Denzel Washington is a name synonymous with Hollywood greatness. Renowned for his powerful, evocative performances and incredible acting range, Washington is one of the most talented and sought-after actors working today. His movies are consistently successful with critics, audiences, and at the box office, and he has gained numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards for his performances in Glory and Training Day.
In 2020, Washington was named by The New York Times as the greatest actor of the 21st century, a title that the actor certainly deserves (via The New York Times). As a result of his incredible acting talents, Washington has several exciting upcoming projects that he is due to star in. Audiences will certainly be looking to see the actor bring his commitment to storytelling to all of these different roles. In the past, Washington’s best characters have been vessels to explore themes of struggle, moral complexity, and resilience, and it is hoped that he can continue to build on this in the future.
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Black Panther 3
Release Date TBA
Black Panther 3 is the unannounced but teased third entry in the series of films that exists as a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film will pick up some time after the events of Wakanda Forever, with the new Black Panther once again taking up the mantle.
- Distributor(s)
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Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
While no release date is set for the next Black Panther movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Denzel Washington himself has said that he is set to star in the film for Ryan Coogler. This would be his first time to appear in an MCU movie after Marvel courted him for years. Coogler directed the first two Black Panther movies and was able to morph the franchise into a vehicle for Shuri after Chadwick Boseman’s death. Now, it appears Coogler has convinced Washington to join in, but there is no news of what role he will play.
In an interview, Washington talked about his upcoming movies, saying:
I played Othello at 22, I’m now going to play it 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.
There is no clue as to when the movie will arrive, which means there is no telling what it could be about. That is because, if the next MCU films follow the comics, the upcoming Avengers movies will take place in a new world known as Battleworld after the multiverse mostly implodes. The movies between those two Avengers releases will take place in that world, meaning Washington could play a version of Black Panther. However, if the movie comes after those, things will be back on Earth, and he could play anyone.
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Highest 2 Lowest
Release Date TBA
High and Low is a remake of the 1963 film by Akira Kurosawa, directed by Spike Lee and starring Denzel Washington. Details on the film are scarce, but the original film’s plot centers on a wealthy man who must continue to pay ransoms to kidnappers, slowly bringing him and his empire to ruin.
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A24
, Apple TV+
Highest 2 Lowest is one of Washington’s most interesting upcoming acting projects, with the movie being a contemporary remake of Akira Kurosawa’s iconic 1963 movie, High and Low. Highest 2 Lowest is set to be the fifth actor-director collaboration between filmmaker Spike Lee and Washington. This pairing has produced incredible films like Malcolm X and Inside Man. Kurosawa’s movie is centered around a corporate executive forced to decide between using a large amount of money to buy control of a company or using the same money to pay the ransom of his chauffeur’s abducted son.
It has not yet been confirmed who Washington is set to play in Highest 2 Lowest, but, judging by his acting history, it is hard to deny that he is a perfect fit for the starring role of the executive. The executive (named Kingo Gondo, and played by Toshirō Mifune in Kurosawa’s 1963 movie) would be able to make the most of Washington’s incredible acting abilities, allowing the actor to portray a morally dubious character, a venture that he certainly has experience in. In addition, the storyline is likely to follow a narrative similar to Kurosawa’s movie, exploring the complexities of class divisions in contemporary society.
With Washington at the helm, audiences can expect a gripping exploration of ethics, social dynamics, and wealth.
While Lee has a history of producing underwhelming movie remakes, such as his 2013 re-interpretation of Park Chan-wook’s Oldboy, having Washington in a starring role will likely elevate Highest 2 Lowest greatly. His considerable experience playing characters similar to the executive and his pure on-screen gravitas make him the ideal actor for this remake. With Washington at the helm, audiences can expect a gripping exploration of ethics, social dynamics, and wealth.
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Joe Turner’s Come And Gone
Release Date TBA
Denzel Washington recently confirmed that he would be adapting yet another August Wilson play into a movie. Wilson is an award-winning playwright of such acclaimed productions as Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, The Piano Lesson, and Fences, with the latter winning a Pulitzer Prize. Washington has proved his in-depth understanding of Wilson’s work with his incredible adaptation of Fences released in 2016. Washington directed, produced, and starred in the movie, and has produced an adaptation of The Piano Lesson, releasing on Netflix in November 2024.
Washington’s next Wilson adaptation will be Joe Turner’s Come And Gone, one part of Wilson’s decade-by-decade chronicle of the African American experience called The Pittsburgh Cycle. Joe Turner’s Come and Gone tells the story of Herald Loomis, a man who returns to Pittsburgh in the early 20th century to try and find his wife. It is as yet unclear whether Washington is starring in the movie, or just producing it, but whatever the case, it is sure to be a fresh perspective on the story.
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Denzel Washington’s Latest Movies |
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Title |
Character |
RT Critics Score |
RT Audience Score |
Box Office |
|
The Equalizer 3 (2023) |
Robert McCall |
76% |
94% |
$191 million |
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The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021) |
Mcbeth |
92% |
75% |
N/A |
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The Little Things (2021) |
Joe Deacon |
45% |
67% |
$30 million |
It would be incredible to see Washington take on the role of Herald, as the actor has been unafraid to take on intimidating roles that delve into the complexities of race in the US. His credits in Malcolm X and Training Day are a testament to Washington’s ability to explore this, and his deep understanding of Wilson’s playwriting would be a perfect opportunity for Washington to craft the dialogue around himself as an actor. Of course, this is all speculation, but it’s undeniable that Washington’s status in Hollywood and his tenure as an actor would be able to bring a strong presence to the screen.
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Untitled Hannibal Movie
Release Date TBA
Washington is set to take on the role of the legendary Carthaginian military commander, Hannibal, in Antoine Fuqua’s untitled Netflix movie about the general. Fuqua and Washington have collaborated as director and actor five times already, including in The Equalizer trilogy, The Magnificent Seven, and Fuqua’s breakthrough, Training Day. Although details of the movie are still heavily under wraps, this is a collaboration between two legends of Hollywood who know exactly how to play off of each other’s strengths, with Washington’s Academy Award for Training Day being a testament to this.
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Washington’s role as Hannibal promises to be yet another incredible portrayal of a historical figure by the actor. From portraying the famous boxer Rubin “The Hurricane” Carter in The Hurricane, Frank Lucas in American Gangster, and of course, civil rights advocate Malcolm X in the movie of the same, Washington has allowed his career to truly flourish by playing these figures. Playing Hannibal is likely to be Washington’s most ambitious biographical role yet, with the Carthaginian attaining almost a mythological-like status in the history of the Ancient World.
DID YOU KNOW: Denzel Washington’s first movie was Wilma (1977) at the age of 22.
Hannibal was a commander most known for commanding the forces of Carthage against Rome, and cemented his place in the history books by leading war elephants over the Alps to conquer the city. Washington is the perfect choice to bring this larger-than-life historical figure to the big screen, as the actor has the unique ability to be both a truly intimidating presence in movies while also maintaining a gritty, small-scale sense of emotional depth. While his casting as Hannibal has sparked some debate about its historical accuracy, Washington will nevertheless likely be the true highlight of the movie.
Sources: The New York Times, Empire.
