Editing Morgan Freeman (section)

===2014–present: Continued success===
[[File:Morgan Freeman Deauville 2018.jpg|thumb|upright|Freeman at the [[Deauville Film Festival]] in 2018]]

In 2014, Freeman voiced the character [[Vitruvius (The Lego Movie)|Vitruvius]] in ''[[The Lego Movie]]'', a commercially successful 3D animation.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Lego Movie|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl643728897/|access-date=July 27, 2020|website=Box Office Mojo|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731183249/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl643728897/|archive-date=July 31, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> He starred in ''[[Transcendence (2014 film)|Transcendence]]'', a science fiction thriller directed by [[Wally Pfister]] in his directorial debut, in which Freeman plays scientist Joseph Tagger. Critic reviews of the film were generally mixed, according to [[Metacritic]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Transcendence|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/transcendence|work=Metacritic|access-date=November 12, 2020|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320142829/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/transcendence|url-status=live}}</ref> Next, he co-starred in the action [[Lucy (2014 film)|''Lucy'']] (2014), about a woman ([[Scarlett Johansson]]) who gains [[psychokinetic]] abilities when a [[nootropic]] drug is absorbed into her bloodstream. Freeman plays Professor Samuel Norman, who helps her research the condition. Producer [[Virginie Silla]] wanted Freeman for the part because of his experience in portraying a character of wisdom.<ref name=":4">[http://www.lucymovie.com/pdf/lucy_production_notes.pdf Lucy Production Notes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140801123339/http://lucymovie.com/pdf/lucy_production_notes.pdf |date=August 1, 2014}} (PDF). ''[[Universal Pictures]]''. Retrieved July 27, 2020.</ref> "He was the perfect actor", she said.<ref name=":4" /> Upon the release of ''Lucy'', critical reception ranged from mixed-to-positive.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lucy (2014)|date=July 25, 2014 |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/lucy_2014|publisher=Rotten Tomatoes|language=en|access-date=July 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200430042653/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/lucy_2014|archive-date=April 30, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> In the same year Freeman appeared in ''[[Dolphin Tale 2]]'', the sequel to 2011's ''[[Dolphin Tale]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|last=Trumbore|first=Dave|date=September 11, 2014|title=Morgan Freeman Talks Dolphin Tale 2, Returning to Play the Snarky Dr. McCarthy, Reuniting with Winter, and Comments on the Late Nelson Mandela|url=http://collider.com/morgan-freeman-dolphin-tale-2-interview/|access-date=November 11, 2020|website=Collider|language=en-US|archive-date=October 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028191248/http://collider.com/morgan-freeman-dolphin-tale-2-interview/|url-status=live}}</ref> and ''[[5 Flights Up]]'', a comedy-drama.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Barker|first=Andrew|date=September 6, 2014|title=Toronto Film Review: 'Ruth & Alex'|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/reviews/toronto-film-review-ruth-alex-1201299557/|access-date=November 11, 2020|website=Variety|language=en-US|archive-date=January 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150108235331/http://variety.com/2014/film/reviews/toronto-film-review-ruth-alex-1201299557/|url-status=live}}</ref> At the end of 2014, Freeman appeared as himself, among other celebrities, in the documentary ''[[Lennon or McCartney]].''<ref>{{Cite web|last=Falkner|first=Scott|date=December 22, 2014|title=Lennon Or McCartney? New Documentary Asks 550 Celebrities Their Preference — See Their Answers|url=https://www.inquisitr.com/1697375/lennon-or-mccartney-new-documentary-asks-550-celebrities-their-preference-see-their-answers/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727021855/https://www.inquisitr.com/1697375/lennon-or-mccartney-new-documentary-asks-550-celebrities-their-preference-see-their-answers/|archive-date=July 27, 2020|access-date=July 31, 2020|website=www.inquisitr.com}}</ref>

[[Kazuaki Kiriya]]'s action-thriller ''[[Last Knights]]'' was Freeman's first film of 2015, starring opposite [[Clive Owen]]. The plot centers on a band of warriors who seek to avenge the loss of their master at the hands of a corrupt minister. Reviews were largely underwhelming;<ref>{{Cite web|title=Last Knights|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/last-knights|work=Metacritic|access-date=November 12, 2020|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320142855/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/last-knights|url-status=live}}</ref> Sara Stewart of ''[[New York Post]]'' called it "bloody bad", adding: "Once-proud box office names are its first casualties."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Stewart|first=Sara|date=April 1, 2015|title=Freeman, Owen casualties of bloody bad 'Last Knights'|url=https://nypost.com/2015/04/01/freeman-owen-casualties-of-bloody-bad-last-knights/|access-date=July 28, 2020|website=New York Post|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127224205/https://nypost.com/2015/04/01/freeman-owen-casualties-of-bloody-bad-last-knights/|archive-date=January 27, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Freeman next joined the cast of ''[[Ted 2]]'', a comedy sequel to ''[[Ted (film)|Ted]]'', directed by [[Seth MacFarlane]]. The story follows the talking teddy bear Ted as he fights for civil rights in order to be recognized as a person. Freeman portrays Patrick Meighan, a highly respected civil rights attorney.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kroll|first=Justin|date=September 10, 2014|title=Morgan Freeman Lands Juicy Role in 'Ted 2' (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/morgan-freeman-ted-2-1201291079/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911002446/http://variety.com/2014/film/news/morgan-freeman-ted-2-1201291079/|archive-date=September 11, 2014|access-date=July 31, 2020|website=Variety|language=en}}</ref> A television series, [[Madam Secretary (TV series)|''Madam Secretary'']], also occupied Freeman's time. He played [[Chief Justice of the United States|Chief Justice]] Frawley of the United States [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] in a recurring role in the series''.'' He and his producing partner Lori McCreary were executive producers.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Keveney|first=Bill|title=Morgan Freeman has double duty in CBS' 'Madam Secretary'|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2015/09/30/morgan-freeman-has-double-duty-cbs-madam-secretary/73050472/|access-date=July 31, 2020|website=USA Today|language=en-US|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320142842/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2015/09/30/morgan-freeman-has-double-duty-cbs-madam-secretary/73050472/|url-status=live}}</ref> Freeman directed the first episode; McCreary remarked of his directing style, "What's riveting is that he can achieve a complete tonal change in performance with the least amount of direction{{nbsp}}... Everybody behaves better when Morgan is there{{nbsp}}... but he's very fun."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Keveney|first=Bill|date=October 1, 2015|title=Morgan Freeman has double duty in CBS' 'Madam Secretary'|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2015/09/30/morgan-freeman-has-double-duty-cbs-madam-secretary/73050472/|access-date=July 29, 2020|website=USA Today|language=en-US|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320142834/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2015/09/30/morgan-freeman-has-double-duty-cbs-madam-secretary/73050472/|url-status=live}}</ref> At the end of 2015, Freeman played a U.S. senator in the thriller ''[[Momentum (2015 film)|Momentum]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|date=November 24, 2015|title=Morgan Freeman thriller loses Momentum taking £4.60 per cinema|url=http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/nov/24/morgan-freeman-thriller-momentum-flops-uk-cinema|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716232902/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/nov/24/morgan-freeman-thriller-momentum-flops-uk-cinema|archive-date=July 16, 2019|access-date=July 31, 2020|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref>

Reprising his role as Allan Trumbull, Freeman appeared in ''[[London Has Fallen]]'', the 2016 sequel to ''Olympus Has Fallen''. The film follows a plot to assassinate the world leaders of the [[G7]] as they attend the [[British Prime Minister]]'s funeral in London, as well as [[United States Secret Service|Secret Service]] agent Mike Banning's efforts to protect U.S. President Benjamin Asher ([[Aaron Eckhart]]) from being killed. The film was a commercial success;<ref>{{Cite web|title=London Has Fallen|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl1801553409/|access-date=July 28, 2020|website=Box Office Mojo|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200520005627/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl1801553409/|archive-date=May 20, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> however, writing for ''[[The A.V. Club]]'', [[Ignatiy Vishnevetsky]] criticized the cheap filmmaking, saying: "The movie periodically cuts to overqualified supporting actors—including Freeman, [[Melissa Leo]], and [[Robert Forster]]{{nbsp}}... (As it turns out, it's possible to write something that will sound like garbage even when spoken in Freeman's sonorous voice.)"<ref>{{Cite web|last=Vishnevetsky|first=Ignatiy|date=March 2, 2016|title=Gerard Butler scowls his way through the atrocious London Has Fallen|url=https://www.avclub.com/gerard-butler-scowls-his-way-through-the-atrocious-lond-1798186887|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728134439/https://film.avclub.com/gerard-butler-scowls-his-way-through-the-atrocious-lond-1798186887|archive-date=July 28, 2020|access-date=July 28, 2020|website=A.V. Club|language=en-us}}</ref> Next, Freeman reprised his role as Thaddeus Bradley, starring in ''[[Now You See Me 2]]'' (2016),<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gill|first=James|date=January 20, 2015|title=First look at Daniel Radcliffe in magic heist Now You See Me 2|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-01-20/first-look-at-daniel-radcliffe-in-magic-heist-now-you-see-me-2/|access-date=November 11, 2020|website=Radio Times|language=en|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320142824/https://www.radiotimes.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> the sequel to ''Now You See Me'', the sequel grossing a successful $334.9 million worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Now You See Me 2|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3580331521/|access-date=July 28, 2020|website=Box Office Mojo|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200627143848/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3580331521/|archive-date=June 27, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Finally, he had a leading role in the historical drama ''[[Ben-Hur (2016 film)|Ben-Hur]]'', the fifth [[film adaptation]] of the 1880 novel ''[[Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ]]'' by [[Lew Wallace]]. Freeman expressed interest in playing [[Sheik Ilderim]], a wealthy [[Nubians|Nubian]] [[Sheikh|sheik]], stating: "This character has quite a bit of power in the story. And I like playing power. It's something about my own personal ego."<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Kolbert|first=Elizabeth|date=August 1, 2016|title=Morgan Freeman's "Ben-Hur"|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/08/08/morgan-freemans-ben-hur|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804033752/http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/08/08/morgan-freemans-ben-hur|archive-date=August 4, 2016|access-date=July 28, 2020|magazine=The New Yorker|language=en-us}}</ref> ''Ben-Hur'' turned out to be one of 2016's biggest [[box-office bomb]]s.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/movies/box-office-flops-2016/ |title=The Biggest Box Office Flops of 2016 |last=Boardman |first=Madeline |date=January 2, 2017 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |publisher= |access-date=September 17, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2016s-biggest-box-office-bombs-958780/ben-hur-3/ |title='Ben Hur' to 'BFG': Hollywood's Biggest Box-Office Bombs of 2016 |last1=McClintock |first1=Pamela |last2=Galuppo |first2=Mia |date=December 29, 2016 |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |publisher= |access-date=September 17, 2024}}</ref>

[[File:Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin hosts Morgan Freeman for a private screening and conversation about Freeman’s documentary film on the 761st Tank Battalion at The Pentagon on Aug. 2, 2023 - 230802-D-PM193-3355.jpg|thumb|left|Freeman at a private screening in [[The Pentagon]] in 2023]]
In 2017, Freeman appeared in two comedies: ''[[Going in Style (2017 film)|Going in Style]]'' and ''[[Just Getting Started (2017 film)|Just Getting Started]].'' The first one is a remake of [[Going in Style|the 1979 film]] with the same name, co-starring [[Michael Caine]] and [[Alan Arkin]]; in it they play bank robbers after their pensions are canceled.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Pedersen|first=Erik|date=January 12, 2016|title=Warner Bros Moves Key & Peele Starrer 'Keanu' Back One Week – Update|url=https://deadline.com/2016/01/keanu-release-date-going-in-style-key-and-peele-morgan-freeman-michael-caine-1201433439/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725233413/https://deadline.com/2016/01/keanu-release-date-going-in-style-key-and-peele-morgan-freeman-michael-caine-1201433439/|archive-date=July 25, 2020|access-date=July 31, 2020|website=Deadline|language=en}}</ref> It opened to a mixed response;<ref>{{Cite web|title=Going in Style|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/going-in-style|work=Metacritic|access-date=November 12, 2020|archive-date=October 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027055917/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/going-in-style|url-status=live}}</ref> ''The Telegraph''{{'}}s [[Robbie Collin]] thought the trio of actors looked tired before the end of it.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Collin|first=Robbie|date=April 6, 2017|title=Going in Style: Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman go nowhere in this benignly boring comedy - review|language=en-GB|work=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/going-style-review-michael-caine-morgan-freeman-go-nowhere-benignly/|access-date=July 28, 2020|issn=0307-1235|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728231636/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/going-style-review-michael-caine-morgan-freeman-go-nowhere-benignly/|archive-date=July 28, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Just Getting Started'', in which Freeman starred with [[Tommy Lee Jones]] and [[Rene Russo]], was critically panned by reviewers.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Just Getting Started (2017)|date=December 8, 2017 |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/just_getting_started|publisher=Rotten Tomatoes|language=en|access-date=July 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801170944/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/just_getting_started|archive-date=August 1, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> The plot follows an ex-FBI agent (Jones) who must put aside his personal feud with a former mob lawyer (Freeman) at a retirement home when the mafia comes to kill the pair. Freeman also hosted the [[National Geographic (American TV channel)|National Geographic]] ''[[The Story of God with Morgan Freeman]]'' and ''[[The Story of Us with Morgan Freeman]]'', in 2016 and 2017, respectively.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Petski|first=Denise|date=June 11, 2015|title=Morgan Freeman To Host & Produce 'The Story Of God' For Nat Geo|url=https://deadline.com/2015/06/morgan-freeman-host-the-story-of-god-national-geographic-channel-1201441271/|access-date=July 31, 2020|website=Deadline|language=en|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320142823/https://deadline.com/2015/06/morgan-freeman-host-the-story-of-god-national-geographic-channel-1201441271/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2018, Freeman narrated ''[[Alpha (2018 film)|Alpha]]'', a historical drama set in the [[Last Glacial Maximum|last ice age]]. He then starred in Disney's ''[[The Nutcracker and the Four Realms]]'', a retelling of [[E. T. A. Hoffmann]]'s short story "[[The Nutcracker and the Mouse King]]" and [[Marius Petipa]]'s and [[Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky]]'s ballet ''[[The Nutcracker]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Truitt|first=Brian|title=10 burning questions you might have about Disney's new live-action 'Nutcracker' movie|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2018/11/01/10-burning-questions-disney-new-nutcracker-movie/1825370002/|access-date=July 31, 2020|website=USA Today|language=en-US|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320142839/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2018/11/01/10-burning-questions-disney-new-nutcracker-movie/1825370002/|url-status=live}}</ref> Finally he had an uncredited role as Jerome in the biographical drama ''[[Brian Banks (film)|Brian Banks]]'', a high-school [[American football|football]] player who was falsely accused of rape and upon his release attempted to fulfill his dream of making the [[NFL]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Farber|first=Stephen|date=September 26, 2018|title='Brian Banks': Film Review {{!}} LAFF 2018|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/brian-banks-review-1147182|access-date=July 31, 2020|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en|archive-date=March 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320142901/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/brian-banks-review-1147182|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2019, Freeman starred opposite [[John Travolta]] in ''[[The Poison Rose]]'', an adaptation of the novel by Richard Salvatore.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wilson|first=Lisa|date=June 6, 2018|title=Savannah film behind-the-scenes: Actress praises Morgan Freeman. Travolta plays poker|url=https://www.islandpacket.com/entertainment/movies-news-reviews/article212670949.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701030558/https://www.islandpacket.com/entertainment/movies-news-reviews/article212670949.html|archive-date=July 1, 2018|access-date=July 31, 2020|website=The Island Packet}}</ref> In ''[[Angel Has Fallen]]'', Freeman reprised his role as Allan Trumbull, the third installment in the ''Has Fallen'' film series, following ''Olympus Has Fallen'' and ''London Has Fallen''. Although critical reception was mixed,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Angel Has Fallen (2019)|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/angel_has_fallen|work=Rotten Tomatoes|language=en|access-date=November 11, 2020|archive-date=August 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822195103/https://rottentomatoes.com/m/angel_has_fallen/|url-status=live}}</ref> the film was a box office success, earning $147.5 million worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Angel Has Fallen|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl1745257985/|access-date=July 28, 2020|website=Box Office Mojo|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728175130/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl1745257985/|archive-date=July 28, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

Freeman next appeared alongside an ensemble cast in [[George Gallo]]'s crime comedy ''[[The Comeback Trail (2020 film)|The Comeback Trail]]'' (2020) and in ''[[Coming 2 America]]'' (2021), a sequel to [[Coming to America|the 1988 film]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Eddie Murphy Says "Coming To America" Sequel Will Make His Daughter A Star|url=https://allhiphop.com/news/eddie-murphy-says-coming-to-america-sequel-will-make-his-daughter-a-star-5vQs-hRViE2HGvefTBP2RA|access-date=August 1, 2020|website=AllHipHop.com|language=en|archive-date=March 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307213643/https://allhiphop.com/news/eddie-murphy-says-coming-to-america-sequel-will-make-his-daughter-a-star/|url-status=live}}</ref> On November 20, 2022, Freeman performed with [[Ghanim Al-Muftah]] at the [[2022 FIFA World Cup#Opening ceremony|opening ceremony]] of the [[2022 FIFA World Cup]] in Qatar.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup-2022-opening-ceremony-morgan-freeman-bts-jung-kook-b1041287.html|title=Qatar kick off World Cup 2022 with Morgan Freeman and BTS star Jung Kook|website=Evening Standard|last=Young|first=Alex|date=November 20, 2022|access-date=November 20, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/fannation/soccer/futbol/news/morgan-freeman-speaks-at-world-cup-opening-ceremony-in-qatar|title=Morgan Freeman Performs At World Cup Opening Ceremony In Qatar|magazine=Sports Illustrated|last=Summerscales|first=Robert|date=November 20, 2022|access-date=November 20, 2022}}</ref> In 2021 he took a guest starring role acting opposite [[Michael Douglas]] and [[Alan Arkin]] in the [[Netflix]] comedy ''[[The Kominsky Method]]'' for which he was nominated for the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/2021-emmys-nominations-list-nominees-1234977527/|title= Emmy Awards: 'Bridgerton,' 'I May Destroy You,' 'Ted Lasso,' 'WandaVision' Among Nominees|website= [[The Hollywood Reporter]]|accessdate= January 27, 2025}}</ref> Since 2023 he has portrayed a [[United States Secretary of State]] in the [[Taylor Sheridan]] created [[Paramount+]] [[spy thriller]] series ''[[Lioness (American TV series)|Lioness]]'' starring [[Nicole Kidman]] and [[Zoe Saldana]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/video/morgan-freeman-joins-nicole-kidman-in-taylor-sheridan-series-lioness-thr-news/|title= Morgan Freeman Joins Nicole Kidman in Taylor Sheridan Series 'Lioness'|website= [[The Hollywood Reporter]]|accessdate= January 27, 2025}}</ref> Freeman stated he joined the show due to Sheridan telling ''[[TV Insider]]'', "I'm so enamored of him and his work. He's so prolific, and it's always good."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.tvinsider.com/1164037/lioness-interview-morgan-freeman/|title= Morgan Freeman Reveals the Real Reason He Had to Join TV for 'Lioness'|website= [[TV Insider]]|accessdate= January 27, 2025}}</ref> Freeman is set to return to the heist franchise acting in ''[[Now You See Me: Now You Don't]]'' which is set to release November 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/now-see-3-welcomes-back-171400468.html|title= 'Now You See Me 3' Welcomes Back an Original Cast Member and Says Goodbye to a Fan Favorite|website= Yahoo News|accessdate= March 24, 2025}}</ref>