Josh Brolin Says He 'Almost Got Into a Fight' with Denzel Washington onAmerican GangsterSet: 'This Is Crazy'

Mar. 15, 2025

Josh Brolinsaid he and costarDenzel Washingtonnearly got physical while working on the set of 2007’sAmerican Gangster.

The actor, 56, appeared on theIn Depth with Graham Bensingerinterview series, at one point discussing his experience working with Washington, now 69, on directorRidley Scott’sAmerican Gangster.

InAmerican Gangster, Brolin played a detective investigating Washington’s lead character Frank Lucas, a prominent New York City gangster in the ’60s and ’70s. For Brolin, the movie was an opportunity to work with “some of my favorite actors” — but he and Washington experienced trouble when Washington changed Brolin’s lines for a scene last minute.

“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.”

“I put my hand on his shoulder and I said, ‘What’s the line?’ and he hit my hand off and he said, ‘Don’t ever f—ing 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.”

Denzel Washington and Josh Brolin in 2007’s American Gangster.Universal/Everett Collection

Universal/Everett Collection

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Brolin said Washington seemed caught up in the persona of his character for much of their time on set.

“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. “And then we got through that moment. 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 added during the interview that when he bumped into Washington at an event about a year after filmingAmerican Gangster, the two-time Oscar winner greeted him warmly. He also said A-list actors like Washington may view their time on movie sets differently than other actors who are excited to work with their own favorite performers.

Josh Brolin and Denzel Washington in 2007’s American Gangster.Universal/Everett Collection

“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,” Brolin said, comparing Washington’s on-set behavior to that of actors likeRobert Duvall.

Washington reunites with director Scott onGladiator II, in theaters Nov. 22.Brolin’s memoirFrom Under the Truckis out nowwherever books are sold.

source: people.com