Josh Brolin recalls a heated moment with Denzel Washington on American Gangster that almost led to a fight.

Josh Brolin’s journey to becoming a Hollywood elite has been long and unconventional, filled with determination and moments of humility. But even an actor of his stature can have strange run-ins with other contemporaries. However, this incident only became a memorable anecdote that Brolin could narrate years down the line.

Josh Brolin | Graham Bensinger/YouTube

It happened on the set of a Ridley Scott movie, and Brolin almost got into a fight with Denzel Washington. The latter is also known for being a humble and down-to-earth human, so the story might surprise you. Let’s look at the details of what exactly unfolded on that day.

The Heat of Collaboration: Josh Brolin and Denzel Washington Clash

Denzel Washington and Josh Brolin in American Gangster | Universal Pictures

In an interview with Graham Bensinger, Josh Brolin recalled an instance from the sets of American Gangster, a Ridley Scott crime drama that raked in $269 million dollars. Behind the scenes of this violent film, the most intense moment was probably between Denzel Washington and Brolin, which almost led to a fistfight.

I put my hand on his shoulder and said, ‘What’s the limit?’ and he knocked my hand off and he said, ‘Don’t ever put your hand on me,’” Brolin noted. The interaction put him on edge: ‘And I thought, ‘Holy s***, I’m going to cut with Denzel Washington. This is crazy.’ We are not actors anymore… at least in my mind.

Brolin was starstruck by Washington and forgot a line, and in an attempt to recover, he placed his hand on the latter’s shoulder to ask for a prompt. The moment was intense and raw, which shows that sometimes, high-pressure situations on movie sets can ignite tempers.

The Dynamics Between Josh Brolin and Denzel Washington After The Incident

Josh Brolin | GQ/YouTube

Even though the clash between the two actors sounds jarring, it does not derail the film or their professional relationship. Brolin essayed Detective Trupo, and Washington embodied the crime lord, Frank Lucas.

They both delivered great performances that contributed to the film’s success and critical acclaim. Moreover, Brolin also reflected upon the moment and said that his co-actor’s response was more about staying in the character rather than a personal confrontation.

In his eyes, he was just doing his job. He was Frank Lucas, period. But I didn’t know. And then we got through that moment and I said, ‘Are you okay?’ He said, ‘Yes, you?’ I said, ‘Yes. Can I get my line?’ He says, ‘Yes, go for it.’ It’s like he said what he had to say.

So, despite the momentary heat, there was no tension between the two after that. Washington even greeted Brolin with a warm hug a year later, signaling that there were no hard feelings between the two, and they only shared mutual respect and admiration for one another.