Certain celebrities are known for being basically ageless, and recording artist/actor Lenny Kravitz is definitely on that list. Despite being 62 years old, the "Fly Away" singer remains ripped AF, although we went viral for working out in leather pants and mesh. But Kravitz recently explained his unique fitness wardrobe, and even name-dropped Denzel Washington in the process.

Lenny Kravitz has defended working out in leather before, citing his trainer and how often he's on a time crunch to squeeze exercise in. His abs speak for themselves, but Kravitz has also been the butt of some jokes as a result of his gym attire. During a recent interview with Men's Health, he explained his viral outfit choice, offering:

Honestly, this does make some sense. While I'd rather die than have to work out in leather or denim, it's a system that works for Lenny Kravitz. Namely because it's conditioning for his live performances. What's more, it means that he can workout at any point, thanks to not having to worry about packing gym clothes. I see you, Lenny.

Later in the same interview, the star of Shotgun Wedding (which is streaming with an Amazon Prime subscription) confirmed that he doesn't use a fitness tracker for his workouts. Instead he judges his body based on whether or not his pants still fit. As he told it:

While Denzel Washington is considered one of the best actors of all time, it looks like he's also available for some fitness tips. Namely the pants rule, which is what Kravitz uses to judge whether or not he's in good shape. As the Training Day actor puts it, the pants simply don't lie.

Of course, Lenny Kravitz's comments have me wondering about what happen when he can't get his leather pants on to work out in. Would he slum it in active wear or just workout in the buff? These are the questions that keep me up at night, alongside imagining how uncomfortable it is to work out in denim and leather.

Leather might not be what most of us would exercise in, you can't deny that Lenny Kravitz' system is working. His body is absolutely insane, so maybe we should all take notes from both he and Denzel.

While Kravitz doesn't have any upcoming acting projects coming up, he did voice a character in the new video game 007 First Light. We'll just have to see when he pops up on our screens again.

If I had to guess who one of the busiest actors in Hollywood is right now, I’d immediately say Glen Powell. This year alone, we’ve seen the release of How to Make a Killing and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie on the 2026 movie schedule, and The Great Beyond will come out later this year. He’s also been working on both Season 2 of Chad Powers and Judd Apatow’s new movie, The Comeback King. It always feels like he’s always working, and it’s gotten to the point where people have asked if he’s burnt out. Well, he’s not. In fact, he’s thriving, and he explained why while recalling the advice Denzel Washington gave him.

While Powell has been consistently working for many years, things kicked into high gear after Top Gun: Maverick. Since 2022, he’s been in eight movies (six of which he was a lead), two TV shows and a podcast series. He also has quite the slate of work lined up, with movies directed by J.J. Abrams and Apatow coming down the pipe. So, when he appeared on the Awards Circuit podcast, he talked about how busy he is, saying:

Admittedly, looking at Powell’s filmography and thinking about the work that goes into it, I’m overwhelmed. However, he’s always handled the workload with grace and a whole lot of enthusiasm.

He also made it clear that the advice he’s received in the past has really helped him. In fact, some advice he got from Denzel Washington has really stuck with him, as he explained:

In the past, Powell has called these words of wisdom “the truest piece of advice [he’s] ever gotten.” His admiration for Washington has also been well documented. Literally, the Top Gun: Maverick actor has said, “I want to be Denzel Washington.” He’s also been clear that the legendary actor was the one who really pushed him to pursue acting after they worked together on The Great Debaters in 2007.

Well, that advice manifested itself in a very successful career, and these days, Powell is having a blast working on projects he’s both leading and loving, as he explained:

There you have it. While a busy workload like Powell’s could be cause for burnout, the love he has for the work is helping him stay away from that. It also helps that he took Washington’s advice, found his lane, and focused on it.

Clearly, it’s paid off. He’s been working nonstop for a very long time, and he shows no signs of slowing down, with Season 2 of Chad Powers expected to premiere for those with a Hulu subscription on the 2026 TV schedule, and his movie, The Great Beyond, set to hit theaters on November 13.

Chuck Norris tragically passed away at the age of 86 last week, and left behind a family, legions of fans and a legacy that included acting, martial arts charity initiatives, his own production studio, and even (apparently) teaching young folk about acting. That’s what happened to Jessica Simpson after trying out for (and losing) a spot in The Mickey Mouse Club, unlike her peers Britney Spears and Ryan Gosling. She went to Chuck Norris for help, and said he gave her some advice that’s cemented in her brain, and has actually ruined Denzel Washington movies for her.

Jessica Simpson has famously told the same story several times about her mom sending her "to Chuck Norris" and how it scared her away from Denzel Washington movies for life. The first appeared in print in Open Book, her autobiography that's currently available on Amazon. Another time, she told a very similar story during an episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! In her narrative, she’s a young 12-year-old girl who is working on her acting after losing the Mickey Mouse Club gig.

This would have been in the early '90s just before Walker, Texas Ranger blew up, and the actor was apparently teaching some young talent in the Dallas area. In fact, the actor who played Barney The Dinosaur ended up being Jessica Simpson’s scene partner. Per Chuck's logic, the reason Ms. Simpson didn’t beat out her peers had to do with her face, and he suggested she pay attention to what Denzel Washington was doing on the big screen. In Open Book, she wrote:

Simpson claimed she continued to be taped up when she would dutifully appear for classes, and by the third visit, she was already telling her mother she didn’t want to go. Her mom had little sympathy.

To his credit, Norris is a remarkably stoic actor himself. Plus, it's true that eyebrow acting can be a problem. We know Martin Scorsese allegedly hates “eyebrow acting,” so it’s not like Chuck Norris’ advice is bad advice. Though I’d argue in certain situations, like The Rock in the WWE ring or like when Jimmi Simpson’s eyebrows needed a tweak in Westworld, one’s eyebrows can be rather important to the gig. Still, clearly the whole taping thing was mortifying to 12-year-old Jessica Simpson, and is a fundamental story in her coming-of-age narrative. I didn't see the random Denzel Washington shrapnel coming, but it's still a fascinating story.

Norris left a lasting impression on Jessica Simpson, but his impact didn’t always have to do with eyebrows. Christie Brinkley revealed their longtime partnership (despite disagreeing politically) and the respect she shared with the late star. Other big Hollywood names like Sylvester Stallone and Jean-Claude Van Damme paid tribute to Norris, and fans have been leaving memorabilia on his Hollywood star. He won't be forgotten anytime soon, even if everyone's experience really seems to have run the gamut.

Glen Powell is 37-years-old, a young man by most people’s standards, but already rather old by Hollywood standards. This is compounded by the fact the actor has only been a notable name for a few short years now, and grinded it out for well over a decade before landing his breakthrough role in Top Gun: Maverick (though some may credit Netflix’s Step it Up).

It was not an easy road to the top. Though Glen Powell’s alleged net worth is in the several million dollar range at this point, at varying points, he was simply the guy who got pushed around in the background of a scene in The Dark Knight Rises. He also nearly passed on Top Gun: Maverick until Tom Cruise convinced him to join after losing the role he really wanted to Miles Teller.

He’s been open about failing in Hollywood over and over again early on, and learning along the way. What he’s said about the process and getting to where he is now.

Auditioning In Hollywood Is A "Luxury."

A couple of years ago, Powell was asked how hard auditioning over and over again is in Hollywood and he told Vanity Fair it’s a “luxury.” The real hard part is grinding it out to even get invited to the table:

Going to bars and clubs may not sound like hard work, but lots of doors were shut on Powell early on. Yet, he kept showing up, and auditioning for a lot of gigs he didn't actually get, including Friday Night Lights and Glee.

When Things Are Going Poorly, “Lie To Yourself.”

Powell would land small roles, then feel like he was in a barren desert for a while. Then, he’d see another tiny tidbit of success, and then it would rinse and repeat. He also told VF it got to a point where he was trying to help limited budget projects get off the ground so he could appear in them. What kept him going though? He simply lied to himself…

Powell moved to LA in 2008, and landed a few roles that nabbed him attention, but not enough to string together a consistent career for some time. Still, hooking up with Richard Linklater for Everybody Wants Some! in 2014 was a notable turn, as did filming Netfix's Set It Up in 2017.

He Did Get Some Encouragement From Denzel Washington Early On.

Glen Powell had early successes in the Spy Kids franchise, and also appeared with Hollywood great Denzel Washington really early on during the making of the 2007 movie The Great Debaters. It was Denzel who encouraged the young actor to keep going, and gave him a piece of advice that stuck with him…

Top Gun: Maverick wouldn't begin production for another 11 years after the movie's release, and wouldn't hit the movie schedule until 2022.

Powell Made Some Mistakes Personally, Too.

One of the most memorable stories Glen Powell ever told had to do with lodging he'd managed to secure thanks to a family friend. The living situation was in a pool house in the posh Beverly Hills neighborhood, and instead of being grateful for the situation, he decided to leverage it by throwing a party that he thought would hopefully improve his career.

He was kicked out by the family afterward, a move he later said felt like "the worst hangover ever." But, he learned from it.

He’s Not Even Close To Ready To Slow Down, Yet.

These days, he knows he won’t be on the top forever in Hollywood. His plan? He’s making as many movies as he can for as long as he can, and really does not want to “press the brake.” In fact, he told CinemaBlend he feels like he is finally “getting started.”

The hard work has paid off. Glen Powell’s got several upcoming projects in the pipeline, these days. You can catch him in How To Make A Killing, in theaters now, or see him in The Great Beyond, The Natural Order, or the currently still untitled music comedy from Judd Apatow he has coming up. Doubtless, there will be plenty more to come from the actor as he approaches the big 4-0 in Tinseltown.

Last year, I wrote about the worst movie I've ever seen, 2002’s Rollerball, noting how it was a remake of a far better film, the 1975 original starring James Caan. Horrible Hollywood remakes tend to outnumber the rare cases of remakes that are arguably better than the original, so it's never an expectation for modern iterations to stand taller. When it comes to the vast majority of them, though, I'd argue that most remakes are…just alright.

Such is the case for the 2009 remake of The Taking of Pelham 123, which I think is a serviceable enough movie with a cast of talented actors. However, it doesn't come close to the 1974 original with Robert Shaw and Walter Matthau, and here's why.

First, The Original's New York Setting Feels A Lot More Raw Than The 2009 Version

As a New Jerseyan, I love films set in New York City, and even though we didn't include this '74 classic in our list of great New York City movies, I would personally consider the original The Taking of Pelham One Two Three to be one of the best representations of the Big Apple. Largely because the movie is so…grungy, so raw, so much like the New York City that I envision existed before I was born in 1983. Just like The Warriors, which is another favorite ‘70s film of mine.

It's just that everything about this film screams New York. The city streets, the accents, the “screw you” attitude, the dirty subways where I can practically smell the urine. It all just culminates in one of the most authentic and real portrayals of New York that I have ever seen.

And then, you have the Tony Scott remake. Wall Street this. Dow Jones that. I mean, sure, when it was released, it was a pretty decent representation of the New York financial situation at the time, but it already feels like a dated outlook on the city nowadays.

It doesn't have the same grit of the original; the same energy. Which is strange, since Tony Scott's version is way more frenetic than the original. And yet, it doesn't feel as authentic, or like it has the same spirit of the city. So, the remake is fine, sure, but the original truly feels like it has the heart of the city beating throughout its 104 minute runtime.

John Travolta Is Great In His Own Way, But He Can't Touch Robert Shaw's Performance

Look, depending on the movie, I like John Travolta as a villain. He was great in Face/Off. And, while I’m not in love with the Thomas Jane Punisher movie (I think there are far better versions of the character, you see), I think Travolta was a highlight of that movie as Howard Saint. However…

I don’t like him in this film. Besides the fact that he’s needlessly dropping F-bombs left and right, he’s just too erratic and loud for my liking. Take the scene where he wants Denzel Washington’s character, Garber, to get back on the line. Travolta’s character kills someone, and then, angrily starts counting down over the radio, practically yelling at them to meet his demands.

Robert Shaw did not have to yell. Not once. In fact, his quiet, almost stoic demeanor is what makes him terrifying. When his character, Mr. Blue, hijacks the train, he calls the transit authorities and patiently gives them his orders. All of his men wear fake mustaches and glasses, and when one of them gets out of line, Mr. Blue takes note of it, and then shoots him in the back later when they all get their money.

Shaw honestly makes this movie, but he’s got one hell of a protagonist to go up against.

I Also Love Denzel Washington, But I Much Prefer Walter Matthau In The Original

Now, while I like John Travolta in most movies, I LOVE Denzel Washington in ALL movies, and that's also the case here. He plays a subway dispatcher who's up to the challenge of playing both calm and ready for action when the time calls for it. He can pull that role off in his sleep.

That said, I’m not in love with how the movie often feels like a tug of war between Travolta and Washington’s characters. I much prefer Walter Matthau from the original as a transit police officer as he feels more like a cog in a very large wheel rather than the driving force. Matthau’s version of Garber doesn’t really seem too harried or like an action hero. He seems more like a man who came into work one day, and just so happened to had to deal with a terrorist situation.

Matthau is incredibly deadpan, often just siding with Mr. Blue because it seems like the most logical thing to do. When Blue says that he wants a million dollars or he’s going to start killing people, Garber is like, okay, get the mayor on the line, and let him handle it. Because what else is he supposed to do? This is way above his pay grade.

But, it’s not like he’s not willing to get his hands dirty. He actually goes into the subway terminal and confronts Mr. Blue, only for Blue to kill himself since he doesn't want to be taken in. Matthau does not give a bombastic performance, but he doesn’t need to. The movie is bombastic enough.

The Pacing Is Slower In The Original, But More Effective

As a film fan, I miss Tony Scott. Some of the best scenes of all time come from his body of work. Whereas his brother, Ridley, often makes slower-paced, somewhat atmospheric movies (which really depends on whether it's sci-fi or historical), Tony Scott usually made quick-paced action movies like Top Gun, Days of Thunder, and True Romance. So, I usually LIKE that aspect of Tony Scott’s filmography.

That said, not this time, as I think his remake moves way too quickly. The same frenetic energy in a film like True Romance doesn’t necessarily fit with this movie. Or rather, it works, but I think the slower-pacing of the original is way more effective.

The negotiation aspect back at transit feels like the true heartbeat of the film in the original, whereas the remake makes it seem like the more exciting aspects are on the ones on the subway train, which just isn't the case for me.

I also like the banter between Matthau and Jerry Stiller. I enjoy the sense of confusion back at base, and the constantly ticking clock. I like all of that. But, what I like the most is that the movie still feels like it’s moving even after the main antagonist is gone, which brings me to my last point.

And The Ending. You Just Can’t Beat That Ending

Lastly, the original movie has the perfect ending. After Robert Shaw's character is toast, there's still more to go for the movie, as there's one more survivor on the loose, but they have no clue who he is. They have some leads, but that's it.

However, throughout the film, Matthau overhears somebody sneezing whenever he talks to Mr. Blue, and every time, Matthau says “Gesundheit.” Well, by the end of the film, when Matthau is going from suspect to suspect, they find the real culprit, but they don't know it's him.

In fact, the culprit quickly gets Garber out of his apartment, and it looks like he's going to get away with it, but that's when he sneezes as Garber is stepping out the door, and Garber casually says, “Gesundheit.” But, that’s when he pushes the door back open and gives him the perfect “I got you” look.

It's one of my favorite endings of all time, and the remake just can't compare.

Famed rapper/actor Will Smith has now taken his talents to the travel documentary world with his new 2026 TV series, Pole to Pole with Will Smith (which you can watch with a Disney+ subscription), which sees the Oscar winner take on some wild and adventurous challenges. While the time he spent working on the intense series is admirable, he funnily admitted that he thinks fellow Oscar winner Denzel Washington is to “blame” for him taking on the dangerous show.

Why Does Will Smith “Blame” Denzel Washington For Him Doing Dangerous Challenges On Pole To Pole?

Even though Will Smith is known for action-heavy blockbusters like the Bad Boys franchise, Independence Day, the Men in Black movies, and Suicide Squad, he’s never seemed like much of a real life daredevil (which Bad Boys for Life proved to him). So, why would the actor decide to star in a show like Pole to Pole, which sees him literally do things like scuba diving underneath the ice in the Arctic (which led to a horrifying but hilarious near-death experience) and enduring other dangerous trials? As he recently said when appearing on The Tonight Show, he thinks it’s Denzel Washington’s fault. He explained:

Look, I love the idea of being in my “Fuck It 50s” (per Washington’s instructions) as I’m sure many people in mid-life would, but that doesn’t automatically mean that we’re all going to go out and milk tarantulas or climb ice mountains in blizzards, which are both things that the Hitch star did for his new show. But, Smith continued:

Smith (who’s also given his own keen advice to up-and-comers in the past like Tyrese Gibson) also noted in the interview that he had noticed that some things about his life weren’t working, as Washington said. He’d worked hard enough and been lucky enough to have financial and material concerns taken care of, and came to the realization that feeling fulfilled in the next chapter of his life would only come if he worked through his “deepest fears.” Apparently, these physical tests he underwent for Pole to Pole are part of what’s helping him achieve that.

And, you know what? I love that for Will. But, I totally plan to keep my Fuck It 50s on dry, flat, tarantula-free land as much as possible for the foreseeable future.

Delroy Lindo’s first Oscar nomination has been decades in the making, but the moment didn’t come out of nowhere for those who know him best. Weeks before the 2026 Academy Award nominations were announced, the Sinners star was already being publicly celebrated by one of his oldest friends and most respected peers, Denzel Washington.

That exchange took place during a special screening and panel for Sinners, moderated by Washington (via Deadline). The Training Day icon opened the night by asking the audience to stand and applaud Lindo, making it clear this was long overdue. Denzel spoke candidly about their early days training together in San Francisco and the lessons he absorbed simply by watching his Malcolm X co-star work. As he tells it:

Washington went on to praise Lindo’s discipline, honesty, and lack of pretense, traits he says were evident even when they were young actors just trying to survive. According to Washington, the Get Shorty actor’s openness and refusal to filter himself weren’t weaknesses, but the foundation of his integrity as a performer.

The Congo alum responded by reflecting on how far back their bond goes, recalling conversations they had as young men standing on San Francisco street corners, talking about their futures. Lindo added:

That mutual respect proved crucial during a low point in Lindo’s career. He shared a story about running into Washington in New York during a period when rejection was starting to wear him down. The Blood In, Blood Out veteran continued:

That perseverance paid off with Ryan Coogler's Sinners, where Lindo delivers a career-defining performance as Delta Slim, a gifted blues musician crushed by racism, loss, and addiction. Though often labeled a horror film, the man behind Slim says the movie is doing something much deeper, and it's hard to argue with him.

The Ransom actor also revealed that some of his most powerful moments in the film nearly didn’t make the final cut, including an improvised scene that helped explain his character’s pain and self-medication. Coogler, he said, listened and collaborated rather than shutting down the idea.

With his first Oscar nomination secured, Lindo’s moment feels like it's finally here, even if it was a long time coming, as the industry is finally catching up. And long before awards voters weighed in, Denzel Washington was already making sure his friend got the flowers he deserved.

Sinners is streaming for anyone with an HBO Max subscription. The film is one of the best black horror movies in recent memory, and it's worth checking out for Lindo’s powerhouse performance.

Lenny Kravitz And Denzel Washington have apparently been pals for more than three decades. Meeting in the ‘90s, their bromance broke wider when Washington was presented with a “Best Actor” award by Kravitz back in 2002. Since then, they’ve continued to make time for one another, with the a-lister even showing up last year for Kravitz’s Walk of Fame ceremony. They hang out, their kids hang out, and the families hang out. Kravitz even got Washington into fitness. This is all well-documented, but somehow I’d missed the memo. That is until the “American Woman” singer told this funny story about talking to his pal after watching Spike Lee’s famous movie Malcolm X.

One tenet of the two men’s friendship is apparently keeping up with one another on the phone. In an interview with Rob Report, Kravitz opened up about a call that happened right after the incredibly fit singer got through Malcolm X. Apparently, Denzel told him he hadn’t seen the movie in decades, and the singer had an amusing response.

This is definitely a true story, as Denzel Washington has confirmed he hasn't re-watched Malcolm X previously. It's also very funny; who knew they were so bromantic?

He went on to explain that Denzel Washington, who at 70 is nine years older than Kravitz, is ultimately a “big brother,” also saying about how their families have “blended.”

This is all similar to comments Denzel Washington made during the Walk of Fame celebration for his pal back in 2024, when he said he had been “tied” to his friend for a long time, also noting they have more of a "brothership."

Unlike Matt Damon and Ben Affleck's friendship or Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman's public "faux feud", Denzel Washington and Lenny Kravitz’s friendship is a lot more low-key. However, that actually probably speaks to how special and meaningful it is to the two men.

Earlier this year, the two connected over another Spike Lee movie when the actor was promoting Highest 2 Lowest. During an episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live, Washington actually called his "brother," surprising him on FaceTime right after he'd gotten out of the shower! (This in itself was a throwback to another time this had happened mid-concert.) Now that I'm privy to hijinks like these, I can't wait to see what's next.

Given all the great Denzel Washington roles across his career, one wouldn’t blame any fellow actor for being intimidated by his presence, especially when it comes to working alongside him. Chris Chalk, who has been lighting up the 2025 TV schedule with his It: Welcome To Derry character lately, shared being totally unbothered when auditioning alongside him for a stage role.

Welcome To Derry's Chris Chalk Didn't Let Audition With Denzel Washington Daunt Him

Chris Chalk famously shared the stage with Denzel Washington back in 2010 as Cory, the teenage son to Washington’s character of Troy (his wife Rose was played by Viola Davis). When speaking to The Hollywood Reporter he told the story behind it, saying this:

The show that played for three months on Broadway would go on to win “Best Revival of a Play” at the Tonys along with Washington and David winning for their roles. Apparently, the audition process wasn’t an easy one for casting Chalk’s supporting role. Here’s what happened next:

Chalk wouldn’t let the fact that he’d be auditioning with Washington keep him from his day job, and let’s be honest not a lot of actors would do this. Of course, we know he ended up getting the gig, so holding his ground didn’t end up changing anything about the process.

Why The Actor Thinks His Approach Actually Helped His Audition

Once the actual audition happened with Washington, Chris Chalk talked about how it went and why his decision to not be fazed by the actor’s star power may have actually helped him. In his words:

Regarding all the kicking and pushing, Chalk is referring to a fight scene Troy and Cory have in the play. While some actors might take issue with such a physical scene with someone who’s been called the greatest actor by Spike Lee, Chalk’s ability to see the Oscar winner as his “peer” must have made all the difference.

This is such a great story about an actor who really didn’t let an actor’s caliber in the industry get in the way of his career, and we love to see it. We’ve been recommending the show to everyone, and people have been loving it. You can currently stream the series up to episode 5, and look forward to the rest on Sundays until December 14.

There are tough auditions, and then there’s walking into a room with Denzel Washington and realizing the script is basically a suggestion. Ethan Hawke says that was his Training Day trial by fire—the moment that set the tone for one of the great cop-movie duos of the 2000s, heck, best movies of the ‘00s, and landed him his first Oscar nomination.

The Before Sunrise star unpacked the story while accepting the Miami Film Festival’s Variety Virtuoso Award, in a wide-ranging chat that also touched on his nine-film collaboration with Richard Linklater, teaming with Taylor Swift on “Fortnight,” and a career-spanning 2025 movie schedule that includes Blue Moon, The Black Phone 2, The Lowdown, and a documetnary narration, which you can enjoy with an Apple TV subscription. The A-lister shared:

Improv opposite Washington is the kind of gauntlet that can rattle even a seasoned pro. The Gattaca lead says he beat the nerves by channeling the filmmaker who taught him to listen first and push the scene second, Richard Linklater, his creative north star since Before Sunrise. The actor continued:

If you’ve watched Training Day, that tracks. Jake Hoyt’s shell-shocked sincerity never reads timid; it reads reactive and alive, which is precisely what you’d expect from a screen test born in controlled chaos. Washington’s Alonzo Harris weaponizes unpredictability; Hawke’s solution was to stay present and keep answering the moment–a real “Yes, And” moment, for my Improv comedy nerds. The chemistry we see on screen started right there in that room.

The Miami conversation wasn’t just a nostalgia tour. Hawke’s having a real big year. He’s earning awards buzz for Linklater’s Blue Moon; he returned as the Grabber in the new horror movie, The Black Phone 2, which has had a strong box office performance, and he starred in FX’s The Lowdown; directed a Merle Haggard doc; and narrated Apple TV’s Vietnam: The War That Changed America.

That “future-facing” energy is kind of the point, he told the crowd he’s grateful for the accolades, but already itching for the next at-bat. And that’s what makes him such a fascinating actor to watch, even after nearly four decades in the biz.

Ethan Hawke’s “really difficult” audition sounds like the best kind of stress test, especially for the kind of pressure cooker of a movie Training Day turned out to be. The pair of actors proved that the tension created in that audition room could hold once the cameras rolled, and the rest, as they say, is modern movie history. If you want to revisit the classic crime drama, it's available to stream with a Netflix subscription.

Ethan Hawke’s movies remain effortlessly entertaining in great part due to his stellar performances. While Hawke has put in a considerable amount of excellent work throughout his career, Training Day remains one of his most iconic films. The actor received praise for his role in Antoine Fuqua’s 2001 crime drama, in which he starred opposite Denzel Washington. Unlike his co-star, Hawke didn’t score an Oscar for his work, but he did receive some keen advice from Washington about that loss, which turned out to be “right.”

As part of the 74th Academy Awards, Ethan Hawke was nominated for Best Supporting Actor alongside Ben Kingsley, Ian McKellen, Jim Broadbent and Jon Voight. The category was stacked, and Broadbent ultimately won the award for his performance in Iris. I’d be tempted to think that losing such a prestigious award would sting to some degree. However, as Hawke explained during his appearance on Variety’s Awards Circuit Podcast, he explained that some wise words from his co-star put it all into perspective for him:

That nomination marked the Dead Poets Society alum’s first from the Academy, so I can understand what his thinking is. Had Hawke won the award that night, he obviously would’ve been excited but, if he’d won it so quickly, he may not have treasured it as heavily since he scored that honor his first time around. I’d imagine that an actor appreciates such an honor even more if they’ve worked years to accomplish it. All in all, I find this perspective shared by Hawke and his equally famous co-star refreshing.

In Training Day (which is currently available to stream with a Netflix subscription), Ethan Hawke plays a young LAPD officer named Jake Hoyt, who’s looking to join the department’s narcotics squad. As part of an evaluation for the job, Jake must work with celebrated detective Alonzo Harris (Denzel Washington) for a day. It’s during that patrol that Jake learns Harris is a corrupt and dangerous lawman.

Ethan Hawke’s performance in the 2000s thriller film is strong, and he was more than deserving of his nomination. While he didn’t win, Hawke was just excited to receive a nod for his work. Amid his interview with Variety, the actor also recalled what happened on the day he learned of his nomination:

Denzel Washington certainly knows how to keep a level head, and he seemingly maintained it throughout awards season as well. For his role as Harris, he won the Oscar for Best Actor, becoming only the second Black actor to win in that category. Washington’s turn as Alonzo is both scary and mesmerizing, and who could forget the iconic “King Kong” scene? Washington may not fret about Oscar wins or snubs, but it’s fair to say it would’ve been surprising had he not been awarded one for this stellar performance. To put it simply, that kind of dramatic turn is like lightning in a bottle.

As for Ethan Hawke, he later received three more nominations from the Academy – two for Best Adapted Screenplay and another for Best Supporting Actor. Eyes are once again on him, as many are predicting he’ll be a major awards contender this year due to his leading role in Richard Linklater’s Blue Moon. It’s likely Hawke will receive various nominations in the coming months, including an Oscars nod. Yet, based on his Training Day-related comments, I doubt Hawke will be fixated on trophies (though it’d be great to see him win).

Check out Hawke’s range by seeing Blue Moon and The Black Phone 2, which are now playing in theaters amid the 2025 movie schedule.

Even Hollywood’s biggest names need good friends to pal around with, and Denzel Washington and Lenny Kravitz’s relationship is a perfect example of that. The two have been thick as thieves for some time, and the musician upped their ante last year after pausing his concert to answer a FaceTime with Washington. Now the Oscar winner reciprocated the antics on live television during an interview, and its textbook BFF levels of fun.

This second video of the duo taking time publicly to chat really elevates their friendship to iconic movie bromance heights. It all happened when Washington was on Jimmy Kimmel Live! discussing Spike Lee's buzzy Highest 2 Lowest crime thriller. In it, the 70-year-old plays a music mogul and reveals who he’s actually met in the music industry. After discussing a few greats, Kravitz’s name and his connections popped up and then followed by the now viral on-air call–check it out:

This is the type of surprise viral bit I’d imagine TV hosts and audience members dream of, especially from an A-lister. The whole thing is gold from “Kravitz!” and as they catch up with the musician, you can really tell how much fun they have together. But circling back, I can only imagine that trip of the two besties, George Clinton of Funkadelic et al was a complete fever dream.

And if that wasn’t enough for you, the two dabble in workouts together, too. Or at least, Kravitz got Washington hooked on working out to stay fit and adaptable for any type of role. As Kimmel humorously alluded to during the conversation, the Grammy winner is known for his health and wellness regime. Hearing that the two socialize and the value of keeping a healthy showcase really just goes to show how deep their friendship runs.

The thing I love the most is that The Equalizer star seemed to have decent tabs on his pal. The “American Woman” singer has been touring after releasing Blue Electric Light last year, complete with a brief residency in Vegas. As for actor and director, his big project was the aforementioned Spike Lee movie, which premiered on the 2025 movie schedule over the summer. You can stream the film with an Apple TV+ subscription.

What lies ahead for Washington and Kravitz after this network television FaceTime–my hope is that they head to the big screen with their friendship, and make any type of buddy movie (like One of Them Days). Frankly, I’d take any form of it, since the kind of fun we’ve seen briefly between the Hollywood friends is too good to pass up. But in the meantime, I’m good with more random viral acts of connection between the two. Hopefully we get another soon.

A new month is here and that means it’s time for a flood of new movies and series to invade your favorite streaming services. If you’ve lost some of your favorites you may need something new to watch this week. The good news is there’s actually quite a lot, from nearly every corner o the streaming world, to enjoy this week.

Lilo & Stitch - September 3 (Disney+)

Based on the box office response to the live-action Lilo & Stitch, there’s a pretty good chance that you’ve already seen it once. If, however, you are one of the few who didn’t, or you just want to see it again, the first billion-dollar Hollywood blockbuster of 2025 will be available with your Disney+ subscription this week.

Wednesday, Season 2, Part 2 - September 3 (Netflix)

Fans had to wait quite a while after Wednesday Season 1 to get Season 2, and then Netflix decided to make fans wait to get to the end of Season 2. Luckily, the wait ends this week when the back half of Season 2 of Wednesday arrives. Luckily, we shouldn’t have to wait quite as long for more Jenna Ortega, as Wednesday Season 3 has already been given the green light.

Tony & Ziva - September 4 (Paramount+)

NCIS is one of the longest-running shows on TV, and it’s had a rotating cast of characters throughout its decade-plus run. It’s a safe bet, however, that no characters have been as popular with fans as Tony DiNozzo and Ziva David, as played by Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo. You’ll need a Paramount+ subscription to follow the new adventures of the first couple of NCIS in their spinoff series Tony & Ziva, as the show won’t be on CBS.

The Paper, Season 1 - September 4 (Peacock)

The Office is one of the best sitcoms of all time, according to basically anybody who’s ever seen it. That’s going to make for a high bar to clear when spinoff series The Paper debuts. The series, available with a Peacock subscription, stars Domhall Gleeson, the editor in chief of a failing newspaper, trying to keep it relevant.

Highest 2 Lowest - September 5 (Apple TV+)

It’s been a long time since Spike Lee and Denzel Washington have worked together, but when they do, it’s magic. Highest 2 Lowest got strong positive responses from critics when the film opened in theaters. This week the film becomes available with an Apple TV+ subscription.

The Great British Baking Show - September 5 (Netflix)

Honestly, at this point, I think the entire reason I still have a Netflix subscription might be The Great British Baking Show. The series is the definition of comfort viewing, and so I’m so happy that the series returns this week with 10 new bakers to go through a series of challenges to crown a winner.

September is going to continue to be a solid month for streaming, with a new season of Only Murders in the Building and the debut of the Marvel Zombies animated series among the new shows arriving this month.

Who is the best living actor? If one were to ask that question to a room of 100 people, there's a chance that you could get 100 different answers, as the world is populated with not only a great number of brilliant performers, but also a great number of takes on what it means for an actor to be "the best." For Spike Lee, however, there is really only one correct response to the query, and it's Denzel Washington – though he knows that friend and filmmaking colleague Martin Scorsese would disagree.

The legendary director of Do The Right Thing made his thoughts on the matter known recently in an interview with Vulture, having just had the chance to work with the Oscar-winner actor on his new drama Highest 2 Lowest. On the subject of Denzel Washington's potential nearing retirement, Lee was asked if he felt that their latest collaboration serves as "a fitting potential capstone" to their many years of working together, an he explained his grander thoughts about their partnership:

To be totally fair, Marlon Brando has been out of the "greatest living actor" conversation since he passed away in 2004... but the debate of Denzel Washington versus Robert De Niro for the title is a hefty one. Both have spent decades unleashing some of the best performances of all time in some of the most incredible movies of all time – with features directed by both Spike Lee and Martin Scorsese on the list. Perhaps what is needed to provide a proper answer to the matter is for De Niro to make a movie with Lee and for Washington to make a movie with Scorsese (it's actually kind of crazy that neither collaboration has ever happened).

As referenced by Lee, it was back in 1990 that he first had the chance to work with Denzel Washington, as the star played trumpeter Bleek Gilliam in the drama Mo' Better Blues. What is arguably their greatest collaboration came next, with Washington playing the eponymous role in 1992's Malcolm X, and the power of He Got Game in 1998 and the awesomness of 2006's Inside Man followed.

It's been nearly two decades since Spike Lee and Denzel Washington worked together, but their latest is in theaters now. Highest 2 Lowest is a reimagining of the great Akira Kurosawa classic High And Low that sees Washington play David King – a legendary music producer facing a powerful moral conundrum. After a kidnapper abducts the son of his employee/closest confidant (Jeffrey Wright) thinking that it's King's child, he must make the decision to mortgage his own family's future to pay the ransom.

Washington's work in the movie really only furthers Spike Lee's argument – and if you can't presently see the film in a theater near you, know that it will be streaming soon. Those with an Apple TV+ subscription will find Highest 2 Lowest available from the service starting on September 5.

Spike Lee and Denzel Washington are two of the most iconic filmmakers in modern Hollywood. The pair have made some equally iconic movies together. The new film Highest 2 Lowest marks their fifth film together, though it’s shockingly been nearly two decades since the last one.

While seeing Spike and Denzel work together again is certainly a topic worthy of note, and many have done that, the other thing that makes their project on the 2025 movie schedule interesting to me is the way Spike Lee used it to reference another friend and collaborator, Prince.

Spike Lee and Denzel Washington Had No Idea They Hadn’t Worked Together In Nearly Two Decades

It’s been 35 years since Denzel Washington and Spike Lee made their first movie together, Mo’ Better Blues. From there, the pair would go on to make Malcolm X, one of Denzel's best movies, He Got Game, and Inside Man. It certainly doesn’t feel like it’s been almost 20 years since Inside Man came out, and it seems that Lee and Washington didn’t realize so much time had passed either, as Lee told the Los Angeles Times…

To be fair, both Lee and Washington have remained pretty busy for the last 18 years, so time probably flew by. They’ve both been racking up the awards by making great movies with others. And the pair probably see each other enough and talk about working together often enough that they simply didn’t do the math on how long it had actually been.

Highest 2 Lowest’s Title Is Inspired By Prince

Based on the critical response to Highest 2 Lowest, it’s been worth the wait to see Denzel Washington and Spike Lee work together again, but there’s another collaborator of Spike Lee’s who also had something of a hand in making the new film, Prince.

Highest 2 Lowest is a remake, or in Lee’s words, a “reinterpretation” of Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low. Lee says the twist on the title, Highest 2 Lowest, “is a shout-out to my brother Prince.” Prince would frequently use numbers in place of words in his song and album titles like “I would Die 4 U” or “Nothing Compares 2 U.”

Lee and Prince were friends for decades, with Lee directing one of Prince’s music videos in the early 1990s, “Money Don’t Matter 2 Night,” which also used the number/word swap style. Prince provided the soundtrack to Lee’s movie, Girl 6, five years later. Lee also included an unreleased Prince song in BlacKkKlansman.

So Highest 2 Lowest is, in more than one way, a collaboration between Spike Lee and his friends, who are both great talents themselves.

Denzel Washington is one of the most celebrated actors of his generation, and he’s headlined more than a few iconic films. Because of his acclaimed work, the seasoned star of stage and screen has received various awards, including a pair of Academy Awards. As a two-time Oscar winner, Washington is in rarified air, though he doesn’t seem to place too much emphasis on those achievements. In fact, he recently explained why he doesn’t think too much about the wins or snubs he’s received at the hands of the Academy.

The upcoming A24 movie, Highest 2 Lowest, is Denzel Washington’s latest feature film, and it sees him reuniting with longtime collaborator Spike Lee. Washington recently caught up with Jake Hamilton of Jake’s Takes, during which Hamilton mentioned the actor’s two Oscars. Ultimately, Washington was quick to express his disinterest in such accolades. The A-lister then referenced his long-known devotion to religion while explaining his rationale:

Denzel Washington won his first Academy Award in 1990, as he earned Best Supporting Actor for his role as Private Silas Trip in the 1989 historical drama, Glory. And, in 2002, Washington became the second Black man to earn Best Actor, winning for his performance in 2001’s Training Day. On top of that, the 70-year-old star has also received Oscar nominations for seven other films, like Malcolm X, Cry Freedom and Fences. Nevertheless, based on his interview (which is on YouTube), Washington is unfazed by those honors:

This is honestly a very healthy perspective to have. Awards can be cool, as it’s an honor for someone to be recognized by their peers or any governing body. However, it’s also easy to become fixated on pursuing accolades. I’d imagine that when someone’s an actor, it’s especially easy to become focused on those gold statuettes the Academy hands out. All in all, the Philadelphia alum isn’t looking to fall down the rabbit hole in the pursuit of trophies, and he’s exuded that mentality many times.

Just earlier this year, Denzel Washington addressed his Oscars snub for his scene-stealing work in Gladiator II. Washington offered a refreshing take at the time, saying that he’d “been around too long” to concern himself with something like that. He also expressed pleasure in working on Othello, which he was performing at the time. Nevertheless, Washington does mind imparting wisdom upon those who are nominated, as he also offered some keen advice for Colman Domingo, who received two consecutive Oscar nominations.

Regardless of what awards Denzel Washington wins or loses, I’m just prepared to savor all of the performances he’s still aiming to give. That includes Black Panther 3 (which he’s discussed) and of course, Highest 2 Lowest. Check out that latest Spike Lee Joint when it opens in theaters on August 15 as part of the 2025 movie schedule. Apple TV+ subscription holders will also be able to stream the film starting on September 5.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is constantly offering new content, thanks to projects coming in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. One of the most hotly anticipated upcoming Marvel movies is Ryan Coogler's Black Panther 3, which is in development. Denzel Washington revealed he's being written a role in the blockbuster, breaking the internet in the process. So obviously he was asked about that again recently.

While Black Panther 3 has a rumored release window, basically nothing is known about what's going to happen in the big screen return to Wakanda. While Ryan Coogler said Washington was like family, exactly who he'll be playing in the MCU is a mystery. When speaking with ScreenRant about his new Spike Lee movie Highest 2 Lowest, he was asked about joining the beloved Marvel franchise. Unfortunately he only offered:

Fine, you can play it cool Mr. Washington. Almost nothing is known about what the third Black Panther movie will be about, and it seems like it's going to stay that way for the time being. After all Wakanda Forever's ending offered a number of thrilling narrative threads to pull from.

Of course, it's also possible that Washington might not actually know what will go down with his role in Ryan Coogler's threequel. The movie is seemingly only its in early development stage, and it's unclear how much writing the Sinners filmmaker has done so far. So we might all just have to try and be patient.

As previously mentioned, the events of the second Black Panther left a bunch of question about the future of Coogler's beloved franchise. At the end of the film Shuri became the next Panther, but didn't take the trial to try and rule her fictional country. Instead, it was hinted that M'Baku might be the new King.

Additionally, the Wakanda Forever credits scene revealed that T'Challa and Nakia had secretly had a baby. This could add another fold to who will ultimately sit on the Throne and be in control of the high tech society and its mines of Vibranium.

Ever since Washington let slip about his role in Black Panther 3, fans have been wondering who he might play in the forthcoming blockbuster. Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order know that Coogler's franchise is a favorite, so the pressure is on for the third installment to deliver. Especially after recent sequels like Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania and Thor: Love and Thunder failed to resonate with audiences. No pressure.

The next Marvel movie hitting theaters is Spider-Man: Brand New Day on July 24th of next year as part of the 2026 movie release list. Fingers crossed that we get more information about Black Panther 3 sooner rather than later.

It’s hard to believe that director Spike Lee and actor Denzel Washington have only made five films together, but I’d be lying if I said otherwise. The fifth is set to release as part of the 2025 movie schedule, as Highest 2 Lowest marks the first collaboration between the titans since 2006’s Inside Man. With a new trailer released to get the crowd ready for what to expect, Lee has also taken the time to write a totally fitting tribute to his frequent leading man.

We now have a longer look at the A24/Apple TV+ subscription title (which debuts in theaters on August 15th), and the remake to Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low appears to be worth the wait. Showing us Washington’s record mogul David King seemingly on top at the start, sour notes start to land in his life before you know it. Which is the total opposite of the vibe you’ll get from reading Spike Lee’s Instagram caption, shared below:

You’ve gotta love when friends like these absolutely gas each other up in the press. As far as that five picture run is concerned, Washington has been part of some of the most acclaimed pictures on Lee’s resume. Though that's not to overlook the current run of streaming heaters the Crooklyn director has been putting out.

In fact, some of Spike Lee's most socially relevant movies have been platform based originals like Prime Video's Chi-Raq and Netflix's Da 5 Bloods. That makes this reunion even more fruitful, as Washington can now be added to the roster of recent hits banked by Brooklyn's cinema hype man.

But of course, the wait between Inside Man and this new movie is one that fans have been braving for a while. You could see that as Lee’s message accompanying Highest 2 Lowest’s teaser acknowledged that “hella long” wait. That seems to be a specialty for Apple Original Films, as around this same time last year the platform delivered the George Clooney/Brad Pitt reunion we know as Wolfs.

What’s even more fitting is that yesterday Spike Lee posted another clip to his social media, one that may have been his tip off that a new Highest 2 Lowest look was coming. Sharing the snippet of Mo’ Better Blues you see below, the Atlanta-born filmmaker threw us all the way back to the beginning of his professional relationship with Denzel Washington:

As if the fan hype for Highest 2 Lowest wasn't enough, you've also got stories like ASAP Rocky's experience working with Mr. Washington, which only stoke those flames all the more. It's probably a good thing that audiences won't have to wait too much longer before they can catch Highest 2 Lowest, and with two very different options available.

You’ll be able to try and find the picture at a theater near you, as its theatrical release starts on August 15th. However, Apple TV+ subscribers will be able to partake in the reunion of Spike Lee and Denzel Washington soon after, as it will hit the streaming platform on September 5th.

It never ceases to amaze me when an actor is the spitting image of the real person they are selected to play. I do not think a historical portrayal necessarily lives or dies by the performer’s resemblance to the subject, but I think it is something to appreciate, especially when you consider the amount of biopics starring actors who bear absolutely no resemblance to their role. Here are a few notable examples of actors who were clearly hired for their talents above anything else.

Michael Shannon As Elvis Presley (Elvis & Nixon)

The most requested photo in the National Archives depicts Elvis Presley shaking hands with Richard Nixon in the Oval Office, and the events surrounding this historic meeting at the White House are dramatized in 2016's Elvis & Nixon. Kevin Spacey makes for a visually believable depiction of the 37th United States President, but the otherwise wonderfully talented Michael Shannon simply does not cut it as the one many call the King of Rock 'n Roll, even with a decent jumpsuit and wig.

John Wayne As Genghis Khan (The Conqueror)

Oh, boy, where do we begin with this one? The only visual evidence we have of what Genghis Khan looked like is artist renderings, but it does not take an expert to notice that John Wayne was not Asian. Still, the legendary Western movie star was cast as the Mongol chief in 1956's The Conqueror, which has since been regarded as one of the worst films ever made.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson As John Lennon (Nowhere Boy)

Director Sam Taylor-Johnson's 2009 music biopic Nowhere Boy focuses on the pre-Beatles life of John Lennon, as portrayed by Aaron Taylor-Johnson. If you ask me, the Golden Globe-winning actor might have been a better fit to play, perhaps, Paul McCartney or, better yet, George Harrison.

Tom Cruise As Barry Seal (American Made)

If more people knew about Barry Seal and what he looked like, I believe Tom Cruise's portrayal in 2017's American Made would have been criticized as one of the most egregious miscastings in Hollywood history. The otherwise talented movie star did absolutely nothing to alter his appearance and pass for the ill-fated, heavy-set CIA smuggler, save what I regard as an embarrassing Southern accent.

Julia Roberts As Erin Brockovich (Erin Brockovich)

Julia Roberts gives, arguably, the finest performance of her career as a single mother and paralegal who uncovers a small town pollution scandal in Steven Soderbergh's Erin Brockovich from 2000. However, if a resemblance to the person an actor is portraying were part of the Academy's voting criteria, she might not have won the Oscar.

Denzel Washington As Frank Lucas (American Gangster)

Ridley Scott's 2007 biopic American Gangster dramatizes the career of mobster Frank Lucas, played by Denzel Washington, and also stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as Lucas' brother, Huey. Curiously, Ejiofor actually looks a whole lot more like the real Frank than the two-time Oscar winner. However, Washington was a good friend and frequent collaborator of the director's brother, Tony Scott, so he probably had the role in the bag for that, among other reasons.

Johnny Depp As J.M. Barrie (Finding Neverland)

Oddly enough, J.M. Barrie boasted a striking resemblance to another influential author, Edgar Allan Poe, with his tall forehead and small moustache. However, Johnny Depp, who played the Peter Pan author in 2004's Finding Neverland, does not boast a resemblance to either of them, if you ask me.

Hugh Jackman As P.T. Barnum (The Greatest Showman)

Let's not even bother talking about the many historical inaccuracies from The Greatest Showman, 2017's musical retelling of the origins of the circus, and even ignore the fact that P.T. Barnum was not the kindhearted man Hugh Jackman portrayed him as. All that matters to this list is whether or not the Wolverine star looked the part, and the famously attractive Australian actor most definitely was not a match for Barnum in that regard.

Michael Fassbender As Steve Jobs (Steve Jobs)

Michael Fassbender's Oscar-nominated performance in director Danny Boyle and writer Aaron Sorkin's Steve Jobs from 2015 is widely regarded as superior to Ashton Kutcher's portrayal in Jobs from two years earlier. However, at least the former That '70s Show cast member can say he resembled the tech pioneer more closely.

Jesse Eisenberg As Mark Zuckerberg (The Social Network)

Mark Zuckerberg once made a surprise SNL cameo, during which he stood right next to host Jesse Eisenberg on the Studio 8H stage, proving that they are certainly not a visual match. The actor does not even bother to imitate the Facebook founder's distinctly low voice when portraying him in 2010's The Social Network, but his Oscar nomination proves that that is not what really matters in the end.

Tom Hanks As Fred Rogers (A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood)

Casting a universally beloved actor such as Tom Hanks to play a universally beloved children's television personality like Fred Rogers, of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood fame, is brilliant in theory. However, even giving the Oscar winner the icon's signature haircut and sweaters is not quite enough to distract from the fact that you are still unmistakably watching Hanks on screen.

Leonardo DiCaprio As Howard Hughes (The Aviator)

A major inspiration for Marvel's Tony "Iron Man" Stark was Howard Hughes, whose resemblance is actually a striking match for both Robert Downey Jr. and Dominic Cooper, who plays Howard Stark in his early years in the MCU. In fact, I think either one of them would have been a better visual fit for the eccentric millionaire in The Aviator than Leonardo DiCaprio, even if his performance in the 2005 biopic makes it one of his best collaborations with the director, Martin Scorsese.

Warren Beatty And Faye Dunaway As Clyde Barrow And Bonnie Parker (Bonnie And Clyde)

From a performance standpoint, Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway make a great onscreen duo portraying the titular notorious bank robbers in 1967's Bonnie and Clyde. However, the screen legends' casting does not earn the film any points for historical accuracy, considering Beatty does not have Clyde Barrow's jug ears, nor does Dunaway boast Bonnie Parker's sharp, thin face.

Taraji P. Henson As Katherine G. Johnson (Hidden Figures)

Taraji P. Henson gives an undeniably commanding performance in 2016's Hidden Figures as Katherine G. Johnson, a mathematician who was pivotal in helping NASA figure out space travel. Yet, when comparing the Empire star to photos of the real Johnson, it is clear the actor does not resemble her much at all.

Anthony Hopkins As Richard Nixon (Nixon)

Reportedly, Anthony Hopkins had some hesitation about taking on the lead role of Oliver Stone's 1995 biopic about Richard M. Nixon. Ultimately, I would say the Academy Award winner went on to give a great performance in Nixon, but I find myself distracted by his struggle to hide his accent and his obvious fake teeth and hairpiece that really do not help make him look any closer in resemblance to the disgraced U.S. president.

Margot Robbie As Queen Elizabeth I (Mary Queen Of Scots)

Cate Blanchett previously gave an Academy Award-nominated performance as the lead of 1998's Elizabeth, and even bore a strong resemblance to the royal based on artist renderings. I cannot say the same about Margot Robbie, even if the Australian actor's portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I in Mary Queen of Scots was still worthy of praise.

Benedict Cumberbatch As Alan Turing (The Imitation Game)

Benedict Cumberbatch has such a distinct appearance, making it difficult for him to resemble anyone else without heavy alterations. However, nothing was done to make him look any closer to World War II-era computer scientist Alan Turing in The Imitation Game.

Javier Bardem As Desi Arnaz (Being The Ricardos)

Oscar winner Nicole Kidman went above and beyond to physically become Lucille Ball for writer and director Aaron Sorkin's dramatization of what went on behind the scenes of the beloved TV sitcom, I Love Lucy. However, playing her onscreen husband is Oscar winner Javier Bardem, who does not pass for Desi Arnaz in the slightest.

Ray Liotta As Shoeless Joe Jackson (Field Of Dreams)

Technically, Ray Liotta plays the ghost of Shoeless Joe Jackson in Field of Dreams, but even a person's spectral remnant should look something like them. The infamous MLB player had a much narrower face and wider ears, not to mention that he pitched left-handed, while the actor did the opposite in the beloved sports movie.

Beyoncé As Etta James (Cadillac Records)

No one could possibly deny that Beyoncé has the pipes to match Etta James, which had to have been the reason why she was cast in 2008's Cadillac Records. However, the "At Last" singer was short and round-faced, and the former Destiny's Child member is neither.

Dominic West As Prince Charles III (The Crown)

I mean no disrespect to Prince Charles III, but is it just me, or was The Wire star Dominic West just a little too handsome to play the Royal Family member on The Crown? Then again, any one cast member's portrayal on the historical Netflix series might pale in comparison to Elizabeth Debicki's striking resemblance to Princess Diana.

Kane Hodder As Ed Gein (Ed Gein: The Butcher Of Plainfield)

The most famous actor to wear Jason Voorhees' hockey mask in the Friday the 13th films must have seemed like an inspired choice to play one of the most notorious serial killers in history in 2007's Ed Gein: The Butcher of Plainfield. However, the 6'2", broadly built Kane Hodder does not boast Gein's narrower face and small stature.

Clive Owen As Bill Clinton (Impeachment: American Crime Story)

In most cases, prosthetics can be very helpful in making an actor look more similar to the person they are portraying, such as when Charlize Theron became Megyn Kelly for Bombshell. Clive Owen adopted this method to play Bill Clinton on Impeachment: American Crime Story, but the makeup only caused the English actor to resemble the 1990s-era President even less.

Angelina Jolie As Christine Collins (Changeling)

Christine Collins is the subject of Clint Eastwood's 2008 period film, Changeling, which is based on the true story of when her missing son was replaced by an impostor. Had she been an even better-known historical figure, there might have been more criticism over casting Angelina Jolie, an actor known for her voluptuous lips, as the thin-lipped 1920s woman.

Fred Armisen As Barack Obama (Saturday Night Live)

Considering the fact that the otherwise extremely talented SNL star Fred Armisen is a white man with a subpar impersonation of the 44th. U.S. President, I'll just say that I am glad Jay Pharoah eventually took over as Barack Obama.

Tom Hulce As Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Amadeus)

Just based on artist renderings of the seminal composer, Tom Hulce was nowhere near a match to play the title role of director Milos Forman's Best Picture Oscar winner, Amadeus, from 1984. However, the actor is widely admired for his performance as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, which earned him a well-deserved Academy Award nomination.

Robert Redford As Harry Longabaugh (Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid)

I wonder how many others like me had no idea that Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid was based on a true story, which might be how the film was able to get away with casting actors who look nothing like the Western outlaws they play. For instance, Robert Redford's mustache works just fine for the role, but Harry Longabaugh, a.k.a. "The Sundance Kid," did not have long blonde locks.

Diana Ross As Billie Holiday (Lady Sings The Blues)

Most would agree that 1972's Lady Sings the Blues is the superior biopic about the trailblazing "Strange Fruit" singer over The United States vs. Billie Holiday from 2021. However, those same people might also agree that Andra Day was a better fit to play Holiday, physically speaking, than the otherwise wonderfully talented Diana Ross in the earlier film.

Robin Williams As Patch Adams (Patch Adams)

The real Patch Adams hates Tom Shadyac's biopic based on his life, which has nothing to do with the fact that Robin Williams looks nothing like the influential doctor. However, it's still impossible to ignore, especially with how they do not even bother to give the Oscar winner Adams' signature mustache.

Mel Gibson As William Wallace (Braveheart)

In the most well-known illustrations of William Wallace, the Scottish warrior is depicted as having short hair and a beard. Why director Mel Gibson opted against this look when he portrayed Wallace in Braveheart is beyond me.

Serena Scott Thomas As Princess Diana (Diana: Her True Story)

Many actors have portrayed Princess Diana to varying degrees of success, but most consider Serena Scott Thomas from the 1993 two-part miniseries, Diana: Her True Story, to be one of the weakest matches, purely in terms of her physical resemblance.

Zoe Saldaña As Nina Simone (Nina)

The 2016 biopic, Nina, sparked controversy when Zoe Saldaña donned skin-darkening makeup and a prosthetic nose to better resemble singer Nina Simone, which the actor would later admit she regretted.

Legacyquels are all the rage in Hollywood these days, and that means that producer Jerry Bruckheimer holds a lot of playable cards. In the last few years, he has been a player in the returns of the Top Gun, Bad Boys and Beverly Hills Cop franchises, and he has plans for more. What does he have cooking? One specific title he is looking to revisit is the naval drama of Crimson Tide.

Featuring the above-the-title star power of Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman, Crimson Tide was a big hit with both critics and audiences when it was released in 1995, and Bruckheimer is making moves to develop a 30-years-later sequel. He made mention of the project during a recent guest spot on The Rich Eisen Show, saying that talent is already attached:

Jerry Bruckheimer didn't drop any names regarding the filmmakers attached, but apparently they are so deeply involved that they are already doing research trips so that they can have a better understanding of the setting in which they'll be working.

But what about star power? Gene Hackman sadly passed away earlier this year, but Jerry Bruckheimer says that there is a goal to bring back Denzel Washington – suggesting that the story being developed will either involve or be directly about Lieutenant Commander Ronald "Ron" Hunter. Said the producer,

Directed by Tony Scott, the original Crimson Tide is set aboard a U.S. nuclear missile submarine and finds two officers in high stakes conflict regarding an order to launch their vessel's payload. While the movie came out three decades ago, nuclear submarines are still very much a thing, so there obviously is a world to revisit, and trading the atmosphere of post-Cold War to our modern conflict has a lot of potential.

It sounds like this project isn't exactly going to be ready to go into production next month, but it is noteworthy regardless that Denzel Washington has an interesting slate of upcoming projects. His newest movie, Spike Lee's Highest 2 Lowest, is arriving in theaters on August 22, but he is also attached to the Netflix heist movie Here Comes The Flood with Robert Pattinson and Daisy Edgar-Jones, and he has openly discussed a potential role in Ryan Coogler's Black Panther 3. And let's not forget that he's recently been working on Broadway starring opposite Jake Gyllenhaal in Othello.

As noted, Jerry Bruckheimer has been very successful in the last few years developing sequels to his hits from the 1990s, so don't be surprised if we soon start hearing a lot more about Crimson Tide 2.

In any profession on this Earth, one thing remains constant: you truly never know where the next gig is going to take you. While Terry Crews doesn’t have a film on the 2025 movie schedule, he will be a part of 2026’s Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie. And if you rewind the tape on this Crews’ path to stardom to the start, you’d see that it all pretty much came from a role in one of the best 2000s movies of all time: the Denzel Washington cop drama Training Day.

Don’t be dismayed if you don’t readily remember the Brooklyn Nine-Nine fixture in director Antoine Fuqua’s 2001 Academy Award winner. As Crews himself admitted in his story on The Kelly Clarkson Show, appearing in a short, but pivotal scene was a pretty huge moment. But before the industry took notice, a very special spectator highlighted its importance:

Being an extra, or even a bit player, in a major franchise can be quite the discovery later down the line. (Just ask Elijah Wood about his Back to the Future: Part II scene.) But when you’re playing an extra in one of the most quotable moments from a film like Training Day, it hits differently.

With that in mind, check out Terry Crews’ extra work, and Denzel Washington’s iconic delivery, below:

Whoever cast this America’s Got Talent hype man in Training Day's “King Kong” scene deserves an Oscar themselves. Even if you didn’t recognize Crews as the name he is today, his presence just behind Mr. Washington is quite notable. As he continued his story, Terry Crews backed that very call, running down a chain of opportunities everyone should know:

Just think, if Terry Crews wasn’t present for Detective Alonzo Harris’ downfall, he wouldn’t have been serenading a Wayans Brother running undercover in prosthetics. Come to think of it, maybe both of these projects helped Crews land in the Brooklyn Nine-Nine roster. While one can never be sure, in a world where anything can (and does) happen, the possibilities are endless. So maybe that hypothetical White Chicks 2 the Wayans are still up for could get off the ground after all.

Few movie studios are quite as secretive as Marvel. The MCU is a major franchise, and the attempts to keep spoilers from leaking are quite significant. This made it more than a little wild when Denzel Washington just came out and said he would be in Black Panther 3, a movie that Marvel had never even confirmed it was making.

It seems certain that Kevin Feige and the higher-ups at Marvel Studios were probably a little annoyed that Denzel came out and said something like that. However, writer/director Ryan Coogler doesn’t mind so much. His relationship with Denzel is such that it seems he just can’t get upset, speaking on 7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony, Coogler said…

Coogler goes on to say that he knows Denzel well, and he knows the actor’s family as well. As such, the director admits he’s been trying to find a way to work with The Equalizer actor for a long time. Denzel himself has talked about what Black Panther meant to him, so the fact that these two will finally be working together is a big deal. Coogler continues…

At the end of the day, Ryan Coogler says that there’s so much information about the film industry that isn’t true, that he can’t be too upset at Denzel talking about Black Panther 3, because at least in this case, it’s all true. The director admitted…

Ryan Coogler certainly isn’t wrong. There are so many film rumors out there, and so many about Marvel movies specifically, that the majority of them turn out to be false. Filmmakers like James Gunn seem to spend a good chunk of time debunking rumors about their work while making their movies. So, at least when Denzel reveals the truth, there's less follow-up required.

The official list of upcoming Marvel movies is only four films long, with next month’s Fantastic Four, a pair of Avengers movies, and the next Spider-Man film. That only takes us through the end of next year. Where Black Panther 3 will appear on the Marvel schedule is far from clear, but it seems all but certain that it will and Denzel Washington will be in it.

Grey’s Anatomy has featured some impressive guest stars come through over the last 21 seasons, and that likely won't change when Season 22 premieres on the 2025 TV schedule this fall. There are likely loads of celebs that are probably on everyone’s guest-star wish list, and one cast member has Oscar winner Denzel Washington at the top of his list. Although it may seem like a long shot, there is a connective-tissue precedent.

The Gladiator II star actually directed an episode of Grey’s Anatomy in 2016, which remains one of just five projects that he's credited with helming. It was also one of few television projects that he's been behind the camera for. Nearly 10 years after that memorable episode,, Jason George is voicing his hopes for Washington to return to Grey’s in a more visible capacity, as he told The Post:

Considering he's an Oscar winning icon who hasn't taken a TV role since starring as Dr. Philip Chandler in the medical drama St. Elsewhere in the ‘80s, his return to the small screen on Grey's probably won’t happen. However, it would be fun to see him as a doctor again, especially so many years after St. Elsewhere wrapped up. Not to mention the fact that he has a decent idea of what Grey’s Anatomy is like behind the scenes, even if it was 10 years ago.

It should be pointed out that if he were to appear on Grey’s, there will also more than likely be a fun shift behind-the-scenes. George recalled the time that Washington directed, calling out his female co-stars for getting to set on time and getting glammed up so early in the morning. He noted that while the set is usually professional, the week Washington was directing was even more professional, but that’s just the effect he has on people.

Denzel Washington is a pretty busy guy. He has at least one new movie coming out in 2025, Highest 2 Lowest, and has at least two other films in the works. And it’s quite possible he has more projects coming that haven’t been announced yet. So, on top of him not really doing any television in recent years, he’s also busy, meaning that the chances of him appearing on Grey’s Anatomy are pretty low. But it can’t hurt to still hope, even if it’s a very small chance.

While Washington probably won’t be guest starring on Grey’s Anatomy any time soon and returning to his role as a doctor, there will still be a lot to look forward to when Season 22 premieres. Season 21 ended on a cliffhanger that once again saw a part of Grey Sloan getting blown up and some doctors in danger. If Grey’s Anatomy is known for one thing, it’s that it knows how to keep fans on the edge of their seats between seasons, and there is no telling what could happen.

It has been said that they don’t make movie stars like they used to. Not that long ago, one of the things that often drove people to the theater was the cast of a given movie. It mattered less what the movie was about than it did who was in it. Today, Tom Cruise is perhaps one of the few remaining names that can draw people into a movie theater on his own, but Michael B. Jordan is following in those footsteps. And he’s getting great advice on how to do that from another A-list movie star.

One of the reasons that the traditional movie star may be on the decline is that, in the era of the internet and social media, we see so much of most actors’ lives that there is little mystery left to them. Michael B. Jordan has made a concerted effort to retain some of that mystique by intentionally avoiding overexposure. He spoke to Vulture about key advice from Denzel Washington, who told him…

There’s certainly some logic to the assertion. If part of what makes a movie star special is that we don’t see them often, then overexposure can certainly destroy that. To continue the Tom Cruise example, the actor has only embraced social media comparatively recently, and even then, his posts are focused on promoting his work; we don’t see every aspect of his personal life the way we do with some.

Michael B. Jordan’s private life hasn’t been entirely private. His relationship with Lori Harvey was largely in the public eye, but that ended a couple of years ago, and since then, we’ve seen and heard very little about Jordan’s relationships. It certainly seems he’s taking Denzel’s words to heart. While there have been rumors of who Jordan is dating, there are always rumors surrounding movie stars when there is little fact, Tom Cruise and Denzel certainly know what that’s like too.

For what it’s worth, the strategy appears to be working. Michael B. Jordan’s newest collaboration with director Ryan Coogler, Sinners, has been one of the biggest surprise hits of the 2025 release calendar. It’s hard to say how much of that success came from the star power of Jordan, but in an era when so many movies have trouble finding an audience, the fact that Sinners was a hit was certainly a big deal for Jordan.

In one way, Michael B. Jordan has already reached the heights of the major movie stars. Tom Cruise himself boosted the profile of Sinners when it hit theaters, and Jordan attended the premiere of Mission: Impossible—The Final Reckoning in response.

Throughout Grey’s Anatomy’s 21-season run, a lot of great guest stars have appeared here and there. Of course, big names haven't just appeared in front of the camera, as the long-running medical drama, which is one of the best shows to binge on Netflix, has brought on some impressive directors as well. On that note, cast member Jason George is sharing what it was like working with Denzel Washington when he helmed an episode. The actor also reveals why he personally called out his female co-stars during the shoot.

Denzel Washington directed the Season 12 episode “The Sound of Silence,” which aired back in 2016. Although that was almost 10 yeas ago, Jason George still remembers what it was like when the Oscar winner was on set. George recalled to The New York Post how professional everyone was during the week Washington directed, and it sounds like everyone wanted to make sure that they were at their best:

It’s not surprising to hear that actors would want to be in top form for a star as big as Washington. The sheer notion of being in his presence is enough to give me chills. Whether he means to be or not, Washington seemingly stokes up something within his collaborators. ASAP Rocky even admitted how "difficult" it was to act with the actor and keep his fandom in check while they filmed Spike Lee's Highest 2 Lowest.

Despite the intense nature of the episode, which sees Ellen Pompeo’s Meredith Grey being attacked by a patient, the vibes on set were seemingly quite different. George humorously went on to explain how the women acted, and I can’t say I blame them:

The whole “dressing up” tidbit is even funnier when considering that the actors would be going to wardrobe and hair & makeup anyway. However, they apparently still chose to dress up so early in the morning because of Denzel Washington, and I'd have been right there with them. I mean, I know I'd certainly want to look my best in the presence of such a major star.

While Washington has notched a director credit on Grey's Anatomy, it's now worth wondering if he'd ever return for an acting role. The Tony winner has scarcely done much TV acting in the years since he broke through as a true movie star. As it stands, Grey’s is actually is actually the most recent TV credit on his resume. The chances of him appearing may seem slim, but Jason George has an idea in mind for who Washington could play:

Based on Jason George's comments, it sounds like Denzel Washington makes quite an impression, and I'm not surprised one bit. I'm not holding my breath for Washington to appear on Grey's, which is returning for Season 22. Still, it's fun to imagine who he could play if he did show up. Aside from that, George's story about calling out his co-stars is going to keep my chuckling for a while.

Stream Denzel Washington's episode of Grey's Anatomy now but grabbing a Netflix subscription.

The Cannes Film Festival is usually a celebration where some of the best early movies of the year are screened. However, any time you have a lot of people in one place, you can be sure there will be some conflicts, and a recent red carpet interaction with Denzel Washington did not go smoothly for anyone involved.

A video has recently gone viral on X that shows Denzel Washington appearing to get upset with somebody at the premiere of his new film with Spike Lee, Highest 2 Lowest. Washington starts pointing at somebody, and whatever he’s saying to the person clearly isn’t happy. Check it out.

The Daily Mail brought in a lip reader named Jeremy Freeman to attempt to understand what Washington was saying to the photographer. According to the lip reader, after Denzel turns to address the photographer, he supposedly says:

Going back and looking at the video, you can see a hand reach out and touch Denzel on the arm, seemingly to try to get him to turn for a picture, which is apparently what the Oscar winner took issue with, leading to the heated exchange. Interestingly, the heat appears to be one-sided as the photographer is smiling the entire time, and even reaches out to grab Denzel’s arm a second time.

This is a pretty wild interaction. Celebrities and photographers certainly don’t always get along, and it’s not entirely uncommon for photographers to get a little aggressive in their attempts to get a picture or for the celebrity in question to take exception to those attempts. Red carpets are wild places where everybody is trying to get the attention of the stars for a question or a picture.

We've seen interactions between celebrities and photographers devolve into lawsuits before. Justin Bieber was sued for running over the foot of a photographer trying to get a picture. Other celebrities have filed lawsuits when photographers overstepped their bounds.

I think most people would agree that Denzel getting a little upset over being grabbed so nonchalantly is justified. Most people wouldn’t appreciate being grabbed by strangers, even in a public place like a red carpet, where one expects to be interacting with other people. Just because people are famous doesn’t mean they give up their personal space.

One certainly hopes this is the most stressful red carpet encounter between a photographer and a celebrity. Cannes is supposed to be a celebration of movies and the people that make them, and I, for one, hope we can leave those people alone beyond the normal asking questions and taking pictures. If you need to touch them, maybe try a handshake or a high five.

Daisy Edgar-Jones has worked with the internet’s most sought-after boyfriends. From Paul Mescal to Glen Powell, to Andrew Garfield and more, her list of co-stars is very impressive. Now, she’s adding another handsome actor to that list, and this might be her most exciting collaboration yet.

Not long after the release of her project on the 2025 movie schedule, On Swift Horses, which starred the swoon-worthy actors Jacob Elordi and Will Poulter alongside Edgar-Jones, her next project and set of co-stars were revealed. The film is called Here Comes the Flood, and the Normal People actress is set to star in it alongside Robert Pattinson and Denzel Washington, per THR.

Honestly, Edgar-Jones collaborating with one of the internet’s finest boyfriends (and an OG BF if you ask me, thanks to Twilight) is so exciting. I might even be more excited for this collaboration than I was to watch Twisters (you can stream it with an Amazon Prime subscription), which is saying a lot, because I am a very proud member of the Glen Powell fan club.

However, some important information to know about me is that I love a heist movie, which Here Comes the Flood is, and I have been obsessed with the unique choices Robert Pattinson has made with his career in recent years.

While plot details about this flick are being kept under wraps, the logline describes it as “an unconventional heist movie about a bank guard, a teller and a master thief in a deadly game of cons and double crosses.” It’s unclear who Edgar-Jones, Pattinson and Denzel Washington will be playing within this bunch. However, overall, they are a trio I never expected to work together, and I can’t wait to see how they tell this “non-linear” story by Simon Kinberg.

The film is also set to be directed by Fernando Meirelles, who was nominated for Best Director at the Oscars in 2002 for his film City of God and helmed the Oscar-nominated Netflix film The Two Popes. So, with talent like Pattinson, Edgar-Jones and Washington as well as an acclaimed director, this film feels like it could be an extra special (and possibly award-worthy) feather in all their caps.

Bringing Washington, a legend, Edgar-Jones, an up-and-coming star, and Pattinson, one of the most fascinating actors working right now (in my opinion, thanks to a run of films that include The Batman, The Boy and the Heron and Mickey 17) together is genius, and I can’t wait to watch them.

Not to mention, it also adds to the Normal People star’s ever-growing list of seriously impressive co-stars. Of course, Daisy Edgar-Jones’ breakout role came with Normal People and Paul Mescal (which you can watch with a Hulu subscription). Then, she worked with Sebastian Stan on Fresh, Andrew Garfield on Under the Banner of Heaven, Harris Dickinson on Where the Crawdads Sing, Jacob Elordi on On Swift Horses, and, of course, Glen Powell on the fantastic Twister sequel.

Now, she’s adding Robert Pattinson to that list, as well as Denzel Washington, and I quite literally cannot wait to see it! At the moment, though, this film that will eventually be available with a Netflix subscription does not have a release date. So, for now, you can go back and watch Daisy Edgar-Jones in all her wonderful projects that also happen to feature some of the internet’s favorite boyfriends.

Audiences are going to witness a truly intriguing pairing of actors, as ASAP Rocky and Denzel Washington are starring in Highest 2 Lowest. The film is the latest "joint" from director Spike Lee, who teams up with Washington again after their other iconic collaborations. That's exciting, but the prospect of the former sharing the screen with Rocky is tantalizing as well. Ahead of the 2025 movie schedule entry's release, the rapper opened up about working with Washington and why it was humrously challenging.

The "Sundress" artist took some time to chat with Variety about his upcoming A24 movies, If I Could Kick You and the aforementioned Lee flick. When talk turned to Highest 2 Lowest, Washington's name was mentioned, and ASAP Rocky discussed how thrilling it was to be his scene partner. However, it would seem that the gig was also a bit challenging for Rocky, as he had to contain his personal fandom:

Honestly, I feel like a number of us would probably be starstruck by just running into Denzel Washington on the street let alone working with him. Washington's stellar filmography can only be matched by a select group of actors. So it's understandable as to why the rapper felt a bit flustered, and I applaud his honesty. It also sounds like his introduction to Washington as an actor began with one of his greatest movies:

ASAP Rocky is far from the only person who's shared glowing thoughts about working with the Gladiator II star. One of the actor's latest co-stars, Jake Gyllenhaal, gushed over working with him on the latest stage adaptation of Othello. Director Ryan Coogler also wants to work with Washington on the upcoming Black Panther 3 and has discussed his admiration for the two-time Oscar winner.

Seeing the hip hop artist's love for his co-star honestly has me even more amped for their new movie. The recently released Highest 2 Lowest teaser also provides a solid look at this reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa's High and Low, a noir film with a high-stakes kidnapping within the white collar world. I'd like to think that this adaptation is in good hands with Lee and Washington.

Of course, ASAP Rocky is gradually carve out a lane for himself as an actor as well Most notably, he put on a solid performance in one of the best Black-led coming-of-age movies, Dope. I can't wait to see him and Denzel Washington mix it up on screen, and here's hoping the have great chemistry.

Highest 2 Lowest is set to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on May 19 and will hit theaters on August 22. It'll also be available for Apple TV+ subscription holders to stream starting on September 5.

As soon as we heard Denzel Washington and ASAP Rocky would star in a Spike Lee movie, anticipation was bound to skyrocket. With such a talented cast and crew behind the upcoming A24 movie, I’m already expecting a success on our hands. As the first footage of Highest 2 Lowest arrives online, Spike Lee can’t contain his excitement, saying, “U been waiting hella long.”

Spike Lee was very low-key about Highest 2 Lowest in his latest interview on 7 PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony. He described the plot as a “reinterpretation” of Akira Kurosawa’s Japanese crime flick of a music mogul involved in a kidnapping. But knowing that ASAP Rocky and Denzel Washington would be sharing screentime made me impatient to see some footage of the 2025 movie release. Fortunately, the wait is over, as Lee posted new footage of Highest 2 Lowest on Instagram and didn’t hold back his excitement:

Yes, we have been waiting “hella long,” but it proves that good things come to those who wait. It’s clear that Spike Lee is just as excited about the release of his own movie just like audiences.

I love that the Do the Right Thing actor/director spoke about the Washington/Lee family coming back. The two have proven themselves to be a dynamic duo throughout many projects. You can thank Spike Lee for what made a lot of Denzel Washington’s movies so iconic, like Mo’ Better Blues, He Got Game and Malcolm X. Almost 20 years later, Highest 2 Lowest will mark their fifth collaboration, with success sure to follow. Washington’s well-known characters in Lee’s movies have always been layered, tackling their inner demons while facing moral challenges. If the Cannes Film Festival premiere flick does the same thing, we’ll be in for another powerful performance.

The first teaser for Highest 2 Lowest still doesn’t present a clear plot for the new movie. At the same time, it’s not necessary. Just seeing talent like Denzel Washington, ASAP Rocky and Jeffrey Wright in the trailer is enough to sell me. Not to mention, it’s an A24 movie, which is normally an appealing feature point in my book.

We also see quick glimpses of heavy activity like shootouts, police sirens and Denzel Washington’s character dropping a bag down a train. I’m already expecting a high-stakes story that will bring together a complex storyline that the BlacKkKlansman filmmaker is known for. You can watch Highest 2 Lowest’s first footage below:

Just like we’ve all been waiting for the teaser of Highest 2 Lowest, Spike Lee has been feeling the same way, with so much excitement for audiences to see his movie. With a stellar cast and anxiety-inducing action, I know we’ll be in for a real treat with Lee’s passion project. The neo-noir crime thriller will play in theaters on August 22nd and stream with your Apple TV+ subscription on September 5th.

Making is on-screen acting debut back in 1991 with a small role in the western comedy City Slickers, Jake Gyllenhaal has spent decades proving himself as one of the most impressive, talented performers working in film and television today. The guy very clearly knows what he is doing when it comes to being in front of a camera – but his recent experience performing Othello on Broadway with Denzel Washington has been a wholly different experience, and he has very much been wowed watching his co-star do his thing on stage.

Gyllenhaal made his broadway debut in 2015 starring opposite Ruth Wilson in the one act play Constellations, but in a sit down interview with Broadway veteran Audra McDonald published by Variety, he refers to himself as "beginner beyond beginner" in the preparation for playing Iago in Othello – which saw him break from his traditional approach by watching as many performances as he could from previous actors. He told McDonald that his first instinct was actually to turn down the opportunity... but then he realized that he couldn't:

Kenny Leon previously won a Tony Award for a 2014 revival of A Raisin In the Sun starring Denzel Washington – whose Broadway credits go back to 1988 and includes another Shakespeare adaptation: 2005's Julius Caesar. With the added fact that Iago is a terrifically complicated character to play, it's understandable that Jake Gyllenhaal would be intimidated, but one also totally understands why he felt compelled to sign on for Othello.

The play debuted last month, and is currently being performed at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, and the Nightcrawler actor has been particularly stunned by Washington's nimbleness as a performer. He admits to working very differently than his co-star and has been impressed by how he is able to adapt when things don't go exactly as planned on stage:

Given Denzel Washington's reputation as one of the greatest actors of all time, it surely wasn't surprising for Jake Gyllenhaal to recognize that he is a master performer, but it says a lot that it has left a major impression regardless. And the respect has been mutual.

If you plan to be in New York in the coming weeks, tickets to see Othello are currently on sale, with performances scheduled through May into early June. For those of you who won't be able to attend, you can enjoy Jake Gyllenhaal's most recent work by catching Road House on Amazon Prime Video and the series Presumed Innocent on Apple TV+. As for Denzel Washington, you can appreciate his turn as Macrinus in Ridley Scott's Gladiator II, which is now available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription.

Spike Lee is set to grace the 2025 movie schedule with a new film, Highest 2 Lowest, and it's being ushered out in style. This latest flick is set premiere at Cannes on the anniversary of one of Lee’s greatest movies, Do the Right Thing. This latest feature also reunites the director with esteemed collaborator Denzel Washington. Joining the pair as part of the cast is ASAP Rocky, and it turns out Lee has a chuckle-worthy reason for casting the rapper.

It says a lot for an iconic director like Spike Lee to want to hire you for a film, especially since the director is quite shrewd when casting. His upcoming crime thriller, which will eventually be available to stream with an Apple TV+ subscription, is a “reinterpretation” of Akira Kurosawa’s Japanese crime flick, High and Low, with Washington playing a music mogul involved in a kidnapping plot. While speaking on 7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony, Lee got candid about what made him cast the “L$D” rapper, and I’m still laughing:

I love that! Looking at the two performers, I can see the resemblance between them. Honestly, it's not often that you hear a director being partially influenced by social media memes when casting actors though, apparently, Lee couldn’t ignore them for his new movie. Quite frankly, I'm not sure I can unsee the resemblance between the two now.

Of course, there's more to casting than appearances, as actors must also have a creative spark. I’m really curious as to what Washington and Rocky's dynamic will look like on screen. We'll have to wait and see but, right now, Spike Lee is teasing that the rapper gives quite the performance. Not only that, but he apparently had no problem going toe to toe with the Othello star:

Based on Spike Lee’s kind words, I already have a feeling that ASAP Rocky is going to surprise viewers. He may be known for his Billboard Top 100 tracks, but he’s shown off his acting chops before in a few movies. He made his film debut in one of the best Black-led coming-of-age films, Dope, and also appeared in the Netflix legal drama Monster. Rocky will also appear in the upcoming A24 movie, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You.

While working on Lee's film, the “Long Live ASAP” performer was in a prime position to learn from some brilliant creative minds. I'd be curious to hear about his experience working with Lee and Denzel Washington.

I'm hopeful that Highest 2 Lowest turns out to be another quality "Spike Lee Joint." If anything, I'm even more excited after hearing the Oscar-winning filmmaker hype up ASAP Rocky's work. Despite that, when I finally see the film for myself, I'll still be thinking about how those memes helped lead to Rocky's casting, and I'll probably chuckle about it to myself then, too.

Denzel Washington's best movies are beloved, but his heart has always been with theater. After all, the Oscar winner doesn’t view himself as a “Hollywood actor” for that reason, using the skills he acquired on the stage toward his film performances. With fans complaining about his Othello show tickets being so expensive, Washington responds to those ticket stubs being compared to Beyoncé’s.

Any fan of Denzel Washington would love to see him reciting Shakespeare live on the Broadway stage. Creating a dynamic duo with Jake Gyllenhaal, the two present a modern take with them playing military men locked in a tense battle of deception and portrayal. However, one thing about these Othello tickets is that they are sky-high in price. While speaking to ET at the Entertainment Community Fund Gala, Washington made one thing clear about tickets being as high as $900:

There’s no doubt that Broadway ticket prices are expensive. Whereas movie theater tickets are around the ballpark of $9-$20, stage productions are considered classy entertainment. According to TheaterMania, the average price of a Broadway ticket is around $133. But with A-list actors like Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal starring in the 400-year-old production, the high ticket demands can easily raise the prices.

With Othello prices zooming as high as $900, ET commented to Denzel Washington that he must have felt like Beyoncé and Jay-Z. Here was the actor’s humble response to that:

The Malcolm X actor may not be a singer or a rapper, but you can’t deny how popular he is. Fans are always watching Denzel Washington in the US and his movies have grossed over $2.5 billion at the box office. Naturally, I wouldn’t be surprised for ticket sales to soar, seeing the award-winning actor show off his theater chops.

Denzel Washington ought to consider it a huge compliment for Othello to be compared to Beyoncé, as her RENAISSANCE tour had fans scared that Ticketmaster wouldn’t be able to handle the on-demand surge. Even the singer’s Cowboy Carter Tour tickets are as high as four-digit prices, depending on how close you want to be to the stage and VIP packages. Despite high Othello ticket prices, the Fences actor/director made sure to tell ET how “blessed” he was to be part of his sold-out Shakespeare show:

It must be an incredible feeling for a celebrity to know that fans want to support their work throughout the years. If actors like Daniel Radcliffe can headline sold-out Broadway shows, I’m confident a theater pro like Washington will draw Broadway theatergoers to go see his successful Shakespeare adaptation. With many dates on the Othello website showing there are a lot of dates with just a few seats left, I would say ticket demands aren't stopping anytime soon.

Fans may have pointed out the expensive ticket prices of Othello, but there’s no doubt in my mind that the star power of Denzel Washington is as equal to Beyoncé’s. The stage and screen actor knows how to win over a crowd, and I’m confident he’ll continue doing so no matter how high ticket prices go. Make sure to catch Washington’s newest stage role playing at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre until June 8th.

Last month, Amazon added the very-much not underrated Gladiator II to its premium video service, and in the United States fans have been all over watching Denzel Washington’s performance (which should have been nominated for an Academy Award in my opinion). Meanwhile, following the death of Pope Francis, audiences both domestically and globally have been giving Conclave another chance. However, I’ve been most happy to see a new 2025 movie release creeping up the charts.

G20, like Gladiator and Conclave, has a stacked cast headlined by Viola Davis but also featuring The Boys’ Antony Starr, and black-ish's Anthony Anderson and Marsai Martin. I would never sit here and tell you the project is about to be the next Die Hard, but I definitely enjoyed the Cape Town setting and the premise, which sees Davis as a female President of the United States dealing with her unruly daughter. CinemaBlend's own Philip Sledge called it a "wild throwback," and I totally get it.

She and her husband decide to bring their kid to a Summit (the G20 Summit) where global leaders are accused of corruption and shenanigans ensue. Sound fun? A lot of people worldwide think so, as G20 is the Number 1 movie globally on Amazon right now.

US Audiences Are Into Something A Little Different Than Global Audiences

Intriguingly, in the US it hasn’t caught on quite as much, as Gladiator II took over the top slot on April 24th, per tracking outlets like FlixPatrol. Intriguingly, Amazon Prime also added a second big Denzel Washington movie this month, the also-underrated 2 Guns with Mark Wahlberg. Unlike G20, 2 Guns is not brand spanking new, having originally released back in 2013 to pretty solid reviews. It’s more in the buddy-cop action drama though, if that’s your cup of tea.

2 Guns debuted on in April 2025 on the streaming service and had a quick run on the Top 10 list before falling off.

Meanwhile, Amazon Prime originals have a tendency to hang out on the Top 10 list for quite some time, as we saw something similar happen with Red One and more. Intriguingly, unlike other streamers, Amazon has committed to the theatrical experience and is going to be putting a slew of their slate into theaters before it heads to the streaming services much later on. Amazon’s 2025 CinemaCon panel was the first time a streamer has shown up to the event and hopefully more movies in the mid-tier, like G20, will get the red carpet rollout in the future.

For now though, ranking on the Top 10 list isn’t too shabby.

Josh Brolin has built a pretty incredible resume over his four-decade-long career. He’s won Screen Actors Guild Awards and been nominated for Oscars. He’s been in major big-budget blockbusters and character-driven dramas. He’s also achieved a significant level of fame for his work, but the actor now feels that too many people are looking for fame without doing the actual work.

In a recent appearance on In Depth with Graham Bensinger, Brolin lamented what he sees as a fundamental shift in the way people approach the acting profession today. He feels that when he was young in the industry, people were focused on the craft of acting, whereas people trying to break into acting are only looking for fame. He said…

While there have always been actors who had their eyes on fame and what came with it, Brolin seems to feel the issue has become considerably worse in recent years. He has a traditional view of acting as a craft and feels that more people used to be focused on improving that craft rather than financial success.

While trying to be financially successful might not be the worst thing in the world, Josh Brolin does feel that, because so many are focused on that, it hurts the movies being made. It seems that because people are chasing fame, they’re less interested in the collaborative process of filmmaking. Brolin continued…

While a certain amount of this could certainly be chalked up to Josh Brolin being 40 years older and having a less-than-stellar view of a younger generation, it’s hard to argue that the Dune actor hasn’t always felt this way.

Brolin has talked about the way that some assumed that he was only chasing fame because he was the son of actor James Brolin, something he had to fight against. Brolin admits to doing a lot of studying of acting methods while making The Goonies. Although Steven Spielberg told Brolin he was maybe taking it all a bit too seriously.

When it comes to the actors that Brolin himself looks up to, it’s clear that he’s not looking at the people who are the most famous, but rather those actors who he thinks have done some of the best performances. He mentions the great performances of Denzel Washington specifically, saying…

Even if the number of actors focused on the craft of acting has diminished, they’re certainly out there. When Brolin’s Dune co-star Timothee Chalamet won the Oscar, he didn’t say he wanted to be the most famous actor, but that he wanted to be one of the greats as an actor. Perhaps he’ll be an inspiration to a new generation.

April is coming to a close, but that doesn’t mean we’re running out of things to watch as the 2025 TV premiere schedule can show. Two incredibly popular streaming series are debuting new seasons this week. In addition, we’re seeing what could hopefully be one of the best new 2025 movies on streaming.

The long-awaited second season of Andor is finally here on Disney+, promising to bridge the gap between the events of Season 1 and Rogue One. Netflix will also see the final season of one of its popular shows get started as You premieres just days later.

Andor, Season 2, 3-episode Premiere - April 22 (Disney+)

While not everybody has loved all of the new Star Wars movies and series under Disney, one show that nearly everybody believed made a Disney+ subscription worthwhile was the first season of Andor. Now the second season makes its debut in hopes it will be just as good. As with Season 1, each group of three episodes will make up a different story arc. This time around, all three episodes will be released at once each week.

Gladiator II - April 22 (Prime Video)

Gladiator II may not have reached quite the heights of the original film, but it was an epic movie nonetheless, with an incredible performance by Denzel Washington that is alone with making sure you have a Prime Video subscription so you can check it out.

Sea Lions of the Galapagos/Guardians of the Galapagos - April 22 (Disney+)

April 22 is Earth Day, and for the last several years, Disney has used that day to release its newest Disneynature documentary. This year will see the release of Sea Lions of the Galapogos, narrated by Oscar winner Brendan Fraser, and the behind-the-scenes documentary Guardians of the Galapogos, narrated by Blair Underwood. Disneynature films trace their origins back to the original True Life Adventures produced under Walt Disney himself, and it's wonderful that the studio is still making them today..

You, Season 5 - April 24 (Netflix)

You has been one of the most consistently compelling streaming series around for its previous four seasons. Now, fans will surely be ready to see how the story comes to a close as Season 5 will mark the end of You.

Havoc - April 25 (Netflix)

Director Gareth Evans is responsible for one of the greatest action movies of all time in The Raid: Redemption. Now, he directs Tom Hardy in the new crime thriller Havoc. If the movie is even a fraction as good as Evans' best efforts, it will be a reason to have a Netflix subscription and possibly a reason to keep one just so you can keep watching it again and again.

Baby Girl - April 25 (Max)

The early buzz surrounding A24’s Babygirl was that it could mean another Oscar nomination for Nicole Kidman, and while that didn’t materialize, it’s still a strong performance by one of our great living actresses and a movie worth checking out when it’s made available with a Max subscription.

Next week, April becomes May, so get ready for the monthly content churn as all your favorite movies jump from one streaming platform to another. At least their original shows and movies won’t go anywhere.

Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal have been working side-by-side on a new project. Their collaboration may not be a 2025 movie release, but their acting chops matched up on a whole other level for a modern reimagination of Shakespeare’s Othello. These two are the star-power duo I didn’t know I needed, as Denzel’s younger co-star hilariously roasted the legend for only just discovering the healing power of ice.

The Malcolm X star is no stranger to Shakespeare's works. It's why Denzel Washington doesn’t call himself a “Hollywood actor,” even if theater-first actor happens to have starred in some of the biggest high-grossing movies. He's known for starring in must-see Shakespeare adaptations like The Tragedy of Macbeth and Much Ado About Nothing on the big screen, but first brought The Bard’s words to life in Richard III, Julius Caesar, and a college production of Othello when he was 22.

Well, Denzel Washington’s Shakespearian roots come in full form once again on the Broadway stage, revisiting the title role of Othello with Jake Gyllenhaal as Iago. The two have proven to be the dynamic duo I didn’t know I needed after the Brokeback Mountain star hilariously roasted the legendary actor in a Playbill interview over “ice:”

• Denzel Washington: My knees swell up in the evening. I discovered ice.
• Jake Gyllenhaal: You didn’t know about ice?
• Washington: No, I didn’t know about ice at 22. At 22, I was going to the library at Lincoln Center and listening to whoever it was I was listening to and just imitating him. I don’t do that anymore.

Ice would definitely be the trick to heal those swollen knees. Leave it to Jake Gyllenhaal to mess with his veteran co-star about that! I’m surprised Denzel Washington never tried using ice or any kind of cold compresses before to aid any knee pains.

Then again, it’s been about seven years since the Fences actor was last on stage performing The Iceman Cometh and even longer since he first did Othello. As the American actor turned 70 in December, he’s gotta keep those knees strong if he’s gonna tackle standing for these breathtaking stage performances until June.

The Academy Award winner has also said his preparation for playing Othello involves waking up at three in the morning and dedicating 15-18 hours to the military commander role. This shows how much Washington loved the Shakespearean production and how seriously he took his craft.

Check out this video of him taken months prior to returning to Othello, where he could still recite the play's dialogue from his initial performances.

Throughout his interview with Playbill, Jake Gyllenhaal has spoken about what “a dream come true” it’s been to work with Denzel Washington. Before production for Othello even started, the Nightcrawler actor humbly bragged about the stage play gig, working with the legendary actor and contributing to the history of performers before him who played Iago. What a career step to show the world what you can do live on the theater stage.

It’s clear the collaborative experience has meant a great deal to the Othello co-stars, as Denzel Washington gave Jake Gyllenhaal major acting props that made the Donnie Darko actor a little emotional. Gyllenhaal warmly responded to what a “leader” and “huge heart” his co-star has, like a true fan. I’m sure the duo has amazing working chemistry to play two Marines who ultimately find themselves in a complicated, psychological battle with one another.

With Denzel Washington returning to the stage with Othello, his younger co-star, Jake Gyllenhaal, clearly can’t resist roasting him for not using ice to treat his swollen knees. If Gyllenhaal wants to be a loyal acting partner, I think he should be entrusted with handing the Remember the Titans actor a frozen bag of peas! If you come across the Ethel Barrymore Theatre in New York, you can watch the two talented actors in Othello performances until June 8th.

Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal have been in major movies the past year. Washington was a total standout as Macrinus in the cast of Gladiator 2. Gyllenhaal was also busy throwing a lot of punches in the Road House remake and is revved up to do so again for the sequel. Their next project may not be a 2025 movie release, but they’re hitting the stage together for Shakespeare’s Othello. After their collaboration, the duo gave each other some major props on their acting which shows their strong brotherly bond.

Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello has Denzel Washington in the title role and Jake Gyllenhaal as Iago, whose relationship on stage is filled with betrayal, manipulation, and psychological warfare. But in real life, the two couldn’t be closer. On CBS Sunday Morning’s Instagram reel, Washington gave Gyllenhaal major acting props that got him a little emotional:

Those are some strong adjectives that Denzel Washington sent Jake Gyllenhaal’s way. The stage is the best place to see exactly what an actor can do, giving a powerful performance in one take. That’s all the more reason why the Malcolm X star doesn’t consider himself a “Hollywood actor”. His true love is in live theater who just so happens to do film work as well. It looks like getting to work with The Day After Tomorrow actor showed Washington the intense talent that his co-star brings to every role, whether it’s live on stage or in front of the camera.

With such a rave review like that, there was no way that Jake Gyllenhaal was going to stay silent. The Brokeback Mountain star made sure to mention that his 11-year-old self would never believe he’d get to work with such an accomplished actor like Denzel Washington. In return, Gyllenhaal gave back to his Othello co-star an emotional response that places the actor in high esteem:

It looks like the two Othello stars both believe themselves to be “complicated” with a good “heart.” Seeing Jake Gyllenhaal choke up a little hearing Denzel Washington gives me all kinds of feels.

When the Spider-Man: Far From Home actor first landed the role of Iago, he humbly bragged about the stage gig, talking about how “intimidated” he was looking back on the history of actors who’ve played that prominent Shakespearan role. Plus, to share the stage with the Fences actor/director is not something all actors can say they’ve done. Fortunately Gyllenhaal can now say he’s gotten to work with one of the greatest actors of the 20th century. Check out their touching Instagram video below:

Working together in Othello certainly brought a sweet working bond between Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal. With the two stars sharing a deep respect for their huge acting chops, it’s no surprise their collaboration made a lasting impact on each other. If you happen to be in New York, catch their Shakespearean production at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, playing until June 8th.

Normally, when Marvel announces casting, there’s a lot of pomp and circumstance – as that Doomsday 5.5 hour live stream illustrated – and it’s very official. However, late last year, Denzel Washington made headlines for casually dropping that he might be in Black Panther 3. Now, after he broke the internet with that statement, it’s unclear what exactly is going on, but Ryan Coogler’s comments about it make the picture a bit clearer.

When asked about the discussion circulating about Washington being in the film on Nightcap, the director responded with a simple “yep.” Then, he elaborated on his hope to work with the legendary actor, implying that Black Panther 3 could very well be the movie where this collaboration finally happens:

While that’s not technically a confirmation, it does make me think there’s a very big chance Denzel Washington will make his MCU debut in Coogler’s upcoming Marvel movie. Clearly, they both want to work together, and it seems like as long as all the details work out and all the i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed, we’ll see the Oscar winner in Black Panther 3.

That point was also made clear when Washington clarified his Black Panther comment by saying that he doesn’t really know what the Creed director is cooking up for him. He explained that the director asked if he’d be interested, and he responded by telling him, “Whatever it is, I’ll do it.”

As all these statements clearly point out, Coogler and Washington really want to work together, and this Marvel movie seems like a great opportunity for them to do just that.

So, it would seem these two are heading down the road of both working on Black Panther 3, and I can’t help but wonder who Denzel Washington could play. However, no matter what happens, I’m positive his role in the MCU will be iconic.

Now, as we wait for more updates about Black Panther 3 and the Training Day star’s involvement in it, you can check out Coogler’s latest collaboration with Michael B. Jordan when Sinners makes its 2025 movie schedule debut on April 18. Meanwhile, if you happen to be in New York, you can see Washington in the Broadway production of Othello.

Or, if you simply want to go back and watch the first two Black Panther films while fantasizing about how these two legends could work together on the third one, you can do it with a Disney+ subscription.

Denzel Washington is an example of an actor who’s in the business not for the fame, but to continue showing audiences what he could do through each transformative performance. From his first IMDB credit in the made-for-TV movie Wilma, to his recent role as Macrinus in Gladiator II (which can be streamed on your Paramount+ subscription), Washington deserves Time’s title of being one of the greatest actors of the 21st century. While The Great Debaters actor has a strong presence in Hollywood, he shares his honest thoughts on not viewing himself as a “Hollywood actor,” and he makes a lot of sense.

You would think that any A-list actor would consider themselves a “Hollywood actor.” After all, they work in Tinseltown, attend movie premieres and grace the covers of magazines. But those actors are not Denzel Washington whom you can tell distances himself from the superficiality of stardom. In fact, he told CBS News one very good reason why the “Hollywood actor” label doesn’t sit right with him:

I can see where Denzel Washington is coming from. It would be strange for people to make you feel like you were a Hollywood native when that’s just where you work. The famous actor actually came from a blue-collar background where his mom was a beautician and his dad was an employee of the New York City Water Department. Washington studied acting when he earned a BA in Drama and Journalism at Fordham University. After working as a creative arts director at Camp Sloane YMCA, he participated in the staff talent show, and a colleague recommended he pursue acting. After that wise suggestion, the talented performer continued his acting studies at Lincoln Center.

It proves that not everyone needs to be born in California to make it in acting. Hollywood stars don’t even have to live in California to continue working. We can look to actors like Denzel Washington and see that success comes from dedication to your craft compared to blending in with the Hollywood mold.

Audiences worldwide know Denzel Washington because of his Oscar-worthy performances in Malcolm X, A Soldier’s Story, Fences and more. But the Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient actually got his roots on stage, which he explained was another reason why you can’t call him a “Hollywood actor:”

The Training Day actor makes a fantastic point. Movies are a great way to see the artistry of a filmmaker through their vision. Theatre, on the other hand, is when an actor’s skills shine through. They need to deliver a breathtaking performance in front of a live audience all in one take. There’s no room to ask for a line or for a director to yell “cut!” once the curtain goes up. Whether you deliver classic lines from Shakespeare's classics or modern plays like Angels in America, fully immersing yourself in your character through dialogue, movement and emotions must come through without hesitation.

Back in 1979, Denzel Washington played multiple supporting roles in Coriolanus at NYC’s Joseph Papp Public Theater. From then on, his stage presence continued with stage roles he’d eventually bring to the big screen, like A Soldier’s Story, portraying Malcolm X in the Off-Broadway play When the Chickens Came Home to Roost, and Fences.

This year, Denzel Washington stars in his sixth Broadway show, Othello, in the title role, with Jake Gyllenhaal as the scheming Iago. He first played Othello as a student at Fordham University and is no stranger to Shakespeare, having starred in the stage versions of Richard III and Julius Caesar. Plus, he channeled Shakespeare in The Tragedy of Macbeth film as well as Kenneth Branagh’s film Much Ado About Nothing. With all of this in mind, there’s no doubt that Washington’s got his new Shakespeare performance in the bag.

Denzel Washington may not see himself as a “Hollywood actor” due to being a proud New Yorker and a stage actor who happens to star in movies. However, his impact on the film and theatre world is undeniable. Whatever you throw at the award-winning actor, his dedication and acting chops come in full swing each time. Make sure to watch him and Jake Gyllenhaal in Othello at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre from now until June 8th.

Marvel Studios prides itself on secrecy. They do everything that they can to protect reveals from their upcoming Marvel movies, but there’s only so much they can control. Usually, it’s an actor who gives away precious details, like the time that Tom Holland blabbed some major details about the Spider-Man franchise, and his work on the upcoming Avengers films. And then there are the rare occasions when a major A-lister drops a Marvel morsel without realizing that it’s news, and I was curious what happened at Marvel Studios after something like that occurred.

While working the press circuit on behalf of Gladiator 2, Denzel Washington let it be known that he was going to be part of Ryan Coogler’s planned Black Panther 3. The iconic Training Day actor didn’t realize that he was breaking the Internet in the process, mainly because Black Panther 3 is so far out, few of us imagined he’d be in it, let alone who he might possibly play. Well, the Internet did what the Internet does: It overreacted. But what did Marvel do? I had the chance to sit down with Marvel Studios produce Nate Moore as he promoted Captain America: Brave New World, and when I asked him how they reacted to Denzel’s truth bomb, Moore told CinemaBlend:

It certainly is. There are a lot of questions that Marvel needs to answer about Black Panther 3, starting with, “Who will be the movie’s Black Panther?” In the sequel Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Letitia Wright’s character Shuri stepped up to assume the mantle. But at the end of Wakanda Forever, it was revealed that T’Challa and Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) had a son, so it’s possible that he will graduate to becoming the next Black Panther.

The issue is time. As of right now, there is no Black Panther 3 on the MCU schedule, though Marvel is planning the animated Eyes of Wakanda, a series that could push most of these narratives forward. And there are other movies that have been announced (cough cough, Blade, cough cough) that probably should move forward before Black Panther 3 takes shape. But if Denzel Washington is saying that he has a role, then there have to have been some conversations with Marvel about the direction of a project, so maybe we’ll hear details soon.

The rest of 2025 includes two other Marvel movies, including Thunderbolts and The Fantastic Four, so keep it here for up to the minute coverage.

Every year, I try to honor Black History by writing about something important that has occurred in the entertainment industry. And, I can’t think of any greater honor than winning the Academy Award.

Yes, there have been achievements in many different categories, including directing, writing, producing, scoring, etc, but today, my focus is going to be on Black actors.

Split amongst the Best Lead Actor, Best Lead Actress, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Supporting Actor categories, there have been a total of 23 Oscars doled out to Black performers. So, here are all 23 of them, chronologically ordered.

Hattie McDaniel - Gone With The Wind (1939)

The very first Black winner for an acting Academy Award, Hattie McDaniel won it for Best Supporting Actress with her portrayal of Mammy in Gone With the Wind.

And, even though it's a racial stereotype role, McDaniel's character was often the most sensible and attention-grabbing character on the screen. It's a landmark victory for Black people in cinema.

Sidney Poitier - Lilies Of The Field (1963)

One of Sidney Poitier’s best movies, Lilies of the Field, which is about a handyman who helps a group of nuns build a chapel, was actually Poitier’s second nomination for Best Lead Actor.

His first was for 1958’s The Defiant Ones, which was a movie that he mostly shared with Tony Curtis. Lilies of the Field, however, was a leading role purely for Poitier, and he ended up becoming the first Black Actor to ever win the award. Great stuff!

Louis Gossett Jr. - An Officer And A Gentleman (1982)

In this romantic drama that also stars Richard Gere, Louis Gossett Jr. plays a hard-nosed drill instructor who really challenges his cadets.

Before there was R. Lee Ermey in one of my favorite Kubrick films, Full Metal Jacket, there was Louis Gossett Jr. berating his troops. He was the first Black man to win a Best Supporting Acting trophy, and it was justly awarded. He’s really good in this.

Denzel Washington - Glory (1989)

Denzel Washington’s first Academy Award was a supporting one for his role as a private in the Civil War drama, Glory.

As both a leader to the men in his regiment, but also a soldier who must follow orders, Washington’s character shows the duality of a Black man in uniform. Him deciding to hold up the flag for the charge is one of the most iconic scenes in late ‘80s cinema.

Whoopi Goldberg - Ghost (1990)

An EGOT recipient (though, not the only one on this list), Whoopi Goldberg received a Best Supporting Actress Award for her role as the medium, Oda Mae Brown, in the hit Ghost.

The romance between Swayze and Moore’s character is what defines this film, but it wouldn’t be nearly as enjoyable without Goldberg’s humor, and seriousness when the moment calls for it.

Cuba Gooding Jr. - Jerry Maguire (1996)

For this sports comedy-drama, Cuba Gooding Jr. received a Best Supporting Actor award for his role as a cocky but steadfast wide receiver who wants to be shown the money.

Gooding Jr.’s performance is full of energy, and it makes this romantic comedy feel even sweeter when his and Tom Cruise’s characters share more than just a player and client relationship and actually become good friends.

Halle Berry - Monster's Ball (2001)

The only Black woman who has ever won Best Lead Actress, Halle Berry, took home the trophy for her role as a conflicted woman who takes on a relationship with the man who helped execute her husband.

Berry’s character is highly vulnerable, and the events of the movie are stressful beyond belief. Still, her character, as flawed as she is (everybody’s flawed in this film) weathered the storm, and earned Berry a Best Actress statue for her troubles.

Denzel Washington - Training Day (2001)

Washington’s second trophy came as the Best Lead Actor, for playing a cop in Training Day who definitely didn’t follow the rules.

Washington’s character was both charming and terrifying, often in the same scene. Say it with me, people: King Kong ain't got nothing on him!

Morgan Freeman - Million Dollar Baby (2004)

Morgan Freeman actually had a supporting role in two of Clint Eastwood’s best movies, those being Unforgiven, and Million Dollar Baby. And, both films won Best Picture.

However, it was in the latter film where Freeman picked up the Best Supporting Actor statue, for playing a grizzled former boxer and gym assistant. It’s a mostly quiet role, but a memorable one.

Jamie Foxx - Ray (2004)

In one of the best music movies of all time, Jamie Foxx scored a much deserved Best Lead Actor award for his role as the famous blind musician, Ray Charles.

Foxx even had his eyes glued shut for the sake of authenticity. Anything for the craft, right?

Jennifer Hudson - Dreamgirls (2006)

Another EGOT recipient on this list, Jennifer Hudson, scored a Best Supporting Actress trophy in her VERY FIRST ACTING GIG!

It’s little wonder why though. Hudson’s portrayal of Effie White in Dreamgirls is powerful. Going from lead singer to starting all over again, Hudson did a “Supreme” job (Do you see what I did there?) in her very first role.

Forest Whitaker - The Last King of Scotland (2006)

Forest Whitaker’s best performance is by far his role as Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland.

In a role that netted him a Best Lead Actor award, Whitaker is utterly terrifying, but also somewhat funny, in the way that only Whitaker can be.

Mo'Nique - Precious (2009)

After watching Mo’Nique as the abusive mother in Precious, it’s hard to watch her again in one of the best Black TV shows, The Parkers. It just seems like such a smoke screen.

Anyway, Mo’Nique was awarded a Best Supporting Actress trophy for this performance, and I haven’t looked at her the same way since.

Octavia Spencer - The Help (2011)

Though The Help hasn’t aged well, Octavia Spencer’s role as a maid who was fired for using a guest bathroom is still one of her best performances.

Spencer won Best Supporting Actress for a role where she got to take a dump in somebody’s pie. It’s a feel good film.

Lupita Nyong'o - 12 Years a Slave (2013)

In her career-defining role in 12 Years a Slave, Lupita Nyong'o plays a violently abused slave.

It is one of the most brutal (and likely most realistic) portrayals of slavery ever put to screen, and Nyong'o won a Best Supporting Actress Award for her performance.

Viola Davis - Fences (2016)

In this adaptation of a play in August Wilson’s Pittsburgh Cycle, Viola Davis plays a wronged but loyal wife.

The third EGOT recipient on this list, Davis should have several Oscars, but this is her sole win, and it’s in the Best Supporting Actress category.

Mahershala Ali - Moonlight (2016)

Though only in Moonlight for one act, Mahershala Ali’s performance as a caring drug dealer was so powerful that he won the Best Supporting Actor trophy.

It would be his first of two Academy Awards so far.

Regina King - If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)

In If Beale Street Could Talk, Regina King plays the mother of a young woman whose boyfriend has been convicted of rape, and she tries to convince the victim that it wasn’t him.

King won a Best Supporting Actress Award for her quiet, but searing performance.

Mahershala Ali - Green Book (2018)

In Ali’s second Best Supporting Actor win, the skilled performer played real-life pianist Don Shirley in this Best Picture winner.

Ali’s character in this film is completely different from that in Moonlight, but that sense of vulnerability still persists, which was worthy of the award.

Daniel Kaluuya - Judas And The Black Messiah (2020)

Playing the “Black Messiah,” Daniel Kaluuya portrayed the inspirational Fred Hampton in this riveting biopic.

He won Best Supporting Actor, beating out the “Judas” (Bill O’Neal) in this picture, played excellently by LaKeith Stanfield, who was also nominated.

Ariana DeBose - West Side Story (2021)

In this second adaptation of the famed musical West Side Story, Ariana DeBose won Best Supporting Actress playing Anita, who was portrayed by Rita Moreno in the first theatrical adaptation.

DeBose is absolutely magnetic in the role, firmly earning her win.

Will Smith - King Richard (2021)

Though the unfortunate slap is likely what many people remember most about this ceremony and Will Smith's award, his Best Lead Actor-winning turn really does deserve a second look.

Playing the tenacious father to Venus and Serena Williams, Smith definitely deserved the award for his work in the lauded film.

Da'Vine Joy Randolph - The Holdovers (2023)

And finally, the most recent winner, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, won Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of a quietly grieving mother in The Holdovers.

This film speaks to me as a teacher, yes, but also as a parent. I can thankfully only imagine the pain that her character Is going through.

That’s all of them! We’ll see if Zoe Saldaña, Colman Domingo, or Cynthia Erivo pick up a trophy at the 2025 Academy Awards.

Other than being a talented professional musician and actor, Lenny Kravitz is also in tip-top physical shape. Fortunately, the “Are You Gonna Go My Way” singer has decided to impart his wisdom on his good buddy, Denzel Washington, by getting him on the workout train.

Denzel Washington hit the milestone of 70 years old in December, and he is still in great shape. While speaking to Esquire, the Academy Award winner credited his success to cutting alcohol from his system and having his pal, Lenny Kravitz, set him up with a trainer:

Leave it to Lenny Kravitz, who’s such a fitness guru himself, to show his friends the path toward successful workouts.

The “Fly Away” singer wasn’t born with impressionable ab work. He fits working out into his lifestyle by doing all sorts of exercises, including occasionally lifting heavy weights in leather pants and a mesh top. As for why the heck Kravitz wears leather pants during workouts compared to traditional sweatpants, the Grammy winner simply said he exercises in whatever he wants. While he prefers to work out in sweatpants when doing cardio, he explained he doesn’t sweat when lifting weights. So, he’ll show up to the gym in leather pants.

If Denzel Washington is going to continue taking on action movies --like how he did when he went all out in Gladiator II last year -- staying in shape is a good way of making that happen.

While it’s important to continue exercising as you get older, Denzel Washington has another reason for why he wanted to board the workout train too, explaining:

I can understand how being self-conscious in photos can make you want to change. As Denzel Washington has shown in the past he knows how to transform his body for roles, and it’s good that he now has the tools to stay healthy too.

Lenny Kravitz and Denzel Washington truly have a bromance any duo would be lucky to have. During Kravitz’s Walk of Fame ceremony, The Equalizer actor gave a speech about his good buddy, saying that he and his "twin" have been friends for the past 30 years. It’s no wonder the talented musician paused his concert to take Washington’s phone call! Overall, it's so nice that the two are still going strong in their friendship and are there for each other.

We now have Lenny Kravitz to thank for hooking Denzel Washington up with a trainer who makes meals for him and a training routine. Now, I'm just crossing my fingers that maybe someday we'll see these two men in a movie together! While I wait for that dream to come true, take a look at our 2025 movie releases so you’ll know when the two actors show up next on the big screen.

Colman Domingo earned his second Best Actor Oscar nomination in as many years, which is a pretty impressive feat that has only been accomplished a few times before. One actor who has done it is Denzel Washington, who has been nominated for so many awards it's hard to count (except the BAFTA), and it turns out the Gladiator II star had some solid advice for the younger actor who will probably see a lot more awards in the years to come.

Back in 2020, before Domingo was the toast of the Oscars, he was in the cast of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, a Netflix film produced by Denzel. Domingo tells People Washington gave him a piece of advice about awards, doing the job of acting is ultimately about the satisfaction that comes with the work. According to Domingo, Washington said…

It’s good advice to be sure. Being nominated for and winning awards is surely wonderful, but if you make it the goal, and fail to achieve it, then you lose sight of what makes the awards meaningful in the first place. Washington himself was seen as having a shot at a nomination for his role in Gladiator II. It didn't happen, and Washington didn't seem too upset by it, clearly practicing what he preaches here.

For Colman Domingo, the focus is on doing great work and finding it rewarding in itself. If you can achieve it, then you feel much more fulfilled. If the work then happens to receive awards, so much the better. He continued…

Domingo himself wouldn’t receive an Oscar nomination for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, but the movie would receive several nominations, including a posthumous Best Actor nod for Chadwick Boseman. While Domingo wasn’t recognized then, he says Denzel likely saw it was only a matter of time before the nominations started rolling in. Domingo said…

All that is not to say Colman Domingo doesn’t appreciate, or doesn’t want, to win the awards. He clearly is happy to have his two Oscar nominations. The awards show others appreciate his work and that is meaningful to him. He continued…

It’s a safe bet Colman Domingo isn’t done getting the Oscar love, whether or not he wins the award at the 2025 Oscars. However, he also makes plenty of movies that are far less likely to get awards consideration, he’s a voice in Disney+ Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man and he’ll appear later this year in The Electric State for the Russo Brothers. Domingo appreciates he has this other work because it helps him focus on the “reward” and not the “award.” He said…

Whether Colman Domingo will win an Oscar for his role in Sing Sing is unclear. The competition this year is quite stiff. However, while Domingo might be disappointed if he doesn’t come away with the award, it doesn’t mean he won’t still feel like he did his job well.

It’s been a few months since the release of Gladiator II, and I have to say, I’m still thinking about how much I want a director’s cut. Ridley Scott’s long-awaited sequel recently became available to watch at home and to stream for those with a Paramount+ subscription, and while I liked the movie (as detailed in my Gladiator II review), I really wish my at-home rewatch could be through an extended version of the film.

Look, Gladiator II’s theatrical cut is two hours and 28 minutes long. That is honestly more than long enough for me when it comes to a blockbuster movie, but when I saw it in theaters in November, I couldn’t help but feel like there were some story aspects that were removed in order to make it under two and a half hours. While Scott has claimed this is the movie he wanted to make and his cut already, I’m curious about seeing a much longer version that doesn’t feel as rushed and disheveled as it does to me.

I’m Not Usually Into Director’s Cuts

I know there’s a whole market out there regarding epic movies like this and director’s cuts being released to provide a longer runtime, but I just want to say, I’m usually not the person first in line for that. I think it’s certainly interesting when a filmmaker is allowed to share more of their vision when the first version was nudged by a studio to be shorter, but ultimately I think if what you’re making is turning out to be three+ hours, maybe you should rethink it as a miniseries.

Sometimes I’m wrong. For example, I absolutely loved my experience seeing all three and a half hours of Martin Scorsese’s Killers Of The Flower Moon in theaters. And I love the fact that Best Picture nominee The Brutalist brought back the intermission. Ultimately though, director’s cuts are not my thing, but I want one for Gladiator II.

But Immediately After Watching Gladiator II, I Wanted To See A Longer Version

When I went to see Gladiator II in theaters back in November, I was very much anticipating it after Scott’s original Gladiator was one of the best 2000s movies. While it definitely delivered on a lot of fronts, particularly with Denzel Washington’s devious villain, I also felt like there were a lot of story elements that just weren’t given enough attention and time, oddly enough. I don’t know why the movie felt rushed to me considering its runtime, but I figure it has to do with what was filmed just being a lot longer than the final cut could provide.

I would have liked more scenes that fleshed out Macrinus’ backstory and helped me understand his character better. I also think a popular complaint was the lack of Connie Nielsen’s Lucilla, whether that be between her and Pedro Pascal’s Acacius or Lucius. She felt like somewhat of an afterthought to the movie, when I think she should have been one of the main leads. It also felt like some of the scenes in the Colosseum just breezed by when I wanted them to offer more tension and nail-biting action.

There’s Been A Lot Of Chatter About What Was Removed For The Theatrical Cut

Though I have my own hopes for a Gladiator II director’s cut, there’s also been quite a lot of talk about scenes that were shot for the movie that were cut. For example, an entire character was removed from the movie! May Calamawy, who I loved in Ramy and Moon Knight, was originally going to play an “important” character in Gladiator II, but was reduced to having a background role. While actors being cut out of movies certainly happens sometimes in big movies like this, she didn’t deserve to be completely omitted.

There’s also been talk of wild deleted scenes in Gladiator II, like the twin kings asking to be adopted by Lucilla, and Washington claimed there was a scene where Macrinus kissed another man that was cut from the movie. There’s also apparently footage of Mescal kissing Pascal in a cut scene. Kissing aside, all this talk seems to hint there was more story to the flick, and I want to see what a director’s cut of this movie would look like.

Scott has also spoken on the topic. He shared with The Hollywood Reporter in November that there’s a three hour and 40 minute cut that he’s contemplating putting out in the world. I very much want to see that! I think having an extra hour could possibly change my mind on the movie and offer me the pace I wish it had given me on the first go around.

At The End Of The Day, I Think I Just Wish I Liked Gladiator II Better

Now, while I’m totally rooting for a Gladiator II director’s cut, I also just wish the original movie was just better, if I’m being honest. Plenty of filmmakers have made masterpieces with the runtime of a typical movie under three hours, and my hopes for a longer movie more so comes from my disappointment in what I've seen than me loving it so much I just need a longer version.

I totally get that movies are basically impossible to make as good as some of Scott’s others, like Alien and Blade Runner. But I definitely think with perhaps more work on the script, the movie could have been incredible with the runtime it was given.

Considering it's a sequel, sure, it’s easy to compare it to the original, but I get peeved when filmmakers make movies long just because they don’t have the self control to cut the scenes that need to be cut. In the instance of Gladiator II, it feels like Scott had a lot of fun ideas to go around, but he never fully committed to making them all fit together in a cooperative way. Would an extra hour help that? I don’t know, but I’m sure I’d be entertained by seeing what it would look like.

Ryan Reynolds has worked with some great stars over the years, but there are few that he will speak of with high praise as Denzel Washington. The duo appeared together in the action thriller Safe House. While the film isn’t one of the biggest hits of either actor's career, the experience is well remembered by both of them, though for apparently very different reasons.

Reynolds has spoken about how in awe he was working alongside Washington, but Washington himself jokes that he just thought Reynolds was a terrible actor. A clip of Denzel Washington appearing on The Jonathan Ross Show back in 2012 recently went viral, and it shows Denzel dropping a zinger so good that guest Tom Hardy nearly gave a Looney Tunes-worthy spit take. Check it out.

Maybe Denzel was taking it out on Ryan Reynolds in response to the fact that he ended up with a pair of black eyes making Safe House. Washington didn't seem to hold a grudge at the time, but I guess if you give a guy a black eye, you need to be ready for some good-natured ribbing.

Still, it’s a great line that got everybody laughing. Tom Hardy was not prepared for that kind of response and neither was Keira Knightley for that matter. Both stars need to put their drinks to the side after that one.

Even recently, Reynolds has talked about how much he learned working with Denzel Washington. In addition to being in awe of him as an actor, Reynolds says Washington gave him great advice that he still considers to this day about being a producer.

Considering how much bigger a star Ryan Reynolds is today compared to where he was in 2012 when Washington gave this interview, it’s possible the latter really had no idea what sort of influence he would have on the young actor. This was all before Deadpool became an active phenomenon, which transformed Ryan Reynolds from an actor into a real movie star.

Honestly, we need to get these two together again. It’s been more than a decade since Safe House came out, and while talking about now has me wanting to use my Peacock subscription to check it out, what we really need is a new movie co-starring Ryan Reynolds and Denzel Washington. With Reynolds now being a huge name, the movie would be almost guaranteed to be a box office smash.

Of course, with Denzel Washington recently revealing that he’ll be appearing in Black Panther 3, there is always the chance, though likely a remote one, that Washington and Reynolds could cross paths in the MCU. Hopefully, if the day ever comes, Reynolds will be able to act getting lost in his co-stars' performance.

Weeks ago, the 2025 Oscar nominations were announced, and a number of Hollywood’s biggest stars received nods. There were, however, movies and actors who were ultimately snubbed, including Pamela Anderson for The Last Showgirl and John Lithgow for Conclave. Alongside him was Denzel Washington, who many predicted would receive a Best Supporting Actor nod for his work in Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II. Now, the celebrated actor is weighing in on being passed over, and he provided a take that’s both reasonable and refreshing.

More than a few Gladiator II reactions from critics included high praise for the 70-year-old actor’s portrayal of the power-hungry Macrinus. I’d be lying if I said I, too, wasn’t surprised that the acclaimed performer’s name wasn’t called for this year’s Academy Award nods. It turns out Denzel Washington was indeed watching when Bowen Yang and Rachel Sennott were making the announcements. As he explained to The New York Times, though, he didn’t exactly have reason to be disappointed:

Now, if you ask me, that’s a great perspective to have on the matter. First and foremost, we can’t forget that the Philadelphia star already has two Academy Awards – one for his performance in Glory and another for Training Day. He also received nine Oscar nominations in total. Beyond that, though, what his comments seem to indicate is that he’s not too concerned about the accolades, given he’s still in a prime position to work and learn as a performer. That’s an excellent perspective that others could surely learn from.

It’s wonderful to read that the seasoned actor isn’t putting much stock in the awards. He has, however, still received recognition from other institutions for his role in the Paul Mescal-led historical epic. Mr. Washington received a Golden Globe nod, making him the first Black actor to earn 11 nominations from the Globes. He also received Best Supporting Actor nods from the Astra Film Awards as well as the Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association. What does sting, though, is the fact that he was once again snubbed for a BAFTA.

Despite that, no amount of award snubs or losses can take away from the brilliance of Denzel Washington’s Gladiator II performance. Macrinus serves as an antagonistic force in the film, as he uses Lucius’ skills as a fighter to his benefit and plots to take hold of Rome. In playing the role, Washington – who’s also a trained stage actor – really manages to chew scenery but add depth to his character. The film has some wild deleted scenes, and fans may be happy to know that there’s some material involving Washington.

The thought of the New York native receiving a tenth Oscar nomination is admittedly sweet. Yet, as a fan of his, I can appreciate the fact that he doesn’t need any sort of validation in that regard. He’s more than proven himself anyways, of course, but what’s most important to him appears to be the work. That’s just another piece of proof as to why he’s one of our finest and most cerebral actors.

Check out Gladiator II for yourself by grabbing a Paramount+ subscription and streaming it.

While Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o isn’t on deck to appear on the 2025 movie schedule, she’s naturally a point of discussion thanks to all of the rumors surrounding Black Panther 3. Writer/director Ryan Coogler’s eventual return to the MCU is of particular interest to the world after Denzel Washington claimed his Marvel debut would be in that very picture. So someone asking The Wild Robot star about her thoughts was something that anyone could have called.

However, the answer that Ms. Nyong’o gave was one that we might all be able to take a lesson from. As she spoke with EW’s in-house podcast The Awardist, the actor who plays Wakandan spy Nakia was approached on two different fronts to discuss what’s going on with the upcoming Marvel movie in development. You can read below what Lupita Nyong’o had to share, and quite frankly, it’s refreshing:

I love to speculate as much as anyone else about what the future holds for some of my favorite franchises. The next Black Panther is a unique opportunity for such thoughts, as the rumored recasting of Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa brings up a lot of possibilities for what could come next. While landing the fellow Academy Award winner and Gladiator II scene stealer would be a casting coup, in whatever role is being considered, Denzel Washington isn't exactly locked into this gig just yet.

Meanwhile, as Ms. Nyong’o said in this piece of her response to the matter, there’s a possibility that she might not even be in the next chapter. Which makes sense as Wakanda Forever’s ending saw Nakia revealing she had a secret child with the late Wakandan king. As an actor, why would you want to even imagine a movie that you may or may not be a part of?

We should also consider the emotional weight of this scenario, as Chadwick Boseman’s untimely passing is still a subject that’s fraught with bittersweet memories. I’d like to think that applies to the part of this response, in which Lupita Nyong’o addresses that potential recasting head on:

There’s tons of excitement surrounding the potential that Black Panther 3 would bring to the world. But sadly, we don’t know much about it beyond whatever clues may be lying in the past, waiting for those with a Disney+ subscription to hunt them down. So really, we all have two options: either speculate a ridiculous amount and get our hopes up, or wait it out and take things easy.

There’s no bad answers here, but I really appreciate that Lupita Nyong’o has chosen the latter option. Even in something as simple as working on or being a fan of a property such as this, it’s important to look after your own mind, and be open to whatever actually happens.

Thankfully, for Marvel fans, there are plenty of new thrills coming down the line, such as February 14th’s release of Captain America: Brave New World. And if the rumors surrounding that film’s plot are any indication, there’ll be plenty to chew over in the aftermath of that picture.

There’s plenty of 2025 movies to look forward to at the box office, but there’s also some late favorites from 2024 that people are still looking to catch up with. Gladiator II’s recent digital and Paramount+ subscription debut is a perfect example of why such titles are still important, even as we look towards the future.

And now, thanks to some wild deleted scenes that have been reported with its new home entertainment run, I’m hoping there’s some prime Denzel Washington moments hidden among the extras. As told by the folks at ScreenRant, yet another scene starring Connie Nielsen’s Lucilla was axed, and this moment could potentially be the most plot driven.

In what basically equates to a power play, Emperors Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger) ask the supposedly childless woman to adopt them as her own sons. Since she’s descendant from the late emperor Marcus Aurellius (Richard Harris), the gist of this action is that the twin emperors feel like it’d led them some much needed clout in ruling Gladiator II’s crumbling Roman Empire.

I could kind of see why this scene was cut, but it also ties into why I wish there was more Denzel Washington action in Ridley Scott’s legacy-quel. To me, the palace intrigue of Roman politics was the draw of the movie, as the actual plot of Lucius (Paul Mescal) and his ascension as a warrior paled in comparison.

As it turns out, my hopes for more Denzel Washington goodness might not be too far off, at least that’s if the allegations surrounding Egyptian-Palestinian actor May Calamawy’s role are true. In the run up to Gladiator II’s release, the Moon Knight vet was being touted as an “important character” in the Gladiator II cast.

Unfortunately, she wound up with an ultimately uncredited role as a “companion” to Denzel Washington’s Macrinus, which was speculated as a political move to minimize controversy related to the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

While we’re on the subject, poor Lucilla seems to have gotten the short end of the stick yet again. Connie Nielsen’s deleted Gladiator II scene count includes a touching moment involving her romance with Pedro Pascal’s General Acacius. Which is another moment one would hope to see on in the special features offered with the picture.

Last, but not least, it all comes back to Mr. Washington’s supposedly cut gay kiss. Though Ridley Scott claimed that story was ‘bullshit,” these deleted scenes could be the ultimate decider.

It wouldn’t be a Gladiator movie without deleting a scene that could have enhanced the overall storyline, would it? Almost 25 years after seeing this in theaters with my father, he and I will still go back and forth about how this scene between Quintus (Tomas Arana) and Maximus (Russell Crowe) shouldn’t have gotten cut:

The reason we love that scene so much is because it enriches the moment where Quintus tells his men not to give Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) a weapon upon his request. It’s not a huge sequence, but it’s something that really drives the point of “strength and honor” home. So while I may not have been over the moon about this long awaited sequel, I really want to check out the deleted scenes, and see what new moments might get my dad and I chatting in the same manner.

At the moment, you can rent or purchase Gladiator II on digital HD, with the physical release slated for March 4th. Should you want to stream the movie, minus extras such as deleted scenes, you can currently do so through Paramount+. Oh, and if anyone notices the Paul Mescal/Pedro Pascal kissing scene in the extras, let us know so we can cross that off the bingo card as well.

The fact that the class of 2025 Oscar nominees includes eight nominations for Conclave is rather apt, considering the picture’s central tale is all about electing a new pope. Such a process would inspire some to feel slighted for not even ranking among the heavy hitters, and once again life has imitated art in that very respect.

Though I haven’t forgotten Denzel Washington’s continued 2025 awards season snubs, I find myself mad all over again after reading John Lithgow weigh in on a key Conclave omission. Sitting down with Variety during a podcast interview at Sundance, the legendary actor and Jimpa star addressed the fact that director Edward Berger failed to secure a nod for his Conclave helming duties.

Ever honest, yet diplomatic, Lithgow’s following thoughts on the matter are relatable:

Landing on the list of CinemaBlend’s best movies of 2024, as well as Top 10 lists of critics and voting boards alike, Conclave is pretty popular for a PG-rated film with a very Catholic foundation. It’s a far cry from the project that secured Edward Berger’s 2023 Oscar win, the brutal war epic All Quiet on the Western Front; so even fans of the director’s work might have been a bit taken aback at first.

However, there’s no lack of intensity in this character driven story, which has landed a wide swath of nominations at this year’s Academy Awards. It even gave the iconic Isabella Rossellini her first Oscar nod, as her portrayal of Sister Agnes is up for Best Supporting Actress. It may be a disappointing result, but it doesn't change the fact that Berger's 2024 indie hit is an artful success.

Conclave may not be the most nominated picture in the lot, but it’s one of the big ticket titles that’s up for the glory of 2024’s Best Picture. While Berger’s lack of a Best Director nomination isn’t as shocking as the egregious Challengers Oscar shut out, I still agree that it is a disappointing absence. But to paraphrase John Lithgow’s feelings above, it’s Awards Season, baby!

The good, the bad, and the ridiculous all get to mingle between now and the night those envelopes are opened on live TV. As such, the 97th Academy Awards will end the suspense of who will take home golden glory on Sunday, March 2nd, starting at 7 PM ET on ABC and Hulu. Meanwhile, the exemplary work of Mr. Lithgow and the Conclave cast is currently available to stream through a Peacock subscription.

The 2025 Oscar nominees were announced on Thursday, and as with any major awards situation, there was a mix of happiness at those who were recognized, and frustration at those who were snubbed. While the 2025 Oscars aren’t without their snubs and somewhat surprising choices, one actor who was largely expected to receive a nomination was Colman Domingo. With his nomination for the movie Sing Sing, he achieves a feat last accomplished by Denzel Washington.

Coleman Domingo has now been nominated for the Best Actor Oscar two years in a row, having been nominated last year for Rustin. The last time an actor was nominated two years in a row was in 2017 and 2018 when Denzel Washington did it for Fences and Roman J. Israel Esq. respectively.

Back To Back Oscar Nominations Is No Easy Task

Several other actors have been nominated for Best Actor two years in a row over the nearly 100 years that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has been handing out the Oscars. In fact, nine different actors, including Al Pacino and Russell Crowe, have been nominated three years in a row, but it’s still a pretty impressive accomplishment.

The second nomination may also be good news for Coleman Domingo’s chances to go home with an Oscar this year. While it’s not unheard of for a back-to-back nominee to lose both times, aw that’s exactly what happened to Denzel last time, in most cases an actor who is nominated multiple years in a row wins at least once. Domingo lost out last year when Cillian Murphy won the Oscar for his role in Oppenheimer.

The real exclusive club is the back-to-back Oscar win. Only two men have ever taken home the Best Actor Oscar two years in a row. Spencer Tracy did it in 1938 and 1939, and it didn’t happen again until Tom Hanks achieved the double win in 1994 and 1995.

Will Colman Domingo Win The Oscar On His Second Try

Of course, Colman Domingo has some pretty stiff competition this ear as well. His fellow nominees include Adrien Brody, Timothée Chalamet, Ralph Fiennes and Sebastian Stan. Brody has previously won the award, while this year marks the third nomination for Fiennes. Sebastian Stan has received his first nomination. Domingo has a solid shot at walking away with an Oscar this year, but it’s far from a sure thing.

As far as Denzel Washington goes, his Oscar nomination morning went by without much fanfare. He was considered to have a chance at a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his movie-stealing role in Gladiator II, but he didn’t make the cut. The same thing happened earlier this month with BAFTA nominations, an award Washington has never so much as been nominated for.

Even if Colman Domingo doesn’t win the Oscar this year, the back-to-back nominations certainly indicate that he’s not going anywhere anytime soon. Denzel Washington didn’t win Best Actor for either of his back-to-back nominations, but he has won the award, and it seems likely Domingo will too one day.