“Off Script” interview seems like one that will linger with the legendary Oscar-winning actor throughout his entire career. He surely turned down a few roles that later became beloved (or even iconic), but perhaps not at the level of Brad Pitt’s David Mills in David Fincher’s timeless crime masterpiece, “Seven.”
Washington recounted, “I declined ‘Seven.’ They wanted me to portray the Brad Pitt character. I felt the script was too dark. Then I watched the film; I thought, ‘Oh, I messed up.’ But you know, it turned out fine.”
In hindsight, Pitt was likely a better fit for that part (being in his early 30s back then, while Washington was already in his 40s, for starters), but if you’re a genuine film enthusiast, it’s difficult not to imagine how that scenario could’ve unfolded. Denzel as a rookie investigator under the guidance of Morgan Freeman’s wise and experienced officer, Somerset, could’ve made for a fantastic duo, without a doubt.