17 Actors Who Could Be "the Next Denzel Washington" [UPDATED]

Next up, is The Woman King star John Boyega. When he’s not showing off his range in films like Star Wars or Breaking, he’s speaking out against injustices and using his platform for change. If that doesn’t scream Young Denzel, then I don’t know what does.

I don’t think much has to be said about the magnetic actor that is Nope and Judas and the Black Messiah star Daniel Kaluuya. If his Oscar isn’t enough to convince you that he’s got the chops needed to take on the mantle, I don’t know what to tell you.

This young star may be flying low under the radar right now, but don’t let that make you forget that the When They See Us and Moonlight star Jharrel Jerome truly soars in any role he takes on. Hopefully, we’ll get to see more of him sooner rather than later.

I know we all got a glimpse of Corey Hawkins’ greatness in Straight Outta Compton, and then again in In the Heights...and then again in The Tragedy of Macbeth. But it was his stellar performance on Broadway in Topdog/Underdog that really sealed the deal for me. Give this man his things now! (But even if you don’t, just know he’s coming for them anyway.)

Michael B. Jordan. My, how I love you. Let me count the ways...no seriously. Whether he’s stealing our hearts as Vince Howard in Friday Night Lights, stealing vibranium in Black Panther or stealing blows in the popular Creed franchise, there’s no denying that MBJ is leaving an indelible legacy in Hollywood that will live long past today.

There aren’t too many actors out here who possess the sheer amount of talent, charisma, and all-around swag that Black Adam and One Night in Miami star Aldis Hodge has. And for that, we ought to be grateful.

We’d be here for 40 days and 40 nights if I got on my soapbox of support for all that is Brian Tyree Henry. Though he’ll forever be Paper Boi in most of our eyes (word to Atlanta), his roles in Widows and Causeway are clearly calling for us to see him more as the true gift that he is.

I’m pretty sure every role Leslie Odom Jr. touches turns into gold. If you don’t believe me, just look at the magic he made in Hamilton and One Night in Miami (I think about this movie way too often.) The guy’s just got it.

All it took was for me to see Kelvin Harrison Jr. in Waves to know we were dealing with someone special. With his range in films like Cyrano, Luce, The Photograph, The High Note and more, it’s abundantly clear that he’s a force to be reckoned with.

I’d be lying if I said we talk enough about If Beale Street Could Talk star Stephan James because the truth is we don’t. And that’s a shame, given what we’ve seen from him in the aforementioned film, 21 Bridges and Race.

I mean, do I really have to say much here? Trevante Rhodes has the looks, vulnerability (Moonlight), strength (Hulu’s Mike), and just the right amount of ambiguity (The United States vs. Billie Holliday, Bruiser) to convince anyone of why he deserves to be around for a long time.

Now this one may sound like a wild card, but hear us out: given what we’ve seen from William Jackson Harper in The Good Place, The Resort, Love Life and his (spoiler alert) cameo in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, I think he undoubtedly deserves to be in the conversation.

Hold up wait a minute, you thought I was finished? Now of course, I’d be crazy not to include Denzel’s own son John David Washington. I still think about his role in BlacKkKlansmen often (I won’t tell you how many times I still giggle at “are-ruh, you sure?”) and while the plot in Tenet may have been unclear for some—what is clear however is that JDW has a certain spark that he brings to every last role he takes on, just like his old man. And I, for one, am here for it.

Say what you want but Regé-Jean Page aka #BridgertonBae will forever be the devilishly handsome Duke of Hastings in my eyes—but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t frequently burning (ha!) to see what all he can do. The glimpse of his comedic chops in Sylvie’s Love and upcoming action prowess in Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves are just a few examples of the range he has. And if he gets the oft-rumored James Bond slot, there will really be no stopping him.

Depth. Nuance. Good looks. These are all three things The Underground Railroad star Aaron Pierre has in him and it’s also the top three words most people would use to describe Denzel’s own filmography. Granted we need to see more of him, but I have a sneaking suspicion that my choice will be further solidified when his upcoming film Brother releases in the US soon.

I could actually start and stop with Judas and the Black Messiah star Algee Smith’s smile all by itself. That’s Denzel 101, but I’d be remiss not to point out is incredible work in the New Edition Story, Detroit, and the (hopefully) soon-to-be released 2023 Sundance film, Young.Wild.Free. With each role, Smith gets more and more convincing and I get more and more excited. He continues to prove why he’s the one to watch over and over again.