Editing Denzel Washington (section)

===2020–present===
In 2020, he produced the [[Netflix]] [[Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (film)|film adaptation]] of the [[August Wilson]] play ''[[Ma Rainey's Black Bottom]]'' starring [[Chadwick Boseman]] and [[Viola Davis]]. The film was directed by [[George C. Wolfe]] and received positive reviews. The following year he portrayed Deputy Sheriff Joe "Deke" Deacon in the crime thriller ''[[The Little Things (2021 film)|The Little Things]]'' acting opposite [[Rami Malek]] and [[Jared Leto]]. The film was released during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] and was released in theaters and on [[HBO Max]]. Also in 2021, Washington portrayed the [[Macbeth (character)|titular character]] in the [[The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021 film)|2021 film adaptation]] of the [[William Shakespeare]] tragedy ''[[Macbeth]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/video/the-tragedy-of-macbeth-teaser-denzel-washington-frances-mcdormand-joel-coen-apple-a24/|title='The Tragedy Of Macbeth' Teaser: Denzel Washington & Frances McDormand Take On Iconic Shakespeare Duo In Joel Coen Film|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Valerie|last=Complex|date=September 21, 2021|access-date=September 21, 2021}}</ref> He received universal acclaim for his performance and was nominated for several awards, including an [[Academy Award for Best Actor|Academy Award]], a [[Golden Globe Award]], and a [[Screen Actors Guild Award]]. That same year, Washington directed the drama ''[[A Journal for Jordan]]'', based on the memoir ''A Journal for Jordan: A Story of Love and Honor'' by [[Dana Canedy]]. It received a wide theatrical release on December 25, 2021<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/10/denzel-washington-a-journal-for-jordan-christmas-release-sony-marvel-dates-1234861038/|title='A Journal For Jordan' Heads To Christmas; Sony Also Dates Untitled Marvel Pics|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|website=Deadline|date=October 22, 2021|access-date=October 24, 2021}}</ref> and received mixed reviews from critics.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/a_journal_for_jordan|title= A Journal for Jordan|website= [[Rotten Tomatoes]]|accessdate= August 30, 2024}}</ref> 

In 2024, Washington starred in [[Ridley Scott]]'s epic historical drama ''[[Gladiator II]]'' alongside [[Paul Mescal]], [[Pedro Pascal]], and [[Connie Nielsen]]. The film is a sequel to Scott's ''[[Gladiator (2000 film)|Gladiator]]'' (2000).<ref>{{cite web|url= https://deadline.com/2023/03/denzel-washington-gladiator-sequel-cast-paul-mescal-ridley-scott-1235302321/|title= Denzel Washington Reuniting With Ridley Scott On 'Gladiator' Sequel At Paramount|website= [[Deadline Hollywood]]|date= March 17, 2023|accessdate= August 25, 2023}}</ref> Washington's performance was described as scene-stealing and the standout aspect of the film, earning a [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture|Golden Globe Award]] nomination.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gladiator II {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gladiator_ii |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}}</ref> In the same year, Washington served as a producer of ''[[The Piano Lesson (2024 film)|The Piano Lesson]]'', the [[Netflix]] film adaptation of the [[August Wilson]] [[The Piano Lesson|play of the same name]] directed by his son [[Malcolm Washington]] and starring his other son [[John David Washington]].

In 2025 Washington returned to Broadway portraying the [[Othello (character)|title role]] in a revival of [[William Shakespeare]]'s play ''[[Othello]]'' starring opposite [[Jake Gyllenhaal]] as [[Iago]]. [[Kenny Leon]] will helm over the production, having previously directed Washington in the Broadway revivals of ''[[Fences (play)|Fences]]'' and ''[[A Raisin in the Sun]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/06/theater/denzel-washington-jake-gyllenhaal-othello-broadway.html?unlocked_article_code=1.ak0.XrMM.jka7mN-woG4Q|title= Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal to Lead Broadway 'Othello'|work=The New York Times|date= March 6, 2024|accessdate= March 6, 2024|last1= Paulson|first1= Michael}}</ref> The production and Washington's performance earned mixed reviews from critics.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://didtheylikeit.com/shows/othello-3/|title= Othello|website= Didtheylikeit|accessdate= March 24, 2025}}</ref> Adrian Horton from ''[[The Guardian]]'' described the production as "underwhelming" and wrote of his performance, "[He] has moments of sublime melody...the kind of rhapsodic deliveries that feel worth whatever price of admission, but the overall tone of his performance is one of perfunctory hyper-competence."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/mar/24/othello-review-denzel-washington-jake-gyllenhaal|title= Othello review – Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal’s underwhelming blockbuster|website= [[The Guardian]]|accessdate= March 24, 2025}}</ref> David Rooney of ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' noted Washington's [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]] "magnetism" and "swaggering authority" but added, "there’s little evidence of a driving force behind his performance, which is symptomatic of the production overall."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/arts/othello-theater-review-denzel-washington-jake-gyllenhaal-shakespeare-broadway-1236170552/|title= ‘Othello’ Theater Review: Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal Bring Star Wattage to Middling Revival Otherwise Short on Electricity|website= [[The Hollywood Reporter]]|accessdate= March 24, 2025}}</ref>

That same year, Washington reunited with [[Spike Lee]] on the [[police procedural]] drama film ''[[Highest 2 Lowest]]'', a remake of the 1963 [[Akira Kurosawa]] film ''[[High and Low (1963 film)|High and Low]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://variety.com/2024/film/news/denzel-washington-spike-lee-high-and-low-kurosawa-remake-1235902630/|title= Denzel Washington and Spike Lee Reuniting to Remake Kurosawa's 'High and Low' With A24 and Apple|website= Variety|date= February 8, 2024|accessdate= March 23, 2024}}</ref> The film will be a joint production with [[A24]] and [[Apple TV+]] and will also star [[Jeffrey Wright]] and [[Ilfenesh Hadera]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://variety.com/2024/film/news/jeffrey-wright-spike-lee-high-and-low-1235945929/|title= Jeffrey Wright Joins Denzel Washington in Spike Lee's 'High and Low'|website= Variety|date= March 19, 2024|accessdate= March 23, 2024}}</ref> Washington announced in November, that he would be starring in ''[[Black Panther 3]]'', set in the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Werpin |first=Alex |date=November 12, 2024 |title='Black Panther' 3: Denzel Washington Says Ryan Coogler Is Writing Role for Him in Next Film |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/black-panther-3-denzel-washington-ryan-coogler-writing-role-next-film-mcu-franchise-1236059199/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241112142735/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/black-panther-3-denzel-washington-ryan-coogler-writing-role-next-film-mcu-franchise-1236059199/ |archive-date=November 12, 2024 |access-date=November 12, 2024 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> Washington was also cast as [[Carthage|Carthaginian]] general [[Hannibal]] in an upcoming [[Netflix]] film; the decision was controversial in [[Tunisia]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tondo |first=Lorenzo |date=December 11, 2023 |title=Denzel Washington's casting as Hannibal in Netflix film sparks race controversy in Tunisia |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/11/denzel-washingtons-casting-as-hannibal-in-netflix-film-sparks-race-controversy-in-tunisia |access-date=September 8, 2024 |work=[[The Guardian]] |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Vivarelli |first=Nick |date=December 11, 2023 |title=Denzel Washington's Casting as Ancient General Hannibal in Antoine Fuqua Netflix Film Sparks Controversy in Tunisia |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/global/denzel-washington-hannibal-casting-tunisia-controversy-1235832901/ |access-date=September 8, 2024 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>