Josh Brolin has revealed he “almost got into a fight” with Denzel Washington on the set of American Gangster.
Before Washington starred in Gladiator 2, he appeared in director Ridley Scott’s 2007 crime drama, playing criminal Frank Lucas. His co-star in the film was Brolin who, at the time, was a rising Hollywood star who would go on to play Thanos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
According to the actor, hostilities began when Washington “got wind” of producer Brian Grazer praising his performance alongside Russell Crowe’s – and came to a head when Washington “changed the structure” of their first scene together.
Speaking on In Depth with Graham Bensinger, Brolin, who said he “gets along very well” with the Oscar-winning actor now, said: “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.
Brolin said they immediately rehearsed the scene in its new form, but admitted he was struggling to be “super confident” due to the star power of Washington.
“I was trying to remember the structure, and then we rehearsed. It wasn’t that many lines, mostly mine. And I’m supposed to be super confident. It’s Denzel Washington, man. It’s like, not easy – you’re just some actor who they’re trying out, seeing if he’s the real thing or not. And I forgot a line.”
It was here where Brolin placed his hand on Washington’s shoulder, and asked him “What’s the line?”
Brolin continued: “He hit my hand off and he said, ‘Don’t ever f***ing put your hand on me.’ And I was like, ‘Holy s***, I’m gonna scrap with Denzel Washington. This is crazy.’
“We’re not actors anymore – at least in my mind. In his mind, he was just doing his job. He was that guy. He was Frank Lucas, period. But I didn’t know. And then we got through that moment. I said, ‘Are you OK?’ He said, ‘Yeah. You?’ I said, ‘Yeah. Can I get my line?’ He said, ‘Go for it.’ It’s like he’d said what he needed to say.”
Brolin has released a new memoir, titled From Under the Truck, which sees him reflect on his childhood, struggles with addiction and his roles in films including No Country for Old Men.
Meanwhile, Washington is earning rave reviews for his role in Gladiator 2, which has thrown him directly into the Oscars 2025 race. The film is in cinemas now.
