Every Upcoming Denzel Washington Movie

Denzel Washington is a name synonymous with Hollywood greatness. Renowned for his powerful, evocative performances and incredible acting range, Washington is one of the most talented and sought-after actors working today. His movies are consistently successful with critics, audiences, and at the box office, and he has gained numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards for his performances in Glory and Training Day.

In 2020, Washington was named by The New York Times as the greatest actor of the 21st century, a title that the actor certainly deserves (via The New York Times). As a result of his incredible acting talents, Washington has several exciting upcoming projects that he is due to star in. Audiences will certainly be looking to see the actor bring his commitment to storytelling to all of these different roles. In the past, Washington’s best characters have been vessels to explore themes of struggle, moral complexity, and resilience, and it is hoped that he can continue to build on this in the future.

4 High And Low

Release Date TBA

High and Low is one of Washington’s most interesting upcoming acting projects, with the movie being a contemporary remake of Akira Kurosawa’s iconic 1963 movie of the same name. High and Low is set to be the fifth actor-director collaboration between filmmaker Spike Lee and Washington, a pairing that has produced some truly incredible movies over the years, such as Malcolm X and Inside Man. Kurosawa’s movie centered around a corporate executive forced to make a decision between using a large amount of money to buy control of a company, or using the same money to pay the ransom of his chauffeur’s abducted son.

It has not yet been confirmed who Washington is set to play in High and Low, but, judging by his acting history, it is hard to deny that he is a perfect fit for the starring role of the executive. The executive (named Kingo Gondo, and played by Toshirō Mifune in Kurosawa’s 1963 movie) would be able to make the most of Washington’s incredible acting abilities, allowing the actor to portray a morally dubious character, a venture that he certainly has experience in. As well as this, the storyline is likely to follow a similar narrative to Kurosawa’s movie, exploring the complexities of class divisions in contemporary society.

While Lee has a history of producing underwhelming movie remakes, such as his 2013 re-interpretation of Park Chan-wook’s Oldboy, having Washington in a starring role is likely to elevate High and Low greatly. His considerable experience playing characters similar to the executive, as well as his pure on-screen gravitas make him the ideal actor for this remake. With Washington at the helm, audiences can expect a gripping exploration of ethics, social dynamics, and wealth.

3 Joe Turner’s Come And Gone

Release Date TBA

Denzel Washington recently confirmed that he would be adapting yet another August Wilson play into a movie. Wilson is an award-winning playwright of such acclaimed productions as Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, The Piano Lesson, and Fences, with the latter winning a Pulitzer Prize. Washington has proved his in-depth understanding of Wilson’s work with his incredible adaptation of Fences released in 2016. Washington directed, produced, and starred in the movie, and has produced an adaptation of The Piano Lesson, releasing on Netflix in November 2024.

Washington’s next Wilson adaptation will be Joe Turner’s Come And Gone, one part of Wilson’s decade-by-decade chronicle of the African American experience called The Pittsburgh Cycle. Joe Turner’s Come and Gone tells the story of Herald Loomis, a man who returns to Pittsburgh in the early 20th century to try and find his wife. It is as yet unclear whether Washington is starring in the movie, or just producing it, but whatever the case, it is sure to be a fresh perspective on the story.

It would be incredible to see Washington take on the role of Herald, as the actor has been unafraid to take on intimidating roles that delve into the complexities of race in the US. His credits in Malcolm X and Training Day are a testament to Washington’s ability to explore this, and his deep understanding of Wilson’s playwriting would be a perfect opportunity for Washington to craft the dialogue around himself as an actor. Of course, this is all speculation, but it’s undeniable that Washington’s status in Hollywood and his tenure as an actor would be able to bring a strong presence to the screen.

2 Untitled Hannibal Movie

Release Date TBA

Washington is set to take on the role of the legendary Carthaginian military commander, Hannibal, in Antoine Fuqua’s untitled Netflix movie about the general. Fuqua and Washington have collaborated as director and actor five times already, including in The Equalizer trilogy, The Magnificent Seven, and Fuqua’s breakthrough, Training Day. Although details of the movie are still heavily under wraps, this is a collaboration between two legends of Hollywood who know exactly how to play off of each other’s strengths, with Washington’s Academy Award for Training Day being a testament to this.

Washington’s role as Hannibal promises to be yet another incredible portrayal of a historical figure by the actor. From portraying the famous boxer Rubin “The Hurricane” Carter in The Hurricane, Frank Lucas in American Gangster, and of course, civil rights advocate Malcolm X in the movie of the same, Washington has allowed his career to truly flourish by playing these figures. Playing Hannibal is likely to be Washington’s most ambitious biographical role yet, with the Carthaginian attaining almost a mythological-like status in the history of the Ancient World.

Hannibal was a commander most known for commanding the forces of Carthage against Rome, and cemented his place in the history books by leading war elephants over the Alps to conquer the city. Washington is the perfect choice to bring this larger-than-life historical figure to the big screen, as the actor has the unique ability to be both a truly intimidating presence in movies while also maintaining a gritty, small-scale sense of emotional depth. While his casting as Hannibal has sparked some debate about its historical accuracy, Washington will nevertheless likely be the true highlight of the movie.

1 Gladiator II

Releasing In November 2024

Perhaps Washington’s most anticipated upcoming movie is Gladiator II, directed by Ridley Scott, and serving as a sequel to Scott’s iconic 2000 movie, Gladiator. Scott and Washington have collaborated before on 2007’s American Gangster, and the continuation of their partnership has been much anticipated. In Gladiator II, Washington will play the character of Macrinus, a former slave who has become a wealthy arms dealer. In Scott’s own words, Macrinus is a character who “wants to be Emperor, and he’s willing to do anything to get there” (via Empire).

Gladiator II promises to allow Washington to flourish, with the trailers suggesting that Macrinus will be witty, cruel, and extremely demanding. Macrinus is the man who will be mentoring Lucius (Paul Mescal), the heir to Rome who has been sold into slavery and forced to fight as a gladiator, and Washington is perfect for this. His long acting career means that the actor truly evokes a sense of wisdom that is an ideal fit for any mentoring role, and his on-screen intensity is likely to add to the grand narrative of Gladiator II.

Washington’s emotional depth, intensity, and cold demeanor have formed the foundation of this time as an actor, making his upcoming role as Macrinus in Gladiator II the perfect fit. Macrinus’ dedication to gaining power over Rome will allow Washington to thrive. As he has shown before in The Equalizer trilogy, Washington has the ability to balance the cold brutality of his characters with moments of emotional intimacy, moments that he is likely to have with Lucius in the movie. Ultimately, Gladiator II looks set to truly showcase the awesome talent of Denzel Washington, alongside a host of other talented actors.

Sources: The New York Times, Empire.