AceShowbiz - Denzel Washington was unfazed by Oscar snub. In an interview with the New York Times, the actor stated that his focus lay elsewhere and that he was "working on 'Othello' on Broadway" on the announcement day.

"I was sitting there smiling," he recalled his day on set when the Oscars announced nominees. "I've been around too long … I'm getting wiser, working on talking less and learning to understand more - and that's exciting."

Denze Washington was overlooked despite his impressive performance in "Gladiator II," set 20 years after the 2000 original. Joining Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal, he played Macrinus, a wealthy arms dealer aspiring to become emperor. While the historical figure Macrinus was a lawyer who rose through the ranks, the film's depiction presents a different version.

In August, Washington had hinted at retiring after the release of "Gladiator II." Speaking to Empire magazine, he said, "There are very few films left for me to make that I'm interested in."

His next projects include a mystery role in a new "Black Panther" movie.