washington could receive another Oscar nomination or even win for his performance in Gladiator II. However, the 69-year-old actor has indicated that he plans to retire after making a few more films. One of those upcoming projects is Black Panther 3, which means Denzel will make a brief appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

During a conversation with the Today Show, Denzel shared that director Ryan Coogler is crafting a part just for him in Black Panther 3. Let’s be clear—Denzel Washington doesn’t audition for roles that are already out there, so that’s silly to think. However, we still don’t know whether his character will be a hero, a villain, or if he’ll play a significant Marvel figure. Here’s the complete list of movies that Denzel has confirmed he will be involved in:

Having five additional movies should be sufficient for him to reach his mid-70s, so I believe he has earned the right to retire afterward. However, it's not uncommon for actors to announce their retirement only to return later for a role that piques their interest.

Regarding Black Panther 3, Marvel hasn’t officially announced the project yet, but it’s clear that it’s in the works. However, there’s no set release date at this time, and Marvel's lineup for the MCU films is already planned out through early 2027. This means we might have to wait a bit before we get to see it realized.

There’s not much value in guessing what character Denzel might play in the Black Panther movie. Some have suggested he could be Blue Marvel, but that’s purely speculation. I think he might be interested in joining the project not only because of his connection with Coogler but also because he saw the incredible role Angela Bassett had in the second film, which got her a Best Supporting Actress nod at the Oscars—a recognition that superhero films often miss out on.

We're still in the dark about what the future holds for the Black Panther character. In the second film, Shuri stepped into the role after Chadwick Boseman's tragic passing made it impossible for him to continue as Black Panther. Within the story, T'Challa also meets his end. However, it was later disclosed that he had a son who was previously unknown to anyone. There's speculation that this child might eventually grow up to take on the mantle of Black Panther in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But that would likely require a significant leap in time. I wouldn't anticipate any new information on this for quite a while.

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