Is superstar actor Denzel Washington retiring? The answer might be yes.
The Oscar winner revealed in a recent interview with Empire Magazine that there are few movies left to make that still interest him.
In a recent interview with Empire Magazine to promote his role in director Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator 2,” the two-time Oscar winner revealed that the film was one of the few movies left that still interested him after more than 40 years in the film industry.
“There are very few films left for me to make that I’m interested in, and I have to be inspired by the filmmaker, and I was tremendously inspired by Ridley,” Washington said about taking on the starring role in the “Gladiator” sequel.
Washington has a great relationship with Scott from their time working on 2007’s “American Gangster.”
“We had a great go-round the first go-round [on ‘American Gangster’]and here we are,” the “Fences” actor added. “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.”
Scott also sat down with Empire Magazine about “Gladiator 2,” separately telling the publication that “it’s the best thing I’ve ever made. One of the best things. I’ve made a few good ’uns.”
Washington has not publicly discussed his retirement. In addition to the “Gladiator” sequel, he is set to appear in the crime thriller “High and Low” and an untitled project from longtime friend and collaborator Antoine Fuqua, who directed him in “Training Day” and “The Equalizer,” per People.
“Gladiator 2” stars Paul Mescal as a grown-up Lucius, the son of Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) and the nephew of Commodus, the original film’s antagonist played by Joaquin Phoenix. The movie picks up years later with Lucius now living in the northern African region of Numidia, where he was sent by his mother as a child as it was just outside the reach of the Roman Empire, according to Variety.
“Gladiator 2” will hit theaters on Nov. 22 from Paramount.
