In a recent conversation, the beloved actor Denzel Washington shared that he turned down a major role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), which could have earned him over $30 million. The reason? Washington felt the role leaned too heavily into what he described as a “woke” theme. He mentioned that he wasn’t interested in portraying a prominent character whose hidden homosexuality would eventually unfold.

Even though Marvel has denied that the roles of Thanos or Groot were offered to Washington, fans still speculate. Without more details from Washington himself, it’s anyone’s guess which character he was actually asked to play.

Marvel’s wide array of superheroes makes it tricky to determine the specific character he was approached for. Some fans have gone as far as to suggest hypothetical relationships between characters like Agent Carter and Black Widow.

Denzel Washington has been quite clear about his reservations regarding “woke” storylines. He feels his talents shine best in award-worthy films, such as the acclaimed “Remember the Titans.”

Interestingly, despite being honored with 11 Black Oscar trophies, Washington has chosen not to keep them. Instead, he prominently displays his three traditional Oscars on top of his refrigerator.