Denzel Washington Says He’ll Have a Role in ‘Black Panther 3’

Could Washington, about to tear up screens in ‘Gladiator II,’ be about to join the MCU? According to him, he is!

Denzel Washington plays Macrinus in 'Gladiator II' from Paramount Pictures.

Preview:

Denzel Washington says a role is being crafted for him in ‘Black Panther 3’
Marvel has yet to officially confirm the movie.
Washington will next be seen in ‘Gladiator II.’

When Denzel Washington speaks, people listen. And we’re definitely ready to listen when the Oscar-winning actor, who is doing the press rounds for Ridley Scott’s ‘Gladiator II,’ says a role is being written for him in a hotly anticipated movie.

Speaking to the Today show on Australia’s Channel 9, Washington was asked about future plans, especially since just a couple of months about he was hinting about retiring from at least acting.

Here’s what he said:

“At this point in my career, I’m only interested in working with the best, I don’t know how many more films I will make, probably not that many. I want to do things that I haven’t done. 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.’ ”

Wait, what?!

What’s the status of Black Panther 3?

'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' director Ryan Coogler.

While we –– and indeed, the world at large –– would most definitely be happy to see Denzel Washington in the MCU, Marvel has of yet not confirmed that a third ‘Black Panther’ movie is even happening, and co-writer/director/franchise overseer Ryan Coogler hasn’t officially dropped word he’s making another movie.

It would hardly surprise us though –– the first ‘Black Panther’ was a zeitgeisty triumph, earning more than a billion at the box office. And while follow up ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ had to reckon with the tragic death of star Chadwick Boseman and the aftereffects of the pandemic on moviegoing, it also managed to take in more than $859 million at the box office.

So far, Coogler is pushing the story forward in other ways, including the ‘Ironheart’ Disney+ series featuring the character of young inventor Riri Williams, as played by Dominique Thorne in ‘Wakanda Forever.’ That show launches in June next year.

Ironheart

NR1 SeasonsJune 24th, 2025

After the events of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, technology is pitted against magic when Riri Williams, a young, genius inventor determined to make her mark on... Read the Plot

And there is also animated offering ‘Eyes of Wakanda,’ which also debuts on Disney+ on August 6th.

Here’s the thing, though: if you can get Denzel Washington in your movie, you get Denzel Washington in your movie. And while we seriously doubt he would sign up for a recurring role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a one-shot as potentially a villain or some other character in a new ‘Black Panther’ is something to anticipate. Let’s see what happens…