Black Panther director Ryan Coogler has officially confirmed that Denzel Washington will join the cast of Black Panther 3, following Washington’s earlier revelation about his involvement in November 2024. According to People, the confirmation came during Coogler’s recent appearance on the 7pm in Brooklyn podcast with host Carmelo Anthony, where the director discussed his long-standing desire to work with the Training Day star. “Denzel is family at this point…I’ve been trying to work with him since day one,” Coogler said during the podcast. “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.” Washington’s upcoming projects and retirement plans revealed The 70-year-old Washington had previously disclosed on Australian Today that Coogler was writing a specific part for him in the next Black Panther film. The actor also shared his plans to appear in Othello and King Lear before retiring from acting, expressing his desire to work with only the best filmmakers at this stage of his career. It absolutely is. He's in talks for Ghost Rider. The same thing with Denzel Washington as magneto. Denzel is already signed on for the next Black panther. These movie accounts are simply getting engagements off of lies because they know people will be upset by it.— Scott Stevenson (@ScottyWho69) June 6, 2025 Coogler admitted being caught off guard by Washington’s public disclosure of their discussions but confirmed the truth behind the statement. The director has long admired Washington’s work, particularly his collaborations with Spike Lee, expressing excitement about their upcoming project together, Highest 2 Lowest, scheduled for release in August 2025. The Black Panther franchise has seen significant success since its debut in January 2018, with the original film starring the late Chadwick Boseman, followed by Black Panther 2 in November 2022. The third installment is currently scheduled for release in February 2028, according to IMDb. Meanwhile, Coogler’s latest directorial venture, Sinners, recently hit theaters, featuring his frequent collaborator Michael B. Jordan alongside Hailee Steinfeld and Miles Caton. The film tells the story of twin brothers facing evil upon returning to their hometown. Coogler shared an emotional moment about showing the film to his mentor Spike Lee, describing the experience as “surreal.”