Denzel Washington: Broadway Return, Netflix Surge, and Spike Lee Reunion
November 25, 2025·3 min
The episode covers recent developments in Denzel Washington's career across film, stage, and public commentary. It opens with his 2021 crime thriller The Little Things surging in popularity on Netflix, ranking seventh globally with 5 million views and 11 million hours watched in the past week. The film is a streaming hit in 21 countries, primarily in Latin America and the Caribbean, despite mixed critical reviews and box office struggles during its pandemic release. Washington is also preparing for a return to Broadway in the 2025 revival of A Fellow, which he discussed on Bishop T.D. Jakes' podcast. He described the experience as humbling and a reconnection to his craft foundation. The production is a limited engagement at the Barrymore Theatre in New York City. In personal reflections, Washington told Bishop T.D. Jakes that directing the 2016 film Fences was the role that most changed his life. He spoke about the responsibility of bringing August Wilson's work to screen and the impact of collaborating with Viola Davis and Stephen McKinley Henderson. Washington also addressed politics in a Sunday Times interview, commenting on the recent U.S. presidential election and the universal nature of political promises. He connected these themes to his upcoming role in Ridley Scott's Gladiator 2. The episode concludes with buzz about a new project reuniting Washington with Spike Lee for a remake of an Akira Kurosawa film, set for release in the U.S.
