Inside tensions: Josh Brolin and Denzel's near fight on set
Josh Brolin revealed that he and Denzel Washington almost fought on the set of "American Gangster." The actor discussed the tense situation during an interview on "In Depth with Graham Bensinger."
9:32 AM EST, November 25, 2024
In Ridley Scott's 2007 film, Josh Brolin played the role of a corrupt cop trying to control Frank Lucas, portrayed by Denzel Washington, the drug kingpin of Harlem. In a recent interview, Brolin recalled working with Washington and described an incident that almost led to a confrontation on set.
"We almost got into a fight," said Brolin. He explained that producer Brian Grazer praised his scenes with Russell Crowe, which might have gotten back to Washington. "I wasn't considering Denzel's feelings; I was just excited to work with such a legend," he added.
Brolin noted that Washington behaved differently on set: "Denzel was a little late to set and there was a whole thing there. And then he showed me the lines…he didn’t change any of my lines, but he kind of changed the structure of it. He said, ‘I think I’m gonna put this down here and I’m gonna put that up there.’ But he wouldn’t really look at me."
During rehearsal, Brolin forgot his lines and touched Washington's shoulder, asking, "I forgot a line. And I put my hand on his shoulder and I said, ‘What’s the line?’ and he hit my hand off and he said, ‘Don’t ever f—ing put your hand on me.'"
"I was like, ‘Holy shit, I’m gonna scrap with Denzel Washington. This is crazy,'" admitted Brolin. The actor later realized that Washington was simply "doing his job" and staying in character. "We get along well now," he emphasized.
Brolin remarked that these scenarios frequently occur in the acting world, referencing similar accounts he had heard about Robert Duvall. He explained that he now understands the feeling, as working with a legendary figure in film often inspires a strong desire to share a meaningful experience with them.
"American Gangster" - what is the film about?
Gangster Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington) builds a huge drug empire in New York while honest detective Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe) is on his trail. Ridley Scott's film enjoyed much popularity. The director and Washington were nominated for Golden Globes but were overlooked at the Oscars in 2008.
Denzel Washington and Ridley Scott recently reunited on set. They filmed "Gladiator 2" together, which is already in theaters. You can admire Josh Brolin in "Dune 2." The actor is currently promoting his biography.
