Denzel Washington fans may be wondering if the actor is nearing retirement following his recent comments to Empire magazine.
In the interview, the Oscar winner opened up about his reason for joining Ridley Scott‘s upcoming Gladiator 2, set around 20 years after the original film.
“There are very few films left for me to make that I’m interested in, and I have to be inspired by the filmmaker, and I was tremendously inspired by Ridley,” Washington confessed to the publication. “We had a great go-round the first go-round [on American Gangster], and here we are.”
While some of the Equalizer 3 star’s favorite collaborations were with the late Tony Scott, the Gladiator filmmaker’s brother who died in 2012, he was still excited to team up with Ridley Scott again, years after the 2007 movie American Gangster.
“Obviously, both are great filmmakers,” Washington added. “They can’t miss.” Working together on Gladiator 2 has also reminded the Training Day actor of the energy Scott brings to the filming set.
“He’s engaged. He’s excited about life and his next film. He’s an inspiration,” he said. “We should all want to feel like that at 86.”
Though Washington didn’t reveal how many more films he sees in his future, fans can at least look forward to seeing him star in Gladiator 2 as Macrinus, a wealthy arms dealer who “wants to be emperor, and he’s willing to do anything to get there,” the actor explained.
The sequel, which also stars Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal and Joseph Quinn, is set to hit theaters Nov. 22.
