Movies News Talk
For "American Gangster," Director Antoine Fuqua had a very clear idea featuring a distinct cast and title. In his imagined narrative, Denzel Washington—starring in the last movie—would be joined by Benicio del Toro as a detective figure. Fuqua likewise intended the title to be "Blue-Something," but finally changed it to "American Gangster." Fuqua's interpretation of the movie would have highlighted a special relationship between Washington and del Toro, therefore presenting a somewhat distinct experience.
Fuqua had started pre-production and was supposed to oversee the movie, but financial problems brought everything down. The studio supporting the production, Universal Pictures, disagreed on the cast or funding given Fuqua's vision. This caused the movie to be shelved until Ridley Scott picked it up finally.
Denzel Washington starred in the last movie, which Ridley Scott directed; Russell Crowe filled in for Benicio del Toro in the detective capacity. Fuqua's approach would have been close cooperation with Washington based on their past triumphs including "Training Day." Though Scott was the director of the critically praised film, it's difficult not to ponder how different it would have been under Fuqua's supervision.
"American Gangster" was a critical triumph even with a new director. It got great reviews; on Rotten Tomatoes, it scored an 81%. Ruby Dee was nominated for Best Supporting Actress and Best Art Direction among two Academy Awards. All things considered, "American Gangster" is a successful movie that highlights the brutal reality of crime in 1970s New York and Denzel Washington's amazing acting prowess.
Fuqua's inability to oversee "American Gangster" had no effect on their careers. They kept collaborating on more noteworthy Movies including "The Equalizer" and "The Magnificent Seven," so strengthening their effective relationship. Although it's unfortunate that their cooperation on "American Gangster" never materialized, the lost chance did not prevent either of them from having enormous success in the movie business.
Fuqua showed grief at losing the project, but he showed no regret. He said, "that's Hollywood," demonstrating his awareness of the erratic character of the movie business. His continuous building of a solid and favorable career is demonstrated by his later on working with Washington on multiple other successful films.