Is Denzel Washington Ready to Retire from Acting?

Denzel Washington, the two-time Oscar winner, recently hinted at retirement in an interview with Empire magazine. While promoting his upcoming action film “Gladiator II,” Washington expressed his lack of interest in making new movies, except for the sequel to the famous sword-swinging gladiator film. The legendary actor revealed that there are very few films left that inspire him, and he has to be motivated by the filmmaker. However, he was tremendously inspired by Ridley Scott, the producer and director of the “Gladiator” sequel.

Washington and Scott have previously collaborated on the 2007 thriller “American Gangster,” which received critical acclaim and numerous award nominations. Sharing his admiration for Scott, Washington said, “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.” The 86-year-old director, who made the first Oscar-winning “Gladiator,” is confident about the sequel and considers it one of the best films he has ever made.

Apart from Washington, the “Gladiator II” cast includes Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal. Washington, who has been a heavyweight in Hollywood for nearly 50 years, has delivered stellar performances in blockbusters such as “Man on Fire,” “The Equalizer,” “The Book of Eli,” and “Remember The Titans.” He has won Academy Awards for his roles in “Glory” and “Training Day.” This isn’t the first time Washington has spoken about stepping away from acting. In July, during a panel at the American Black Film Festival, he mentioned that his work behind the camera is as important to him as his work in front of it.

Washington has been dropping hints about his retirement, stating that he is in the “yellow leaf” of his career and looking to explore other avenues. He mentioned that for him to be interested in acting, it would have to be an extreme challenge. While he has been in discussions with top directors about potential projects, he believes there’s not much left for him to do as an actor.

“Gladiator II” is set to hit theaters on November 22, 2024. Fans of Denzel Washington will eagerly await this film, which may potentially be one of his last acting roles before retirement.