“I’m dying to work with Denzel", Ryan Coogler on wanting to work with Denzel in Black Panther 3

Ryan Coogler, who directed the Black Panther films, is returning with its third installment. In a recent interview, he expressed his desire to work with the legendary actor Denzel Washington in Black Panther 3. He said he has long admired the actor who is known for his popular role as a civil rights leader, Malcolm X. He also appeared in a gritty crime thriller, Training Day, along with Glory, for which he won his first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

According to reports, Denzel revealed some news about his retirement and confirmed his role in Black Panther 3, which could also be one of his last before retirement. Coogler, while speaking with Deadline, says he is "dying to work with Denzel."

Read on to know more about what the director said about the actor.

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Here is what the Black Panther 3 director said about working with Denzel Washington

During an appearance on the Nightcap podcast with Shannon Sharpe and Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, Ryan Coogler, the director of Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, expresses that he is determined to work with Denzel Washington in Black Panther 3.

"I’m dying to work with Denzel and I’m hoping we can make that happen. I got every intention of working with him in that movie and as long as he’s interested — it’s going to happen.”

There have been several speculations floating about the release date of the movie; however, when asked about the same in the interview, the director responded with 2 words, without revealing anything more.

"Not Long"

Recently, the influencer and writer Daniel Richtman posted a cryptic 2-word post on X that says "Feb 2028". Eventually, it was speculated that this might be the release time for Black Panther 3. If this is true, Black Panther 3 is slated for phase 7 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

This makes it hard to decode the exact plot it could follow; however, some reports say it will follow T'Challa's legacy after the death of Chadwick Boseman. However, other plot points highly depend on other predecessor Marvel movies and the events that will unfold.

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Washington, who will appear in Black Panther 3 at 70, now aims to work with the best only

Washington, in his 2024 interview with Australia’s Today Show, also revealed his agenda of working only with the best and trying things he has not done. He asserted how he is now 70, and he is not sure how many more films he will appear in.

“At this point in my career, I’m only interested in working with the best. I don’t know how many more films I’m going to make, probably not that many. I want to do things that I haven’t done. I played Othello at 22, I’m now going to play it at 70. After that, I’m playing Hannibal. After that, I’ve been talking with Steve McQueen about a film.”