Summary
- Black Panther 3 is being directed by Ryan Coogler, who confirmed he had been talking to Denzel Washington about the project.
- Coogler has been consistent in his desire to work with Washington on a project.
- Washington has seemingly confirmed his role in Black Panther 3 in a past interview.
Black Panther 3 is in development, with Ryan Coogler returning as the director. In a recent interview, he confirmed that he wanted an Academy winner to join the upcoming film.
Black Panther is one of the beloved franchises in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The first movie, starring Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa/Black Panther, was released in 2018. It was a commercial and critical success, grossing over $1.3 billion. The second movie, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, was released four years later, in 2022, and was as successful. So, it's not surprising that a third film was greenlit. Coogler helmed the first two movies and he returns to direct the third film. There are rumors that an award-winning actor will join the upcoming MCU movie.
Black Panther Director Ryan Coogler Weighs In On Long-Rumored Casting Choice 'As Long As He's Interested'
Black Panther 3 hasn't quite gotten around to casting calls yet, but one name has an easy spot on the card, according to the film's likely director.
Coogler appeared on the latest episode of 7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony and spoke about Black Panther 3. The writer and director confirmed that he had Denzel Washington in mind when he wrote the project because he wanted to work with the Equalizer actor "since day one." "I think he's the greatest living actor," Coogler explained. "And in terms of what he means to our culture, forget about it." He added that he has been in contact with Washington about the project for a long time, but he was still "surprised" when the Gladiator II actor spoke about it. He added:
I've been talking to him about this for a long time, and I was surprised when he mentioned it. But it's not like it's not true.
In November 2024, Washington appeared on The Today Show and spoke about his acting projects. He mentioned that Coogler was writing a role for him in Black Panther 3. His statement immediately made headlines, with many confirming his role in the anticipated Marvel movie. In another interview with Variety's Awards Circuit Podcast weeks later, Washington called Coogler a "genius" and admitted that he called the director to apologize after he spilled his Black Panther role. This isn't the first time Washington spoke about his interest in working with Washington. He shared the same message when he appeared in an episode of the Nightcap podcast on YouTube in March. Coogler said he was desperate to work with Washington and hoped they could materialize it. However, he hinted that the decision was up to the Tragedy of Macbeth star because it would happen if he was "interested."
Coogler has been consistent in his desire to work with Washington. And considering his recent statement, it's likely a confirmation that Washington is indeed part of Black Panther 3. Coogler's statement is a double negative and two negatives cancel out and make a positive statement. It appears that Washington is open to working with the filmmaker because he praised Coogler, calling him a "genius." Actors as brilliant and talented as Washington would certainly love to work with someone of Coogler's caliber. Also, Washington talking about his role in Black Panther 3 seemingly suggests that he has already accepted the role. It was already in his mind when he spoke about the projects he would do before his retirement. According to him, Coogler was writing a role for him in Black Panther 3 and after that, he would film Othello and King Lear and then retire. With how Washington spoke about it, the next Black Panther film is certainly part of his calendar.
Black Panther films stream on Disney Plus.
What Role Could Denzel Washington Play In Black Panther 3?
Denzel Washington has confirmed his role in Black Panther 3! Find out which character he might portray in the next big MCU chapter.