Denzel Washington Receives Presidential Medal of Freedom
Denzel Washington receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Joe Biden, honoring his extraordinary contributions to society and his enduring impact on Hollywood and beyond. We discuss it here!
Denzel Washington at the L.A. premiere for Gladiator II at the TCL Chinese Theatre on November 18, 2024.
Credit: Featureflash Photo Agency
By: Joshua Martin
On Saturday (Jan. 4th), Denzel Washington received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his contributions to American and global society. Washington was one of nineteen honorees who attended a special ceremony hosted by President Joe Biden at the White House. Biden personally presented the iconic actor with this prestigious award, which is the nation’s highest honor.
“Together, you leave an incredible mark – and I mean this sincerely, this group – you leave an incredible mark on our country.”
In addition to Washington, this year’s recipients of the Medal of Freedom included NBA legend “Magic” Johnson, former Senator and Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, actor Michael J. Fox, fashion icon Anna Wintour, soccer star Lionel Messi, fashion designer Ralph Lauren, Bill Nye “The Science Guy,” and more.
Awarded to “good people who have made extraordinary contributions to their country and the world,” the Presidential Medal of Freedom was first awarded in 1963. Past recipients include former athletes Jackie Robinson, Hank Aaron and Muhammad Ali. Civil Rights activist Rosa Parks, former President Barack Obama and the legendary Blues musician B.B. King.
The legendary thespian and director recently celebrated a 70th birthday and continues to be an influential force in Hollywood and beyond. With no signs of slowing down, the recently released film “Gladiator 2” surpassed over $320 million dollars worldwide. Making it the highest-grossing film of his career.
Click the link below to watch Denzel receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Biden honors 19 politicians, philanthropists, cultural icons with Presidential Medal of Freedom
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Denzel Washington Stars in Epic Gladiator II Sequel
Denzel Washington stars in Ridley Scott's Gladiator II., set to captivate audiences with its epic tale of revenge and redemption in ancient Rome, premiering on November 22, 2024. We discuss it here!
Denzel Washington stars in Gladiator II.
Picture Credits: Paramount
Mark your calendars for November 22, 2024, as Denzel Washington steps into the spotlight in Ridley Scott’s highly anticipated epic, Gladiator II. This sequel to the legendary 2000 film revives the grandeur of ancient Rome, now with Washington in a pivotal role that promises to be unforgettable.
Set years after the dramatic death of Maximus, the story now centers on Lucius, portrayed by Paul Mescal, who finds himself in the heart of the Colosseum’s fierce battles after Rome’s brutal leaders conquer his home. As tyranny grips the empire, Lucius, driven by an unyielding quest for justice, must channel his strength from the past to confront the empire’s darkest days.
Joining the stellar cast, Denzel Washington adds a new layer of gravitas and intrigue to this sequel. The film also features Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Lior Raz, Derek Jacobi, and Connie Nielsen. Behind the scenes, the project is bolstered by executive producers Walter Parkes, Laurie MacDonald, Raymond Kirk, and Aidan Elliott, with Douglas Wick, Ridley Scott, Lucy Fisher, Michael Pruss, and David Franzoni handling production duties. Peter Craig and David Scarpa craft the narrative, with Scarpa’s screenplay aiming to recapture the epic scope and drama that made the original a classic.
Gladiator II promises to be more than a mere continuation—it’s a deep dive into the power struggles, revenge, and redemption that define ancient Rome. With Denzel Washington commanding attention and Ridley Scott’s visionary direction, this film is set to be a monumental cinematic event. Make sure not to miss it when it hits theaters on November 22nd, 2024.
Gladiator II
Photo Cred: Paramount
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Denzel Washington Broadway Comeback Set for Spring 2025
Denzel Washington is set to take on the lead role in a Broadway revival of 'Othello' scheduled for Spring 2025. We discuss it here!
Denzel Washington poses for the Oscar Nominee Luncheon on February 07, 2022 in Century City, CA.
Credit: DFree/Shutterstock
The legendary actor Denzel Washington will star in a revival of the Shakesperian theatrical play ‘Othella’ alongside ‘Road House (2024)’ actor Jake Gyllenhal. Spearheaded by Tony award winning director Kenny Leon, the production is set to open in Spring 2025 at the legendary Shubert Theatre in New York City.
The two time Academy Award winner, Washington, will portray Othello, a passionate war general who loses their sanity over jealousy. The role of Desdemona, Othello’s wife, has yet to be cast. Gyllenhal will star as Iago, Denzel’s main antagonist, who convinces Othello to question his wife's fidelity.
According to sources, the most recent Broadway production of Othello was in 1982 starring James Earl Jones as the lead.
Washington, a Tony Award Winner himself, is know stranger to Broadway. He starred in the 2010 production of Fences, which was later turned into a film and also earned a Tony Award nomination for his role as Thedore Hickman in the 2018 revival ‘The Iceman Cometh.’
Show Clip - Fences - "What About My Lif?"
The 69 year old made his Broadway debut in 1988 with Checkmates, he has also appeared in the 2014 revival of ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ and the 2005 production of ‘Julius Caesar.’
2025’s ‘Othello’ will be the first time the duo of Leon and Washington has worked together since ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ in 2014, where Leon won his Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play. The two previously collaborated on the 2010 production of Fences.
Ticket information is currently unavailable but fans can stay up to date by signing up for alerts at othellobway.com.
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Remembering the Iconic 'Malcolm X' Movie 31 Years Later
Spike Lee’s iconic film, Malcolm X, starring Denzel Washington, gave us one of the best in depth looks into the life of the slain civil rights leader. 31 years later, this film still stands as one of the greatest biopics ever. We discuss it here!
Malcolm X Movie Starring Denzel Washington
On November 18, 1992 Spike Lee’s classic movie, Malcolm X, starring Denzel Washington released in theaters. Spike Lee, who at the time was doing movies for Universal, was very impressed with Norman Jewison's take on the late activist Malcolm X. However, Lee felt like Norman may have missed some nuances of Malcolm’s journey. Spike Lee was very passionate about this story and he knew he was the right guy to show the true side of who Malcolm X really was. Fast forward thirty-one years later and his film portrayal of Malcolm X is one of the great American films not only of the decade but the century. It not only showed the true nature of Lee’s genius but it was his most self-effacing work to date in its humility before its subject.
Angela Bassett and Denzel Washington in Malcolm X
Some of the film’s fire and fury undoubtedly came from the circumstances under which it was made. Lee had a very weird relationship with the powers that be at Warner Bros. (Like most these days) than he had enjoyed at Universal, and there were numerous fights over the length of the movie that culminated in a period when the bond company shut down the film and took it out of Lee’s hands. That didn’t stop Lee, the director stuck to his guns, however channeling the same fiery determination that came to define his subject. An iconic scene was when Malcolm X, played by (Denzel Washington) was looking out the window with the Ak-47 gun, definitely an all-time photo in cinema history. With a star studded cast, Spike Lee had all the tools for a great film, and he did not disappoint.
I rate the Malcolm X movie 10/10. A great history lesson in Black Culture. A classic Spike Lee Joint.
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Denzel Washington Goes Toe to Toe With Italian Mafia in 'The Equalizer 3' Trailer
Denzel Washington reunites with Dakota Fanning in the upcoming film, The Equalizer 3. Here’s a first look at the trailer which debuted at CinemaCon!
Denzel Washington stars in The Equalizer 3
By: Omar Cook
During CinemaCon on April 24th, Denzel Washington debuted the official trailer for The Equalizer 3. The upcoming action film, set to release in theaters on September 1st, features Washington as Robert McCall, a ruthless hitman who dispenses his own brand of justice. Fans of Washington will also see him reunite with Dakota Fanning, who appeared alongside him in the 2004 film Man on Fire.
The trailer begins by showing glimpses of Denzel Washington's character's new life in Italy, where he has distanced himself from his violent past. But circumstances change, and he eventually decides to take action into his own hands.
The team behind The Equalizer 3 includes producers Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Denzel Washington, Antoine Fuqua, Steve Tisch, Clayton Townsend, Alex Siskin, and Tony Eldridge, with David Bloomfield, Tarak Ben Ammar, and Andy Mitchell serving as executive producers. The movie was directed by Fuqua, written by Richard Wenk, and adapted from the TV series created by Michael Sloan and Richard Lindheim. "The Equalizer 3" marks Antoine Fuqua's third time directing in the franchise, having previously directed The Equalizer and The Equalizer 2.
The movie franchise, titled The Equalizer, originated from the CBS series that aired in the 1980s. The first film was released in 2014, and its sequel premiered in 2018. In 2021, CBS relaunched the original series, featuring Queen Latifah as Robyn McCall. The third season of the rebooted series will wrap up on May 21, and the fourth season is scheduled to debut in the fall.
Following the premiere of the film's trailer at CinemaCon, Denzel Washington was unexpectedly presented with a lifetime achievement award by Sony film executive Tom Rothman. “True movie stars matter more than ever,” Rothman said. “They are just rarer than ever. Streaming doesn’t create movie stars, only global hits do.”
Check out The Equalizer 3 Trailer below!
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Ruth E. Carter Becomes the First Black Woman to Win Two Oscars
Black Panther costume designer, Ruth E. Carter, becomes the first Black Woman to win two Oscars. We discuss it here!
By: Adonis Armstrong
Hollywood costume designer Ruth E. Carter has become the first Black woman in history to win two Academy Awards. Also with the win Carter becomes the third Black person to win two Oscars. Denzel Washington first achieved this feat for his role in Training Day, while Mahershala Ali followed suit by winning for his performances in Moonlight and Green Book. Viola Davis, who recently became an EGOT winner, has been nominated for the prestigious award four times, winning once for her work in Fences.
In her acceptance speech, the impeccable visionary thanked director Ryan Coogler and paid tribute to her mother, who passed away recently at 101, by invoking the name of late Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman.
“Nice to see you again. Thank you to the Academy for recognizing the superhero that is a Black woman. She endures, 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.”
Ruth E. Carter gives her acceptance speech at the Oscars.
Myung J. Cun via Getty Images
“Chadwick, please take care of mom. Ryan Coogler, Nate Moore, thank you both for your vision. Together, we are reshaping how culture is represented… I share this with many dedicated artists whose hands and hearts helped manifest the costumes of Wakanda and Talokan. This is for my mother.”
For Carter, creating the aesthetic of Wakanda in the blockbuster masterpiece Black Panther posed a significant challenge. She told Variety how she had to overcome difficulties in testing her designs and make sure that they were good for the underwater scenes. Her career has earned her four Oscar nominations, including for her work on Malcolm X and Amistad. She has also contributed to other notable films such as Selma and the iconic biopic of Tina Turner, What’s Love Got to Do With It, where she recreated the legendary singer’s iconic looks from the 1970s and 1980s for the film’s star, Angela Bassett.
Meet Joshua Martin, Senior Video Editor for 247 Live Culture!
Email: Joshua@247LCTV.com