Denzel Washington revealed last month that he had joined the cast of Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther 3. In a new interview, the actor said that he had reached out to the Creed director and apologized for revealing such a key detail about the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Denzel Washington called Ryan Coogler to apologize for Black Panther 3 reveal
Denzel Washington said in a recent interview with Variety that he spoke to Ryan Coogler and expressed regret for talking about Black Panther 3. Notably, Marvel hasn’t yet officially announced a third Black Panther feature and Coogler’s involvement in it. The award-winning filmmaker helmed the first two Black Pather movies as well. The first film premiered in 2018, and the second one was released in 2022.
Washington called Coogler a “genius,” adding, “I called him and apologized for talking about the movie, and right there sitting with him was his beautiful wife. He’s still Ryan, humble and full of ideas. Whatever he writes, I’ll read.”
This comes after Washington revealed his casting in Black Panther 3 during an appearance on The Today Show in November 2024. “I’m playing Hannibal. I’ve been talking to Steve McQueen about a film. After that, Ryan Coogler is writing a part for me in the next Black Panther,” he said at the time. “After that, I’m gonna do the film Othello. After that, I’m going to do King Lear. After that, I’m going to retire.”
Washington has crafted an illustrious career over the last four decades he has been active in the industry. He has won two Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor for Glory (1989) and Best Actor for Training Day (2001). He has also received a Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Play for Fences in 2010 and nominations for a Grammy Award and two Emmy Awards.
Besides Creed and the Black Panther movies, Coogler has directed Fruitvale Station (2013), which marked his feature debut as director. Judas and the Black Messiah, a movie he co-produced, received multiple nominations at the 93rd Academy Awards, including Best Picture. It won in the Best Original Song and Best Supporting Actor categories.