The American Gangster Denzel Washington Selected for Casting Made All the Difference
With an amazing 81% Rotten Tomatoes score, Denzel Washington's 2007 crime film American Gangster enthralled viewers with its compelling narrative and superb ensemble. But a key casting change changed the dynamic of the movie in a way that still sparks discussion among viewers and critics.
From Antoine Fuqua to Ridley Scott: An Evolution in Vision
Antoine Fuqua was first supposed to be the director of American Gangster. Fuqua had decided on another actor to play Detective Richie Roberts and had already cast Denzel Washington as the infamous drug lord Frank Lucas during the pre-production stage. But Universal Studios stepped in because of creative differences and financial restraints, finally bringing Ridley Scott as the director. This change in leadership signaled the start of a major turnabout in the course of the movie.
The Original Choice for Richie Roberts: Benicio Del Toro
At a Comic-Con panel, Antoine Fuqua revealed that Benicio Del Toro—known for his nuanced and sophisticated roles in Movies like Sicario and Traffic—was his first choice for Richie Roberts. Fuqua thought Del Toro's tough and morally dubious acting approach would be ideal for the part, providing a strong counterpoint to Denzel Washington's Frank Lucas.
Russell Crowe Steps On Stage: Dynamic Change
Once he assumed leadership of the project, Ridley Scott chose Russell Crowe to replace Del Toro. Richie Roberts gained a different dynamic from Crowe's strong and forceful acting approach, which he best shown in L.A. Confidential. Although Crowe gave a good performance, the decision begged issues about whether Del Toro's original interpretation might have improved the complexity of the movie even more.
Suppose Benicio Del Toro had played Richie Roberts?
Had Benicio Del Toro assumed the role of Detective Richie Roberts, the relationship between him and Frank Lucas might have been quite different. Del Toro's ability to capture morally dubious characters—as demonstrated in his parts in Sicario and Traffic—may have added an interesting level of complexity to the detective's quest of justice. This might have produced a more complex and provocative depiction of the cat-and-- mouse game between the two men as well as a more difficult examination of the thematic complexity of the movie.
A Difficult Casting Choice
Although Russell Crowe's performance was received favorably, the choice of cast finally produced conflicting views. While some supporters and detractors valued Crowe's tenacity and conviction for the part, others thought Del Toro's original viewpoint and technique would have given the narrative a more interesting and complex component. Still up for contention is how this casting choice will affect the legacy of the movie.
