Denzel Washington announces acting retirement plan: When will the legend stop?

Denzel Washington has announced he is going to retire from acting after his upcoming batch of movies to close out a 49-year career, as the 69-year-old prepares to star in Ridley Scott's Gladiator II.

Known for roles in flicks such as Glory, Training Day, Malcolm X, The Equalizer and Flight, the New Yorker has become revered as one of the most recognizable faces of the industry and of all-time thanks to his powerful performances and skilled adaptability.

That's led to him claiming two Academy Awards, three Golden Globes, a Screen Actors Guild Award as well as nominations at the Emmys, as he also earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his services to film.

But now the end could be on the horizon for Washington, as he announces his plans to stop appearing on the big screen after upcoming roles in Gladiator, Black Panther 3, Othello and King Lear.

"I don't know how many more films I'm going to make," Washington told Australia's Today on November 11. "Probably not that many. I want to do things I haven't done. I've played Othello at 22, I'm about to play Othello at 70.

"After that I'm playing Hannibal. After that I've been talking with Steve McQueen about a film. After that Ryan Coogler's writing a part for me in the next Black Panther.

"After that I'm going to do the film Othello. After that I'm going to do King Lear. After that I'm going to retire."

Washington to collect a few big pay checks

With roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Black Panther 3 and the follow-up to Gladiator (2000), it's fair to say that Washington is going to bow out with quite the retirement fund to fuel his passion projects.

With a net worth already reported to be in the region of $300m, he will collect a pretty share from the upcoming MCU flick after its previous instalments made $1.3 billion and $860m whilst Scott's Roman-period drama made $500m, not adjusted for inflation.

Denzel will take on the role of Macrinus, a former slave who plots to control Rome and the mentor of the lineal emperor, Lucius, who vacated his seat to reside in a coastal town on the edge of North Africa.