*A prequel to the 2001 film “Training Day” is in the works at Warner Bros., and screenwriter Nick Yarborough has been tapped by the studio to write the script.
According to Collider, the film will focus on Denzel Washington’s character, Alonzo Harris, in 1992, a decade before the events of the original film, and set days before the Rodney King verdict is announced.
The King verdict sparked the LA Riots, which erupted after a mostly white jury acquitted four police officers accused in the videotaped beating of King on the roadside, after he fled from police.
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18 years old. What a day. #TrainingDay pic.twitter.com/Dsk5e66aTv
— Warner Bros. (@WBHomeEnt) October 5, 2019
No director or actors are involved with the ”Training Day” prequel, said to be in its early stages. Fans are already naming Washington’s son, John David Washington, a the perfect fit for the lead role.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the original film co-starred Ethan Hawke as Jake Hoyt, a rookie cop in Los Angeles on his first day of training for the narcotics squad led by Washington’s Harris. The film was a box office smash,, grossing over $100 million worldwide.
Washington earned his second Oscar for the film— an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. Hawke was nominated for Best Supporting Actor.
Here a few fun facts about film (via mentalfloss.com):
SAMUEL L. JACKSON AND MATT DAMON WERE ORIGINALLY SET TO STAR:
Davis Guggenheim was initially going to direct the film, with Jackson as Alonzo Harris and Damon as Jake Hoyt. Once Denzel Washington accepted the role of Alonzo instead, the actor allegedly asked for Guggenheim to be replaced.
EMINEM TURNED DOWN PLAYING JAKE:
He was approached to act alongside Washington, and ended up starring in 8 Mile the next year. Tobey Maguire, Ryan Phillippe, Freddie Prinze Jr., Scott Speedman, and Paul Walker also tested for the role of the rookie cop.
DENZEL WASHINGTON PISSED OFF ETHAN HAWKE AT HIS AUDITION:
Hawke was upset at Washington for improvising during their screen test. The actor later claimed he considered going back to the room to tell them all to “go to hell” when he got a phone call saying that the audition went great and the part was his.
Read more here.
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