Denzel Washington, the iconic Hollywood actor, has recently expressed regret in turning down a role in Brad Pitt’s movie that grossed $328 million at the box office.
It was a decision that he deemed hasty as he thought that the script was “too demonic”.
Washington has had a brilliant career in the industry spanning over four decades, and his versatility has been proven time and again.
He has received numerous accolades such as a Tony award, two Oscars, and three Golden Globes.
Despite his successful career, Washington has turned down several roles in the past, and some of those decisions continue to haunt him.
Among them are David Fincher’s Seven and Tony Gilroy’s Michael Clayton.
In 1995, when Seven was offered to him, he rejected it because the script was too demonic for his taste.
However, after watching the finished film, he realized that he could have played the leading role and that it was a mistake to turn it down.
Washington’s reason for rejecting Michael Clayton was different though.
He felt that the first-time director, Tony Gilroy, would not be able to pull off the movie.
He later admitted that he was wrong and that it was the best material he had read in a long time.
But by then, it was too late.
Brad Pitt’s role in the movie Seven was a game-changer for his career.
Washington knew that it could have been him if he had only taken the chance.
The movie, despite its disturbing content, was a critical and commercial success, grossing $327 million at the box office against a budget of $33 million.
Pitt even demanded his version of the ending and got it.
Among other roles that Washington wished he had accepted were in the 80s military classics, Platoon and Full Metal Jacket.
In Platoon, he wanted to play the part of Willem Dafoe.
However, in Full Metal Jacket, he was not given the script in advance by director Stanley Kubrick.
Washington has moved on from his past regrets and is currently filming for The Equalizer 3, where he will reprise his vigilante role.
He is also set to appear in Sam Esmail’s Netflix thriller Leave the World Behind, alongside Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, Mahershala Ali, and Kevin Bacon.
In conclusion, Washington’s career as an actor has been a remarkable journey spanning over four decades.
He has proven his versatility over the years and has received numerous accolades for his work.
Although he has turned down several roles in the past, some of which he now regrets, he has moved on to other projects that continue to showcase his talent.
