Josh Brolin shows the “In Depth With Graham Bensinger” podcast to promote his new memoir, “From Under the Truck,” and recalled a tense moment on the set of “Ridley Scott” American Gangster” where he almost got into a fight with the co-star Denzel Washington. Brolin played a detective in the 2007 crime drama, while Washington headlined the movie as notorious drug lord Frank Lucas.
“Yeah, we almost had a fight,” Brolin revealed, noting that most of his time on the set of “American Gangster” was spent acting with Russell Crowe. The rare moments he gets to star opposite Washington are tense, as the Oscar winner plays a violent mobster.
“Denzel was a little late on set and there was something there,” Brolin said. “And then he showed me the lines…he didn’t change any of my lines, but he changed the structure of them. He said, ‘I think I’ll put this here and I’ll put that there.’ But he never looks at me.”
“I try to remember the structure, and then we rehearse,” he continued. “Not many lines, mostly mine. And I’m supposed to be super confident. This is Denzel Washington, man. It’s like, it’s not easy – you’re an actor they’re trying to see if he’s real or not. And I forgot a line.”
Brolin asked Washington what his line was, but he did so with his hand on Washington’s shoulder.
“And he slapped my hand and he said, ‘Don’t ever put your hand on me,'” Brolin recalled. “And I was like, ‘Holy shit, I’m going to break up with Denzel Washington. This is crazy.’ We’re not artists anymore. In his mind, he’s just doing his job. I don’t know. And then I said , ‘Are you okay?’ He said, ‘Yes. You?’ I said, ‘Yes. Can I have my line?’ He said, ‘Go for it.’ It’s like he said what he needed to say.”
Brolin emphasized that the two actors are “really good right now” and it was a hot moment on set. different A representative in Washington has been reached for further comment.
“American Gangster” opened in theaters in the fall of 2007 and earned co-star Ruby Dee an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress. The film marks the first collaboration between director Scott and Washington, who enjoyed his time on set so much that Scott’s participation in “Gladiator II” was all Washington needed to know to sign on for the long-term. expected sequel.
Watch Brolin’s full interview at “In Depth With Graham Bensinger” podcast in the video below. The actor’s memoir, “From Under the Truck,” is now available for purchase.