SAMEER AL-DOUMY/AFP via Getty Spike Leebelieves he's reached the end of the road with longtime collaboratorDenzel Washington. TheDo the Right Thingfilmmakertold journalists at the Cannes Film Festivalthat after making five films with the legendaryEqualizerstar, the duo probably won't work together again after their newest movie hits theaters. "It's been a blessing to just have this body of work of us doing films that people love," Lee said at a Cannes press conference promoting his latest film with Washington,Highest 2 Lowest. "I don't know if we're going to do any [more] — I think this is it: five." Lee and Washington first teamed up for 1990's jazz dramedyMo' Better Blues. They followed that collaboration with 1992's civil rights biopicMalcolm X, for which Washington received an Oscar nomination. In 1998, Lee directed Washington in the basketball dramaHe Got Game, and in 2006, they worked together once more on the heist-hostage thrillerInside Man. Their fifth film,Highest 2 Lowest, is a reinterpretation ofAkira Kurosawa's classic 1963 crime proceduralHigh and Low. TheBlacKkKlansmanfilmmaker said that he expects his creative partnership with Washington to end due to the actor's repeated claims that he's nearing retirement. "He's been talking about retirement — even though he just did another deal," Lee said. "I thought he's going to retire! What's up? But the five films together, you know, they stand up." While promotingGladiator IIlast year, Washingtonsaidthat he plans to retireafter a few upcoming projects. Those future films includea historical drama about Carthaginian general Hannibalthat will reunite him withTraining Daydirector Antoine Fuqua, an unknown collaboration with12 Years a SlavefilmmakerSteve McQueen, a film adaptation of his BroadwayOthelloproduction, aKing Learmovie, andBlack Panther 3. "After that, I'm gonna retire," the actor said on Australia'sTodayshow. Everett Collection Washington later qualified that statement, suggesting that he might not fully retire, but instead substantially decrease his film output and focus exclusively on working with top-tier filmmakers. "I didn't say I was going to go into retirement. I said that it has to be a level of interest for me," Washingtontold BuzzFeed. "I'm notretiring. It's not like on June 5, that's it. But to think I'm going to run as far as [Gladiator IIcostarsPaul Mescaland Fred Hechinger] are, I'd be a fool." Want more movie news? Sign up forEntertainment Weekly'sfree newsletterto get the latest trailers, celebrity interviews, film reviews, and more. Washington's involvement in a potential thirdBlack Pantherfilm was unknown until he listed it among his upcoming projects. The actor said thathe contacted the franchise's director,Ryan Coogler, to apologize for letting the cat out of the bag. "I called him. I said, 'I'm sorry, man.' He's like, 'No, man, it's all good,'" he recalled of his interaction with theSinnersfilmmaker in an episode of theVariety Awards Circuitpodcast. "I don't know what he's got cooking for me." Black Panther 3producer Nate Moorediscussed Washington's potential involvement in the filmin an interview withEntertainment Weekly. "When we saw that story, I know Ryan was like, 'Well, what is he saying?'" the producer said of Washington spilling the beans. "We should be so lucky to have Denzel in the MCU. But until we figure out what that movie is, again, nothing is guaranteed. But if you're asking me, would I love to have Denzel inBlack Panther 3? Obviously, that guy, he is a legend." Highest 2 Lowesthits theaters August 22 before releasing on Apple TV+ September 5. Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly
