Denzel Washington revealed in August that “there are very few films left” he can make at this stage of his Oscar-winning career, but now he reveals that “Black Panther 3” is one of them. Speaking to Australia’s ‘Today’ during the press tour for ‘Gladiator II’, Washington said director Ryan Coogler is writing him a role in the third ‘Black Panther’ film. It will be one of Washington’s last films, along with a new Steve McQueen project and a film adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Othello.”

“For me it’s about the filmmakers. Especially at this point in my career, I am only interested in working with the best,” said Washington. “I don’t know how many more films I will make. There are probably not that many. I want to do things I haven’t done yet.”

“I played Othello when I was 22. I’m about to play Othello at 70,” he continued, referring to the Shakespeare production starring Jake Gyllenhaal that opens on Broadway in February 2025. “After that I play Hannibal. Then I talked to Steve McQueen about a movie. After that, Ryan Coogler is writing a role for me in the next ‘Black Panther.’ Then I’m going to make the movie ‘Othello’. Then I’m going to do King Lear. Then I will retire.”

While the Steve McQueen project remains secret, Netflix has already announced that it is backing Antoine Fuqua’s war film, in which Washington plays the role of the ancient Carthaginian general Hannibal. As for “Black Panther 3,” Marvel hasn’t officially announced the sequel, but fans have been expecting a third tentpole from Coogler given the franchise’s success.

Washington’s involvement in a third “Black Panther” film would bring things full circle. Before his death in 2020, original “Black Panther” star Chadwick Boseman revealed that Washington paid for his acting school one summer and thus, “There is no Black Panther without Denzel Washington.”

“My entire cast stands on your shoulders,” Boseman told Washington as he honored him with the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2019. ‘The daily battles you win, the thousand territories won, the many sacrifices you have made during your career for the culture on film sets. ., the things you refused to compromise along the way are the blueprints for us to follow.”

Watch Washington discuss the future of his career with Australia’s ‘Today’ in the video below.