Denzel Washington will be joining the billion-dollar-making Black superhero franchise, Black Panther.
On Nov. 12 while in Australia doing his press tour for Gladiator II, Washington announced that the director of the Black Panther series, Ryan Coogler, reached out to him and told him that he is writing him a specially created role in the upcoming Black Panther 3 film. Washington also stated sadly that Black Panther 3 will be one of his final films before he retires from acting, as well as reprising his role in a new adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Othello.”
“I played Othello at 22; I’m now going to play it at 70,” Washington stated. “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.”
We all knew we wouldn’t get to have Washington forever. Now that we know the end is sooner rather than later, a look back at his legendary career is needed. Here are the top three Denzel Washington films.
3. Malcolm X
Washington plays the lead in one of the greatest movies based on a book ever. The Autobiography of Malcolm X is a life-changing book and anyone who hasn’t read it yet should add it to their to-do list before the end of the year. It was only right that Washington would portray one of the greatest civil rights heroes America has ever seen, and he nailed it. From mastering Malcolm’s facial expressions and mannerisms to mimicking his speeches perfectly, nobody could’ve played a better Malcolm other than Malcolm himself. The only issue in Washington getting this role was that Malcolm is very light-skinned, and we know Washington is not; nonetheless, an amazing acting job from Washington.
2. John Q
The first Denzel Washington movie I ever watched was John Q. I had no idea who he was when I was back in high school; all I remembered was feeling the pain Denzel felt throughout the movie — and that is test of a great actor. When an actor can make you emotional about a situation you’ve never been close to experiencing, that is acting greatness. John Q showed the reality of many Black people. You want to do the right things or do things right but life doesn’t always allow that, sometimes you have to take matters into your own hands. John Q loves his son so much and wants his son to live so much, he is willing to throw his own life away to make sure he lives. A movie that will bring the toughest guy to tears.
Flight might be the GOAT Denzel film, and it’s definitely my favorite. Flight shows the duality of a man perfectly. In this movie, Washington is a hotshot pilot who can do no wrong. He is a favorite of his crew and airline, and he has no problem with letting those around him know he can fly through anything. Well, that is put to the test due to his struggles with drugs and alcohol. It is routine for Washington’s character to fly his planes hung over or inebriated; however, on the pivotal day it all goes left and he has to perform an emergency landing. The thing is — even drunk and messed up — he did it. Washington lands the plane as best as any pilot could in an emergency landing, but the movie really hits its stride after. He saves a majority of the lives on board, but a few of them die, and one of his crew members is handicapped in the accident. Washington is known as the hero who saved the plane to the public, but a few of the survivors know the truth — and an investigation into the crash could expose all of it. The ending is something you would expect, either.
