Denzel Washington Close to Retiring? Star Says ‘There Are Only a Few Movies Left That I Want to Do’

Gladiator 2 is Set for Release on November 14, 2024

Image Credit: Paramount Pictures

Denzel Washington, a two-time Academy Award winner, has said that he may be close to retiring from the big screen. In a recent interview with Empire magazine, Washington spoke about his role in Ridley Scott’s highly anticipated Gladiator 2, calling it one of the few remaining films that he’s interested in and wanted to make. While he didn’t specify how many more such roles remain, the actor made it clear that his participation now depends on the quality of the project and the inspiration he draws from the director.

Denzel Washington to Star in Gladiator 2

Washington has emphasized the importance of his personal and professional relationship with Ridley Scott, which dates back to the two working together on American Gangster in 2007. That relationship played a crucial role in the actor’s decision to join the cast of the Gladiator sequel. Speaking about Scott, Washington said: “There are very few films that interest me anymore and I have to look to the director for inspiration. Ridley has inspired me so much.”

Ridley Scott’s next film, Gladiator 2, stars Paul Mescal as an adult Lucius, a character who returns to Rome as a gladiator after being raised in Numidia, far from the influence of the Roman Empire. The story picks up many years after the events of the original film, with Lucius finding himself fighting for his survival and reuniting with his mother Lucilla, played once again by Connie Nielsen. Denzel Washington plays Macrinus, a powerful power broker in Rome who owns a stable of gladiators, adding a new dimension to the film’s plot. Ridley Scott, who described Gladiator 2 as “one of the best things” he’s ever done, seems confident in the film’s potential.

Source: Variety