In what is being hailed as one of the most anticipated casting announcements in recent Marvel history, Oscar-winning actor Denzel Washington is officially set to star in ‘Black Panther 3’, director Ryan Coogler confirmed during a recent podcast interview.

The revelation was made on the ‘7pm in Brooklyn’ podcast hosted by Carmelo Anthony, where Coogler expressed his long-standing desire to collaborate with Washington. “Denzel is family at this point… I’ve been trying to work with him since day one,” Coogler said, adding, “I think he’s the greatest living actor, and in terms of what he means to our culture, forget about it. I’ve been talking to him about this for a long time.”

According to a UNI report, the collaboration between the two has been in the making for quite some time. Back in November 2024, Washington had hinted that he and Coogler were in talks for a project within the ‘Black Panther’ universe. At the time, Coogler admitted he was surprised by the actor’s public confirmation — but acknowledged its truth.

Speaking to the Australian Today show while promoting ‘Gladiator 2’, the 70-year-old screen legend confirmed his involvement in ‘Black Panther 3’, saying, “For me, it’s about the filmmakers. Especially at this point in my career, I am only interested in working with the best. I don’t know how many more films I’m going to make. It’s probably not that many. I want to do things I haven’t done.”

Washington also revealed his plans following the Marvel film, including his return to Shakespeare with roles in Othello and King Lear, after which he hinted at retiring from cinema altogether.

The announcement holds emotional weight for fans of the franchise. The late Chadwick Boseman, who originated the role of T’Challa and passed away in 2020, had once revealed that Washington had quietly paid for his summer acting program while he was a student. “There is no Black Panther without Denzel Washington,” Boseman had said — a sentiment echoed across Hollywood following his death.

With Coogler at the helm once again, and Washington joining the cast, ‘Black Panther 3’ is already being positioned as a landmark moment not just for the MCU, but for cinema itself.