Denzel Washington Confirms Role in Black Panther 3 – Honoring Chadwick Boseman’s Tribute

Denzel Washington Confirms Role in Black Panther 3, Honoring Chadwick Boseman’s Tribute

Years after the late Chadwick Boseman honored Denzel Washington with a moving tribute, proclaiming, “There is no Black Panther without Denzel Washington,” the acclaimed actor has revealed he will join the cast of Black Panther 3.

During an interview on Australia’s Today show, Washington, currently promoting Gladiator II—where he stars as Macrinus, a former slave plotting against Rome’s emperors—shared glimpses of his future projects. When asked about upcoming roles, he mentioned several: “I’m not sure how many more films I’ll make, probably not that many,” he said. “I want to take on roles I haven’t yet explored. I played Othello at 22, and I’m about to play him again at 70,” he noted, referring to an upcoming Broadway production in 2025 with Jake Gyllenhaal. Washington then listed projects in his pipeline, including Hannibal, directed by Antoine Fuqua, a film collaboration with Steve McQueen, and, excitingly, a role in the next Black Panther, with Ryan Coogler currently writing a part specifically for him.

Ryan Coogler directed the original Black Panther in 2018, which starred Boseman as the iconic Marvel hero, T’Challa. After Boseman’s untimely death in 2020, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) honored his legacy, with Letitia Wright taking up Wakanda’s mantle as Shuri, T’Challa’s sister. Now, Washington’s addition to the anticipated third installment deepens the connection between Boseman’s legacy and his mentor.

Washington’s impact on Boseman’s career is well known. At the 2019 American Film Institute Awards, Boseman delivered a heartfelt tribute to Washington, who had been a quiet benefactor to several theater students from Howard University attending a summer program in Oxford, including Boseman himself. “There is no Black Panther without Denzel Washington,” Boseman declared, noting that Washington’s groundbreaking work laid the foundation for his own generation of Black actors in Hollywood. “The many sacrifices you made for the culture on film sets through your career… laid the blueprints for us to follow.”

Marvel Studios has yet to confirm Black Panther 3, but the Disney schedule includes several untitled Marvel films slated between 2026 and 2028. Meanwhile, Eyes of Wakanda, an animated Disney+ series, is set for release on August 6, 2025, further expanding the rich world of Wakanda.

Watch Washington’s full interview above, with his remarks on Black Panther 3 beginning at the 3:33 mark.

Correction: An earlier draft of this article misquoted Chadwick Boseman’s AFI tribute speech. This version reflects the corrected text.

Latest new from Beuteeshop