*On the set of the 2007 film “American Gangster,” Josh Brolin found himself in a heated exchange with co-star Denzel Washington that almost led to a fight.
Directed by Ridley Scott, the film centered on real-life drug lord Frank Lucas, portrayed by Washington, while Brolin played the determined detective pursuing him. Despite the initial friction, Brolin now shares a positive relationship with the acclaimed actor. “Denzel and I, by the way, get along very well now,” Brolin said in an interview on In Depth with Graham Bensinger, Comic Basics reports. “We almost got into a fight.”
The incident occurred during a scene when Washington altered dialogue moments before shooting began. This sudden change disrupted Brolin’s focus, causing him to blank on his lines. Facing pressure alongside a screen legend, he admitted the challenge was immense. “It’s Denzel Washington, man. It’s, like, not easy. You’re just this actor who they’re trying out, seeing if he’s the real thing or not. And I forgot a line,” Brolin recalled.
In an attempt to regain his footing, Brolin placed a hand on Washington’s shoulder to ask for the line. The response was immediate and sharp. “I put my hand on his shoulder and I said, ‘What’s the line?’ and he hit my hand off and said, ‘Don’t ever f**** put your hand on me,’” Brolin said. “And I was like, ‘Holy s***, I’m gonna scrap with Denzel Washington. This is crazy.’” Washington’s reaction stemmed from fully embodying his character, Frank Lucas.
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Brolin later recognized that Washington was simply committed to the role. “In his mind, he was just doing his job. He was that guy. He was Frank Lucas, period. But I didn’t know,” he said. Once the intensity subsided, the two checked in with each other. “I said, ‘Are you okay?’ 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 reflected on the dedication of seasoned performers like Washington. “You want to have an experience, and those guys are just trying to do their job. It makes sense to me that they would kind of narrow outside life in any way that they can,” he said.
Watch Brolin’s full remarks in the clip below.
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