Denzel Washington Clarifies Retirement Plans: 'I didn’t say I was gonna go into retirement'

After Denzel Washington's recent Today interview hinted at an impending retirement, fans flooded social media, concerned that the GOAT himself might be stepping away from our screen entirely.

However, in a follow-up interview with BuzzFeed’s Ada Enechi, Washington clarified that while he’s winding down his on-screen career, he has no intention of leaving the film industry altogether.

“For me, it’s about the filmmaker, especially at this point in my career,” Washington shared, discussing what he looks for in future projects. “I don’t know how many more films I’m going to make — probably not that many,” he added.

While Washington confirmed he’s still committed to upcoming high-profile roles, including appearances in Black Panther 3 and a remake of High and Low, he also hinted at a career transition toward directing and producing.

“I didn’t say I was going to go into retirement,” he clarified. “I said that it has to be a level of interest for me.”

As he explained, his intention is not to disappear from the industry but rather to explore opportunities behind the camera, allowing him to contribute to storytelling in new ways. "I’m more interested in getting behind the camera,” Washington said.

In the interview, Washington spoke about his approach to life and career through a unique lens, breaking down his journey into three stages: learning, earning, and returning. “I look at life in three sections: you learn, you earn, you return. I’m in the return part of life,” he said.

While fans may need to adjust to seeing less of Washington on-screen, this shift toward directing and producing will still be beneficial for the storytelling in Hollywood.