Marvel fans eager to see Denzel Washington in the next installment of Black Panther may have to wait a bit longer for official confirmation. Despite Washington previously revealing that director Ryan Coogler was writing a role for him in the upcoming Black Panther 3, producer Nate Moore has clarified that Marvel has yet to hold substantive creative discussions about the film.
In a recent interview with Screen Rant, Moore acknowledged Washington’s interest in the project but emphasized that discussions about casting and plot details remain in the early stages. “If that manifests, which we’re gonna try, I think it will probably be somebody from canon. Who that is, is early days,” he stated.
He further explained that Coogler has been occupied with finishing his latest film, Sinners, which is set for release later this year. “We honestly haven’t had really substantive creative conversations with Ryan, mostly because he’s finishing his film Sinners, which is gonna come out this year and is gonna be great,” Moore added.
Washington, 70, had initially revealed his potential involvement in Black Panther 3 during an interview with Australia’s Today show last November. He expressed his desire to work with top-tier filmmakers as he nears retirement. “At this point in my career, I’m only interested in working with the best. I don’t know how many more films I will make, probably not that many. I want to do things that I haven’t done,” he said.
The Gladiator II and Equalizer star also laid out his final career projects, mentioning roles such as Othello, Hannibal, and collaborations with director Steve McQueen. He casually included Coogler’s Black Panther 3 in his list of upcoming films, later admitting that he prematurely disclosed the information.
During an appearance on Variety’s Awards Circuit Podcast, Washington recalled calling Coogler to apologize for mentioning the film publicly. “Ryan’s a genius. 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,” Washington said.
The third Black Panther film will continue the story following 2022’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which saw Letitia Wright’s Shuri take on the mantle of the titular hero. Wright previously hinted at exciting developments for her character, stating in 2023, “There’s a lot coming up.”
While Washington’s casting remains unconfirmed, Marvel fans are eagerly awaiting updates as the film enters its development phase.
