Denzel Washington once cursed out the actor behind Marvel’s greatest villain and it nearly led to fisticuffs

While the glamorous world of acting often comes with red carpets and award ceremonies, the behind-the-scenes drama can sometimes be just as intense. Marvel villain Josh Brolin recently shared a story of a heated moment with his American Gangster co-star Denzel Washington while filming the 2007 biopic. Brolin recounted the incident during an appearance on In Depth with Graham Bensinger, where he explained that a disagreement between the two almost escalated into a physical altercation.

The tension began when Washington, who was late to set, changed the structure of Brolin’s lines without consulting him. Brolin, trying to keep up, forgot one of his lines during a rehearsal. In an attempt to regain his footing, he put his hand on Washington’s shoulder and asked, “What’s the line?” Washington, staying in character as Frank Lucas, the gangster he portrayed, reacted sharply, slapping Brolin’s hand away and telling him, “Don’t ever f*****g put your hand on me.”

Brolin recalled the moment as a potential confrontation, thinking, “I’m gonna scrap with Denzel Washington. This is crazy.” However, with hindsight, he realized that Washington was just staying true to his character. “He was that guy. He was Frank Lucas,” Brolin reflected. After the brief tension, they continued the scene, and Washington gave Brolin the line when he asked.

Despite the fiery moment on set, Brolin emphasized that he and Washington now get along well. This clash adds to the lore of American Gangster, which, beyond the drama between actors, tells the story of the real-life gangster Frank Lucas, portrayed by Washington, and his interactions with the law, represented by Brolin’s character, Richie Roberts.

In a more recent interview, Washington shared some timeless acting advice. During the Gladiator II premiere, where he stars as Macrinus, a former slave seeking control of Rome, he told aspiring actors on TikTok, “You can’t learn to be an actor online. You got to get on the stage.” He encouraged young talent to seek out theater experience, no matter how small the role. “If you want what I got, do what I did.”