Insider Fires Back at Critics After Report Marvel Is Targeting Denzel Washington

Denzel Washington has consistently proven that age is just a number. The beloved 70-year-old actor has starred in an exceptionally broad range of projects in various genres throughout his impressive career.

Considering that, along with how talented Washington is, nothing should come as much of a surprise in terms of the interest he generates for potential movie roles. However, the latest report involving Washington's name ignited a bit of a firestorm on social media.

Insider/journalist Jeff Sneider of The Insneider reported that Marvel has interest in Washington for the role of Magneto.

Unsurprisingly, the comment created an all-out debate around the topic, with Marvel fans questioning things such as his age, Washington's fit in the role specifically as Magneto and much more. On the opposite end of that, many fans of Washington had no problem with the idea of the star of Training Day and Remember the Titans jumping into the Marvel universe.

Sneider, who has reported on a broad range of Hollywood storylines, received much of the negative side of the fan reactions, it seems. He took to X to defend his comments and pushed back at the critics.

If Denzel had been cast as Magneto, don't you think that would be in my newsletter? Just because I hear things and share them on a podcast doesn't mean they're news for the internet. They're fodder for a podcast. Do you understand the difference, or are you too dense?

— Jeff Sneider (@TheInSneider) May 16, 2025

Although Sneider cites hearing Washington's name in connection with the Marvel role, he correctly explains the drastic difference between that and saying that an actor has been cast in a role.

"All of these terrible comic book sites/accounts take things one step too far in an effort to advance the story. So me hearing someone's name in connection with a role becomes This Person Has Been Cast, which is wrong, and then when Someone Else is cast, I look like an a--hole." Sneider wrote on X.

Sneider continued in defense of the Marvel-Washington buzz by telling critics to imagine a universe "where there are NO comic book movie rumors."

It's worth noting that Sneider's defense of movie rumors is entirely fair. Movies almost certainly go through a number of different potential casting options for every role, and those names being mentioned only helps make the build-up to movies even more exciting for fans.

This especially stands true for comic book movies, as the debate over a loved (or even a disliked, in some cases) star playing someone's favorite superhero only adds to the intrigue around movies while fans await official casting news.

Related: 'Superman' Director James Gunn Sparks Speculation With Tease of Unannounced DC Film