Denzel Washington was moved to tears while watching 'Black Panther' in the cinema

He was quoted by People saying: "I cried a little bit when I saw 'Black Panther'. I was on Broadway (performing in 'The Iceman Cometh'), in fact, and I went to the premiere, and I wasn't interested in the red carpet and all that.

"So I went backstage and I saw (actor) Chad (Boseman) and (director) Ryan (Coogler.)

"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.'"

'Black Panther', which also starred Michael B. Jordan, has been hailed as groundbreaking due to its representation of black superheroes.

Denzel added: "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.

"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."

In an upcoming appearance in 'Number One on the Call Sheet', the two-part Apple TV+ documentary that aired on 28 March, Denzel tells of his experiences in Hollywood.

The first episode, directed by Reginald Hudlin, examines black male actors, featuring interviews with Denzel, Eddie Murphy, Morgan Freeman, Will Smith and Jamie Foxx.

Episode two, directed by Shola Lynch, focuses on black women in Hollywood, with appearances from Halle Berry, Viola Davis, Gabrielle Union and more.

Oscar-winning Denzel is set to appear in the next 'Black Panther' film, with Ryan Coogler writing a role for him.

The Apple documentary also celebrates the legacy of Chadwick Boseman, who passed away in 2020 at the age of 43 after a cancer battle, and highlights the continued cultural relevance of 'Black Panther'.