Ryan Coogler confirms he has a role for Denzel Washington in 'Black Panther 3': 'He's the greatest living actor'
It looks like the third time will be the charm for Ryan Coogler and the man he considers to be the greatest actor on the planet.
During a recent podcast appearance, the writer and director behind the Marvel blockbusters Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever confirmed that he has crafted a role specifically for Denzel Washington in the planned third installment of the superhero franchise.
"I've been trying to work with him since day one," Coogler said on the latest episode of 7PM in Brooklyn With Carmelo Anthony. "I think he's the greatest living actor. And in terms of what he means to our culture, forget about it. I've been talking to him about this for a long time, and I was surprised when he mentioned it. But it's not like it's not true."
Coogler — who also cautioned that there's a lot of untrue information about his work floating around out there — was referring to Washington's surprise announcement last November that he'd be part of the cast of Black Panther 3.
"I don't know how many more films I'm gonna make, probably not that many," Washington, 70, said on Australia's Today. "I want to do things I haven't done. I played Othello at 22. I am about to play Othello at 70 [on Broadway]. After that, I am playing Hannibal. After that, I've been talking with Steve McQueen about a film. After that, Ryan Coogler's 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."
The following month, the two-time Oscar winner said he wasn't supposed to have revealed his involvement in the highly anticipated project, which Marvel has yet to officially announce.
"I called [Coogler] the other day. I forgot what it was about — no, I called him to apologize," Washington said on the Variety Awards Circuit podcast. "That's right. I called him. I said, 'I'm sorry, man.' He's like, 'No, man, it's all good.' I FaceTimed, and right there next to him was his lady. They were editing. They were hanging out."
The actor has a connection to the Black Panther franchise for reasons beyond Coogler's appreciation for his work in films such as Malcolm X and Training Day.Washington shared a bond with Chadwick Boseman, who starred as the title character, a.k.a. T'Challa, in the original Black Panther, before he died of colon cancer in 2020, at 43.
The year before he died, Boseman honored Washington while presenting him with the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award, and along the way explained that Washington had been a silent benefactor who helped fund nine theater students from Howard University, including Boseman, to attend a summer program at Oxford.
Boseman said then, "There is no Black Panther without Denzel Washington."
Watch Coogler's full podcast appearance above.
Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
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