Denzel Washington: Last News

Angelique Jackson Denzel Washington is in final negotiations to join Ridley Scott’s upcoming “Gladiator” sequel, reteaming after 2007’s “American Gangster.” If the deal closes, the two-time Academy Award winner would join newly minted Oscar nominees Paul Mescal and Barry Keoghan, whose participation in the project broke Thursday. The sequel follows 2000’s blockbuster hit “Gladiator,” which was nominated for 12 Academy Awards and won five, including best picture. It earned $460 million at the box office, and now Scott is returning to direct and produce the sequel. The original “Gladiator” starred Russell Crowe as Maximus Decimus Meridius, a Roman soldier forced into slavery who vows revenge against Commodus, played by Joaquin Phoenix. Since Maximus dies at the end of “Gladiator,” Mescal will play Lucius, the son of Maximus’ lover Lucilla (played by Connie Nielsen), in the sequel. Keoghan is in negotiations to play Emperor Geta.

EXCLUSIVE: Almost 16 years ago Denzel Washington and Ridley Scott wowed audiences with their hit crime drama American Gangster, and now it looks like the the two A-listers are ready to get back together in a big way. Sources tell Deadline that Washington is in final negotiations to co-star in Scott’s sequel to his Oscar Best Picture winner Gladiator for Paramount.

Jazz Tangcay Artisans Editor Ruth E. Carter has become the first Black woman to win two Oscars. Carter, who in 2019 became the first Black person to win the Oscar for costume design for her work on Marvel’s “Black Panther,” was recognized for the film’s sequel, “Wakanda Forever.” In her speech, she thanked director Ryan Coogler and asked late “Black Panther” star Chadwick Boseman to look after her own mother, who recently died at 101. “Nice to see you again,” Carter said as she took the stage. “Thank you to the Academy for recognizing the superhero that is a Black woman. She endure, she loves, she overcomes, she is every woman in this film. She is my mother. This past week, Mable Carter became an ancestor. This film prepared me for this moment. Chadwick, please take care of Mom. Ryan Coogler, Nate Moore, thank you both for your vision. Together, we are reshaping how culture is represented. The Marvel family, Kevin Feige, Victoria Alonso, Louis D’Esposito and their arsenal of genius, thank you. I share this with many dedicated artists whose hands and hearts helped manifest the costumes of Wakanda and Talokan. This is for my mother. She was 101.”

EXCLUSIVE: As his directorial debut Creed III was cresting toward a $100 million global opening weekend and setting numerous records — top opening for the Creed franchise and biggest sports film opening ever and a knockout victory for MGM, new parent Amazon & United Artists Releasing as the company embraces the theatrical release, and Warner Bros (which launched the film overseas) — Michael B. Jordan sat down with me Sunday night as those numbers were piling higher. It was the first in person interview for us since I met him and Ryan Coogler at Cannes for the launch of Fruitvale Station. Trying to rebound from my own family tragedy months earlier, that film was cathartic for me because it was the first time I grieved the death of my father in Hurricane Sandy. I shared that with them, and spent a lot of time with both, and especially Jordan. He was just stepping into stardom and we talked about everything from navigating such a famous name to how much he was obliged to give of himself in interviews and in public. This was at a surreal moment when he was still a little uneasy walking down the Croisette and hearing a person or two calling out “Where’s Wallace,” the meme line about his young character from the series The Wire. I recall walking away from Coogler and Jordan hoping they continued to make strong followup creative choices because all the potential was there. Who knew it might happen so quickly for each of them?

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EXCLUSIVE: We’ve heard from sources that Jason Seagraves has exited Cavalry Media as their SVP of Development.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages are Davis’ assessment of the current standings of the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any film or performance. Like any organization or body that votes, each category is fluid and subject to change.

Robert Downey Jr. and Denzel Washington witnessed LeBron James as he was honored for breaking the NBA's all-time scoring record on Thursday.The Iron Man actor, 57,  and the Flight star, 68, attended the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Milwaukee Bucks at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, with Bucks coming out on top at the end of the night with the final score 115-106.Lakers celebrated James's recent scoring record with a second ceremony prior to tonight's game, after he passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the league's all-time leading scorer.Taking charge of the ceremony was Lakers legend and Hall-of-Famer James Worthy, who opened the celebration by congratulating LeBron.Other stars at the game included boxer Floyd Mayweather, 45, actor Jason Bateman, 54, and filmmaker Kenya Barris, 48, as well as LeBron's family.  Lakers fan: Robert Downey Jr.

LeBron James was just 36 points away from making NBA history on Tuesday, and celebrities packed the house to watch the all-time scoring record be broken.The 38-year-old James hit a fadeaway jumper late in the 3rd quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers' game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, bringing his career total to 38,388 points, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who has held the record for nearly 40 years.The Crypto.com Arena was chocked full of celebs trying to watch history, including Jay-Z, Denzel Washington and Adele's boyfriend Rich Paul - just days after Jay-Z enjoyed a Grammy night toast with Adele.Jay-Z was spotted courtside wearing a black sweatshirt that read, 'This is Black Magic,' seemingly referring to LeBron's record-breaking performance, spotted sitting next to Corey Gamble.The rap icon and music mogul also wore a gold watch while seen holding a drink courtside for the momentous event.

Another one for the trophy case! Viola Davis became an EGOT winner on Sunday, February 5, when she earned a Grammy Award for narrating the audiobook of her memoir, Finding Me.

Reese Witherspoon revealed that one of her first auditions as a teenager was with Oscar winner Robert De Niro.The 46-year-old actress appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live Thursday wearing a little black dress where she recalled her audition for the 1991 Martin Scorsese film Cape Fear when she was 14.'I remember one of the very first auditions I ever had was with Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese for a movie called Cape Fear,' said Reese.The Big Little Lies star added, 'I didn't get it. I'm not in that movie because I got so scared when I walked in the room; I didn't know who Robert De Niro was, so I was standing outside talking to the receptionist, and she was like, "You know he's the most important actor of our time right?"'This caused the young 14-year-old Reese to get very nervous and forget her lines.

Reese Witherspoon revealed that she used to park the Porsche belonging to Denzel Washington when she was a teenager as part of a school internship.The 46-year-old actress during an appearance on Thursday on Jimmy Kimmel Live in a little black dress was asked if she ever had any Hollywood jobs that were behind the scenes.'Yeah. Actually, I was an intern on a movie that Denzel Washington starred in called Devil In A Blue Dress,' Reese told Jimmy, 55, referencing the 1995 neo-noir thriller.Reese said she already had started acting, but her school had a two-week internship opportunity in January.'So I was like, ''Oh, I'll get a job.'' I wanted to learn the other sides of the business. Not just doing the acting part.

EXCLUSIVE: CAA has signed actress Chloë Grace Moretz for representation.

Gregory Allen Howard, the screenwriter who penned Harriet and Remember the Titans, died in Miami on Friday.The news was confirmed by his rep Jeff Sanderson, according to The Hollywood Reporter.It came after Howard battled a brief illness. He was 70-years-old.

Gregory Allen Howard, the first African American screenwriter for a $100 million drama with Remember The Titans, died today in Miami, Florida following a brief illness. He was 70 and his death was confirmed by his publicist.

On my way down to Tribeca to meet actor John David Washington for lunch, I had a lot of questions swirling in my head that made me nervous about our encounter. I am meeting a man who comes from a Hollywood dynasty of sorts. Washington has had so many experiences, what questions could I possibly ask that would make our conversation relatable and engaging. John David is the oldest of four children and his parents are two-time Oscar winner Denzel Washington and actress/singer Pauletta Washington. 

Sure, he has the plumb lead “villain” role in “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery”—available on Netflix now— but where has Edward Norton been in the ensuing years? That’s the central question that Dax Shepard has on the new Armchair Expert podcast interview with his old buddy Norton. READ MORE: Edward Norton: The Essential Performances Shepard has a point.

Hollywood icon Eddie Murphy is set to receive the prestigious Cecil B. DeMille Award at the upcoming 80th Golden Globes.The honorary award recognizes the recipient's 'outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment', according to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.Previous recipients of the trophy include Steven Spielberg, Oprah Winfrey, George Clooney, Denzel Washington, Tom Hanks and an array of other A-listers.

The Beverly Hills Cop franchise actor and SNL alum will be bestowed with the Cecile B. DeMille award at the Golden Globes in January.

EXCLUSIVE: Sony has rounded out its cast for The Equalizer 3, with Eugenio Mastrandrea (From Scratch), Remo Girone (Ford v Ferrari), Sonia Ammar (Scream), Daniele Perrone (Baaria), Andrea Scarduzio (Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One) and Andrea Dodero (Blocco 181) signing on for roles. 

In an exuberant social media post, Zac Efron showed a first look at the impossibly muscular physique he built to make himself ring shape for A24’s upcoming The Iron Claw.