Key Points
Washington emotional at Black Panther premiere
Called it a generational passing of the torch
Praised Chadwick Boseman and Ryan Coogler
Felt pride in cinema's future direction
However, the actor, who hasn’t let the audience see his vulnerable side, can be moved to tears by cinematic artistry, reports ‘People’ magazine.
In the new two-part Apple TV+ documentary ‘Number One on the Call Sheet’, Washington, 70, recalls one memorable moment when he was overcome with emotion in the darkness of a movie theater.
The actor, who has stepped into the shoes of iconic real and fictional characters such as Stephen Biko, Malcolm X, Rubin Carter, Macbeth and Othello, said, "I cried a little bit when I saw ‘Black Panther’”.
The 2018 blockbuster film starred Chadwick Boseman and Michael B. Jordan, and was directed by Ryan Coogler.
"I was on Broadway (in The Iceman Cometh), in fact, and I went to the premiere, and I wasn’t interested in the red carpet and all that”, he shared.
"So I went backstage and I saw Chad and Ryan”, he continued. "I spoke to them and then I sat down and watched the movie. And I felt like the baton had been passed. I was like, ‘Wow, these young boys are gone’, you know. I felt, I don’t know if the word is ‘relieved,’ but I was proud to see what they had done and seeing where they were headed”.
As per ‘People’, the actor, a nine-time Oscar nominee for acting with two wins, who has starred in such critically acclaimed fare as ‘Malcolm X’ and ‘The Hurricane’, felt like the future of cinema was in good hands.
"You know, I didn’t know then they were gonna make a billion dollars, but they did. So that, uh, that was a special moment for me”, he added.
Comments:
Michael T.
This is so beautiful to hear. Denzel recognizing Chadwick's talent before we even knew how iconic he'd become 😢
Sarah L.
Two legends appreciating each other's work! Black Panther really was a cultural milestone that touched so many people.
James P.
I get why he was emotional. That movie meant so much to the Black community. Representation matters!
Tina R.
Interesting that Denzel skipped the red carpet - shows he genuinely cared about the art, not the hype. Respect.
David K.
While I love this moment, I do wish we'd heard more from Denzel about Chadwick before his passing. Still, beautiful sentiment.
