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Is it time for Denzel Washington to hang up his acting chops?
The two-time Oscar winner appeared to tease his retirement in a new interview with Empire magazine, revealing that he has little interest in making any new films — except Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II.”
Washington, 69, stars as Macrinus in the upcoming action movie.
While promoting the project, the legendary actor expressed his lack of interest in movie-making, revealing the sword-swinging gladiator film was one of the only roles that got his engine revving lately.
“There are very few films left for me to make that I’m interested in, and I have to be inspired by the filmmaker, and I was tremendously inspired by Ridley,” Washington told Empire about why he agreed to join the highly anticipated “Gladiator” sequel.
The producer and director — who is arguably one of the best actors of his generation — did not disclose how many other roles are in his future.
Washington has paired up with Scott, 86, in the past. The duo teamed up for the 2007 thriller “American Gangster,” scoring several award nominations for their work on the film.
“We had a great go-round the first go-round and here we are. He’s engaged. He’s excited about life and his next film. He’s an inspiration,” Washington shared. “We should all want to feel like that at 86.”
Scott, who made the first Oscar-winning “Gladiator” film starring Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, and more, is confident about the sequel.
“It’s the best thing I’ve ever made. One of the best things. I’ve made a few good ’uns… it’s full-bore, brutal action,” the award-winning director told the magazine in a separate interview.
Scott can’t stop gushing over the film.
“It’s as good as the first one,” he told People at the “Alien: Romulus” premiere on August 12. “I didn’t say better. It’s as good.”
Besides Washington, the sequel also stars Paul Mescal as the lead and Pedro Pascal.
Washington has been a heavyweight in Hollywood for nearly 50 years. He’s been acting since the late ’70s, starring in blockbusters like “Man on Fire,” “The Equalizer,” “The Book of Eli,” “The Bone Collector,” “Remember The Titans,” and many more.
He won Academy Awards for his performances in “Glory” (1989) and “Training Day” (2001).
This isn’t the first time he’s talked about stepping away from acting.
In July, Washington appeared on a panel at the American Black Film Festival in Miami Beach and said, “The things that are going on for me professionally behind the camera are as important to me now as in front of the camera.”
“I think there’s less and less time I’ll be spending in front of the camera.”
He’s been dropping hints for a while.
“I’m in the yellow leaf of my career. To be quite honest, looking to do other things. So as far as acting, it’s gonna have to be an extreme challenge for me to be interested,” Washington told Entertainment Tonight in 2021. I’ve been talking to one or two of the top directors in the business, and we’re talking about maybe doing something. There’s not that much left for me to do as actor.”
“Gladiators II’ hits theaters on November 22, 2024.
Local News
A 72-year-old man from Virginia was found dead near the summit of Mount Washington, according to officials.
At about 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, a hiker found his body lying about a half mile below the summit, according to a press release from the New Hampshire Fish and Game Law Enforcement Division.
The Cog Railway offered to send a special train and crew to help Fish and Game recover the man’s body from a location on the Gulfside Trail near the junction of West Side Trail, as he was about 425 feet north of the Cog Railway tracks.
Crews hiked the body back to the train, which transported him to the Base Station. From there, they transferred the body to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Concord for an autopsy.
Officials from Fish and Game, the New Hampshire State Police, and Twin Mountain Fire Department responded to the call.
Authorities are withholding the hiker’s name pending family notification.
It appears that the man likely died due to environmental exposure, officials said, but the exact cause of death is pending autopsy results.
Authorities said they know little else about the hiker. The man was dressed in jeans, had on a dark navy blue raincoat, brown hiking boots, and a small blue backpack.
He was unprepared for the conditions on the White Mountains’ higher summits. Authorities say it is likely that he took a train ride up to the summit in the morning or early afternoon on Wednesday and then decided to try hiking down.
New Hampshire Fish and Game asks anyone who might have encountered a hiker matching his description to contact State Police Troop F at 603-843-3333 or Lt. Mark Ober at [email protected].
This isn’t the first death on the notoriously hard mountain to trek this year. In March, a skier died after falling down a ravine.
Fish and Game reminds people that the weather on the higher summits is cold, wet, and windy, which are prime conditions for hypothermia and other cold-related injuries. The department advises hikers to check the forecast on the Mount Washington Observatory before venturing out.
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Kerry Washington called in a couple of reinforcements for a lesson on how to properly pronounce Vice President Kamala Harris’ name at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Thursday, Aug. 22.
The actress, 47, who reunited with her Scandal costar Tony Goldwyn earlier in the night, brought her star power to the stage at the DNC with help from Harris’ great-nieces Amara and Leela.
“It’s come to my attention that there are some folks who struggle, or pretend to struggle, with the proper pronunciation of our future president’s name,” Washington said in support of Harris, 59, before she accepted the Democratic Party’s nomination for president.
“So hear me out: Confusion is understandable. Disrespect is not.”
After pausing for applause from the audience, the Little Fires Everywhere star said she would “help everyone get it right.”
“Here to help me are some very special guests,” she said as two little girls walked out onstage — one in a pastel pink pantsuit and the other in a baby blue dress.
The girls introduced themselves as Amara Ajagu and “her little sister” Leela Ajagu, Harris’ great-nieces. They were at the DNC “to teach you how to say our auntie’s name,” they said.
According to Amara, the best way to say the first part of Harris’ name is to say “comma, like a comma in a sentence.”
Next was Leela, who said the second half of her aunt’s name was “luh” as if you were singing the scales of a song. The audience cheered in support of the kids.
Washington then kneeled to be the same height as the sisters.
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“Put it together and you get — ” she paused to give the girls a chance to join in, in unison: “Kamala!”
The UnPrisoned actress suggested that everyone come together to practice saying Harris’ name the correct way with the girls’ help. The side closest to Amara said “Comma,” while Leela’s side said “Luh.”
After several chants of “Comma-Luh” from the room, Washington added, “for president!”
Harris’ running mate Tim Walz seemingly enjoyed the demonstration as he could be seen mouthing “how cute” to the people sitting next to him.
Though Washington did not single out anyone in particular on Thursday, last week, Republican Rep. Nancy Mace made headlines for her repeatedly mispronouncing Harris’ first name while on CNN.
“Scandal” star Kerry Washington appeared on the Democratic National Convention to offer a demonstration on how to pronounce Vice President Kamala Harris’s first name.
On the Chicago stage, the actor made a dig at Republicans who she claims are purposely mispronouncing the Democratic nominee’s name. Former president Donald Trump has repeatedly mispronounced and mocked Harris’ first name including at a July 24 rally in Charlotte.
“It’s come to my attention that there are some folks who struggle or pretend to struggle with the proper pronunciation of our future president’s name,” Washington said. “So hear me out. Confusion is understandable. Disrespect is not. So tonight, we are going to help everyone get it right.”
Washington proceeded to introduce Harris’ grandnieces Amara and Leila onto the stage to properly pronounced “Kamala.”
The first part of her name, the girls said, is ‘comma’, like in a sentence; and the second part, is ‘la’.
The actor then asked the DNC audience to join them in chanting the name.
Before the demonstration, the actor urged voters to remember that they are the lead characters in the story of this nation.
Washington also brought on “Scandal” co-star Tony Goldwyn, who played President President Fitzgerald Grant, on stage to chant “When Kamala wins, America wins.”
During a Wednesday night endorsement speech, former president Bill Clinton mistakenly mispronounced Harris’ first name. While pronouncing it right at first she later mispronounced referred to Harris as “KAmahla” instead of the accurate “KAHmala.”
Clinton also applauded President Joe Biden for the added sense of pride within the Democratic party since he took office in 2020.
Clinton, in a lengthy speech, also criticized Republican’s economic record at at Trump himself for, including his tendency to mention fictional characters like Hannibal Lecter in his speeches.
“When you send a signal to other countries you want them to know, whether they agree with you or not, that you’re on the level about what you say and what you believe,” Clinton said. “What are they supposed to think about the endless tributes to the late great Hannibal Lecter?”
DNC live updates: Elizabeth Warren, Steph Curry speak; Kamala Harris to take the stage
The convention will air live on its website, from the United Center in Chicago between 6:15 p.m. and 11 p.m. Eastern (5:15 p.m. to 10 p.m Central) on Monday, and 7 p.m to 11 p.m. Eastern (6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Central) the other days.
USA TODAY will provide livestream coverage on YouTube each night of the DNC, Monday through Thursday.
The DNC announced nightly themes for the convention. The title of the convention is “For the People, For Our Future.”
Here are the themes for each night:
Contributing: James Powel
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