“I Blew It”: The Incredible $327M Thriller Role That Denzel Washington Regrets Turning Down

Denzel Washington has had one of the most impressive acting careers in the history of Hollywood, but he didn’t always make the right call, and he’s said that he still regrets turning down one major movie role to this day. Denzel Washington has starred in wildly profitable movies throughout his career, and he’s starred in every genre imaginable, from dramas to action. There were several roles that defined Washington’s career, but there was one he missed out on that could have changed his entire time in Hollywood.

Washington has played some of the best characters ever, and their status on that list is largely due to his performance in the role. He can effortlessly become any character he’s cast as, and that skill has allowed Washington to choose the roles he wishes to play. For most of his career, Washington has chosen quite well, and he’s curated an extremely impressive filmography with multiple hit films. He didn’t always choose correctly, though, and while Denzel Washington has starred in multiple action movies and thrillers throughout his career, he passed on one hugely successful role from 1995.

Denzel Washington Regrets Turning Down David Fincher’s Se7en

Washington could’ve played Brad Pitt’s character

In an interview with Jamie Foxx for Grey Goose Vodka, Foxx asked Washington if there was anything he wished he hadn’t turned down. Washington answered by saying that he had turned down the role of Detective Mills in Se7en, David Fincher’s 1995 dark mystery, and that Brad Pitt was later offered the part instead.

I thought the script was too demonic, then I saw the movie, and I was like ‘oh, I blew it.’ But, you know, it worked out alright.

Washington’s analysis of Se7en may have been right, as the movie is a decidedly dark tale about a serial killer obsessed with the seven deadly sins. Still, Denzel Washington would have been superb in Se7en, and he clearly still regrets passing up the opportunity. With over $327 million in box office revenue worldwide (via Box Office Mojo), Se7en nearly multiplied its budget by a factor of 10 and became hugely successful, so there was also a financial opportunity that Washington missed out on. Washington was very busy the year Se7en came out, though, as he released three separate movies, so he didn’t lose much momentum.

Denzel Washington As Detective Mills Would’ve Been Very Different

Se7en would’ve changed with Washington in the cast.

It’s hard not to imagine what Washington’s take on Mills would have been had he not turned down the role. He and Pitt have very different approaches to acting, so it’s safe to say Washington’s take on the character would have been unrecognizable from the final cut. He likely would have played a much more headstrong and angry version than Pitt, which would have played into the twist ending of Se7en, where Mills became Wrath, John Doe’s final victim, in a very satisfying way.

There’s also no telling how Washington’s take on the role would have changed the dynamic between Mills and Somerset. Washington and Morgan Freeman worked together before, in 1989’s Civil War film Glory, but that movie had a much different dynamic between their characters than they would have had in Se7en. Likely, Somerset would have had to expend more energy reeling in Washington’s Mills from his darker tendencies than he did Pitt’s. Washington also could have used his incredible range and taken the character in a completely different direction, though, so there’s no telling how well he could have done in Se7en.

Denzel Washington Turning Down Se7en Worked Out For The Best

Brad Pitt was perfectly cast

Washington’s rejection of Se7en was probably for the best, as it gave Brad Pitt a chance to shine in the role. Se7en was one of Pitt’s most memorable and influential roles early in his career, and it helped cement him as a leading actor. While Denzel Washington’s take on Mills surely would have been masterful, Pitt was also a great choice for the role. His unique take on the character and expert delivery of his famous question, “What’s in the box?” helped make Se7en such an enduring icon of the mystery genre.

Pairing Freeman with Pitt was a bold choice at the time, but it clearly paid off, and the film was better for it. Freeman’s older, wiser Somerset perfectly complemented Pitt’s young and brash Mills, and their on-screen chemistry was the core of Se7en that the rest of the movie was built on. Washington likely would have done just as admirable a job of playing an overconfident and flawed detective as Pitt did, but Pitt still gave a masterful performance. Se7en, as well as both Pitt and Washington’s careers, were more than fine after Washington turned down the role.

Other Notable Movies That Denzel Washington Turned Down

Se7en isn’t the only role he rejected

Se7en was neither the first nor last of his missed opportunities, though, as Washington has turned down a host of big roles that later went on to be massive successes. Some of the biggest movies he’s turned down include the lead role in I, Robot, the titular character in Michael Clayton, and the role of Joseph Clinqué in Amistad. Those roles were instead filled by Will Smith, George Clooney, and Djimon Hounsou, respectively. Washington has also turned down smaller opportunities that could have padded his filmography, such as A Perfect World and a minor part in Furious 7.

A notable takeaway from the roles Washington has turned down is how big they became. Many of the movies Washington passed on became tentpoles of other actors’ careers. I, Robot continued Smith’s hot streak in the early 2000s, while Amistad launched Hounsou’s career. Michael Clayton is also often referenced as one of the best movies in George Clooney’s entire filmography. The fact that Washington turned down such successful movies only proves how impressive his own career is. Other actors who missed out on so many hits would have faded into obscurity, while Washington is still at the top of the industry.

Denzel Washington’s career has had a few missteps, such as his rejection of a leading role in Se7en, but those mistakes are few and far between. For the vast majority of his time in front of a camera, Washington has been one of the most compelling lead actors ever. Part of that was due to his selective approach to potential roles, which associated his name with some of the most iconic characters in film. His selections weren’t always perfect, though, and Denzel Washington sometimes missed out on big opportunities, like Se7en.

Sources: Grey Goose Vodka, Box Office Mojo