Josh Brolin is a big-time movie star, but he still remains amazed that he almost got into fisticuffs with an even bigger star during the filming of a movie more than 15 years ago.
During an appearance on “In Depth with Graham Bensinger,” Brolin recalled almost coming to blows with Denzel Washington while making the 2007 movie “American Gangster.” Washington portrayed drug dealer Frank Lucas while Brolin portrayed a crooked police detective.
“Denzel and I, by the way, get along very well now,” Brolin said before describing the tense moment between the two actors. “Anyway, we almost got into a fight.
“There was a moment where (producer) Brian Grazer was going around with his hair standing straight up and I had done some scenes with Russell Crowe and he was like, ‘Josh and Russell, Josh and Russell, Josh and Russell are amazing,’ I’m sure Denzel got wind to that.”
Brolin said when he saw Washington, he wasn’t sure if the actor was in character or not, and he says he was in awe of Washington and the rest of the cast, which included Russell Crowe.
“Denzel was a little late to set and there was a whole thing there,” Brolin said. “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 going to put this down here and I’m going to put that up there.’ But he wouldn’t really look at me.
“So 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,” Brolin said. “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.
“And I put my hand on his shoulder and I said, ‘What’s the line?’ and he hits my hand off and he 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.’ We’re not actors anymore … at least in my mind. In his mind he was just doing his job.”
Brolin said he later learned that Washington was “just doing his job” by remaining in character. “But I didn’t know.” He said the tense moment passed and they were able to keep working.
“It’s like he’d said what he needed to say,” Brolin said. He added that when he saw Washington about a year later, he was friendly toward him.
Brolin also said he’s heard that it’s not uncommon for other actors to remain in character and react as Washington did.
“Those guys are just trying to do their job,” he said.