In a recent episode of the 7 PM in Brooklyn podcast, Black Panther franchise director Ryan Coogler sat down with Carmelo Anthony and confirmed the highly speculated and anticipated news about Black Panther 3 that fans have been waiting to hear. Yes, 2-time Oscar winner Denzel Washington will appear in the upcoming Marvel Studios Black Panther 3.
What does that mean for the Black Panther franchise? What role or character could Denzel play? All these questions and more are certainly swimming in the heads of fans, anticipating this extremely talented and well-respected artist to shine in a Marvel Studios film and finally join an illustration list of Black actors in the MCU.
On the podcast, the Black Panther and Sinners director humbly admitted he always dreamed of working with Denzel because he believes that Denzel is "the greatest living actor" and admits that he considers Denzel as family, saying this:
“Denzel is family at this point. I know his incredible wife, Pauletta. I know his children, John David, Katia, [and] Malcolm. I’ve been trying to work with him since day one.”
The 10-time Oscar nominee and 2025 Honorary Golden Palm winner of the Cannes Film Festival has personal ties to the late Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther). Up until recently, very few people were aware that Denzel was Boseman’s benefactor when he paid for Boseman's University of Oxford education.
We all know Denzel is a phenomenal actor and has an incredible following, as recently his Broadway play made box office history by grossing $2.8M in eight performances of Othello in the title role. He continues to mesmerize us with performances like Macrinus in Gladiator II, Macbeth in The Tragedy of Macbeth, Troy Maxson in Fences, and my personal favorites as Gray Grantham in The Pelican Brief, and Malcolm X in Malcolm X.
Denzel could certainly be right at home as any Wakandan monarch in Black Panther 3. However, it's doubtful that Coogler will waste Denzel's immense talent and screen time playing a random Wakandan monarch. Denzel has brilliantly portrayed villains in the past, such as his Oscar-winning role in Training Day, and recently in Gladiator II. Could that be the likely direction for Coogler to cast Denzel as a villain in Black Panther 3?
To get the most out of a Denzel Washington performance, it might be wise to cast him as a villain in Black Panther 3 and go against instincts to give him a good-guy malevolent role like Banshenga (Wakanda’s first King and Black Panther). Yes, of course – Denzel would be fantastic as Banshenga in some type of backstory or between-worlds sequence of events. Although interesting storytelling, Denzel as a villain, such as Achebe, would be sublime storytelling.
Achebe is a complex and complicated character. He is a farmer in Ghudaza (a small African nation) who, after showing kindness to a group of rebels, later destroys his farm, killing his wife and severely injuring himself. Achebe survives and sells his soul to Mephisto (a powerful demon) in exchange for revenge, which he got after destroying the rebels' homes and killing them.
Achebe later went to Yale Law School, and he returned to Ghudaza to lead a coup against Black Panther - succeeding and briefly ruling Wakanda. Achebe has no superpowers, but he does have the backing and support of the demon Mephisto. He has a genius-level intellect, expertise in psychological warfare, as well as superior skills in hand-to-hand combat.
As a villain, Achebe’s goal is to manifest chaos and deception, and he remains a persistent threat to Wakanda. Achebe is a formidable foe and is considered the Joker to Black Panther’s Batman, and Denzel could be incredible in that role by manifesting the level of chaos worthy of an antagonist and a possible Black Panther MCU arch-nemesis.
Whatever role Coogler has in store for Denzel, it’s certain his presence in Black Panther 3 will only elevate the excitement of fans worldwide. However, I will say - Denzel as Achebe could be Marvel’s first acting category Oscar win and no one or any studio would be more deserving!