Denzel Washington Drops More Hints He May be Looking to Retire from Acting
“There are very few films left for me to make that I’m interested in,” he says, citing the likes of collaboration with director Ridley Scott for the upcoming ‘Gladiator II’.
Preview:
- Denzel Washington says he has “few films” left he’s interested in.
- He may opt to retire from acting and instead focus on directing.
- That said, he still has ‘Gladiator II’ and Spike Lee’s ‘High & Low’ headed our way.
Is Denzel Washington looking to close the curtain on the time in front of the camera? He’s certainly hinting at that.
In a new interview with Empire, Washington talked up the fact that, “There are very few films left for me to make that I’m interested in, and I have to be inspired by the filmmaker.”
Which all points to the fact that he’s starting to feel he’s said all he can in front of the camera and isn’t looking to keep that side of his career forever.
Of course, actors (and directors) talk about retirement, but frequently go back to work –– for every Gene Hackman (who hasn’t acted in years), there’s a Steven Soderbergh (who announced he was stepping back from directing movies but soon returned).
Related Article: 45 Best Denzel Washington Movies of All Time
What’s happening with Denzel Washington?
With Denzel, it’s a little less clear.
Back in June at the American Black Film Festival in Miami Beach, Washington talked up the likelihood that he could wrap up the acting side and focus on directing, where he’s had success with movies such as ‘Fences’ and ‘The Great Debaters.’
This was Washington’s statement at the time:
“The things that are going on for me professionally behind the camera are as important to me now as in front of the camera. I think there’s less and less time I’ll be spending in front of the camera.”
What does Denzel Washington have coming up?
Despite all the retirement talk, he’s still booked and busy.
Next up for the actor in the release schedule is Ridley Scott’s ‘Gladiator II’.
The new outing, set 20 years after the events of the original, follows Paul Mescal’s Lucius (the character was a child in the first film) as he himself becomes a gladiator in the arena.
Gladiator II
Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the... Read the Plot
Washington plays Macrinus, a wealthy arms dealer who wants to be Emperor and he’s willing to do anything to get there.
He was clearly happy with his latest collaboration with Scott:
“We had a great go-round the first go-round and here we are. He’s engaged. He’s excited about life and his next film. He’s an inspiration. We should all want to feel like that at 86.”
‘Gladiator’ 2 will be in theaters on November 22.
And also in the can? A reunion with even more regular collaborator Spike Lee, with whom he’s made crime drama ‘High and Low’.
Beyond those two? A potential movie about the warrior Hannibal, which has Antoine Fuqua directing, and a stack of scripts he’s attached to as a producer.
List of Denzel Washington Movies and TV Shows:
- 'St. Elsewhere' (1982 - 1988)
- 'Cry Freedom' (1987)
- 'The Mighty Quinn' (1989)
- 'Glory' (1990)
- 'Mo' Better Blues' (1990)
- 'Ricochet' (1991)
- 'Malcolm X' (1992)
- 'The Pelican Brief' (1993)
- 'Philadelphia' (1994)
- 'Crimson Tide' (1995)
- 'Virtuosity' (1995)
- 'Devil in a Blue Dress' (1995)
- 'Courage Under Fire' (1996)
- 'He Got Game' (1998)
- 'The Siege' (1998)
- 'Fallen' (1998)
- 'The Bone Collector' (1999)
- 'The Hurricane' (1999)
- 'Remember the Titans' (2000)
- 'John Q' (2002)
- 'Antwone Fisher' (2003)
- 'Out of Time' (2003)
- 'Man on Fire' (2004)
- 'The Manchurian Candidate' (2004)
- 'Déjà Vu' (2006)
- 'Inside Man' (2006)
- 'American Gangster' (2007)
- 'The Great Debaters' (2007)
- 'The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3' (2009)
- 'The Book of Eli' (2010)
- 'Unstoppable' (2010)
- 'Safe House' (2012)
- 'Flight' (2012)
- '2 Guns' (2013)
- 'The Equalizer' (2014)
- 'Fences' (2016)
- 'The Magnificent Seven' (2016)
- 'Roman J. Israel, Esq.' (2017)
- 'The Equalizer 2' (2018)
- 'The Little Things' (2021)
- 'The Tragedy of Macbeth' (2021)
- 'A Journal for Jordan' (2021)
- 'The Equalizer 3' (2023)
- 'Gladiator II' (2024)
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