Beloved actor and Hollywood icon Denzel Washington has now clarified his recent comments regarding retirement…and we can all breathe a sigh of relief. The Gladiator 2 star recently stated that he is going to retire after completing several upcoming projects, including joining the MCU in Black Panther 3, but what he really meant that he was planning a career transition, and has aspirations to go behind the camera. Speaking with @seasonedbf, Washington offered some clarity on his recent comments, and waxed philosophical about the “sections” of life in that awe-inspiring way that only Washington can.

“I didn’t say I was gonna go into retirement, I said it has to be at a level of interest to me…I’m more interested in getting behind the camera…so that’s about five years out. It’s very difficult, and I may have used the word ‘retire,’ but I look at life in three sections: you learn, you earn, and you return. I’m in the return part of life.”

While Washington did absolutely use the word “retire” previously, hence why movie lovers everywhere went into a panic about soon waving farewell to one of the greats, he has now revealed that he really meant his career was about to change. Along with plans to move away from acting and heading behind the camera (something he has done in the past to great success with the likes of The Great Debaters and Fences), Washington also reflected on passing the acting baton to the next generation, including his son and Tenet star John David Washington.

“I’m not retiring. It’s not like on June 5th that’s it. But to think I’m gonna run as far as they are or as you are, I’d be a fool.”

Denzel Washington Has the MCU, Shakespeare & More in the Pipeline

Thankfully, we still have plenty of Denzel Washington-starring projects to look forward to, with the actor revealing that he has another historical epic and several Shakespeare adaptations in the pipeline alongside his role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

“I don’t know how many more films I’m gonna make. Probably not that many. I wan to do things I haven’t done. I played Othello at 22 and 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 gonna do the film Othello. After that I’m gonna do King Lear. After that I’m gonna retire.”

Related Denzel Washington Calls “Chicken” on ‘Gladiator II”s Deleted Gay Kiss Scene Oscar-winner Denzel Washington says that a scene in which he kisses another man was cut from ‘Gladiator II.’

Denzel Washington will next star as a former slave-turned-power broker, Macrinus, in the swords and sandals epic, Gladiator 2. Directed by Ridley Scott and written by David Scarpa, the long-awaited sequel features an all-star cast that includes Paul Mescal (Aftersun), Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us), Joseph Quinn (Stranger Things, Fantastic Four), Fred Hechinger (Kraven the Hunter), Connie Nielsen (Gladiator, Nobody), Derek Jacobi (Gladiator, Good Omens), May Calamawy (Moon Knight), Lior Raz (The Crowded Room), and Peter Mensah (300, Avatar) alongside Washington. Check out the official synopsis below.

“Years after witnessing the death of Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius must enter the Colosseum after the powerful emperors of Rome conquer his home. With rage in his heart and the future of the empire at stake, he looks to the past to find the strength and honor needed to return the glory of Rome to its people.”

Gladiator 2 is the follow-up to Ridley Scott’s award-winning film Gladiator from 2000. Scott returns to direct the sequel, with Paul Mescal staring as Lucius, alongside Denzel Washington and Joseph Quinn as the villain Emperor Geta. Gladiator 2 had been stuck in development hell for years before a script written by David Scarpa finally moved forward.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 Studio(s) Paramount Pictures , Universal Pictures , Scott Free Productions , Red Wagon Entertainment Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures Character(s) Lucius Verus , Marcus Acacius , Macrinus , Lucilla , Emperor Caracalla , Emperor Geta , Gracchus Expand