The One Classic Film Denzel Washington Said No To—And Why He Now Calls It a Mistake

Denzel Washington has always been known for his sharp eye in choosing roles, and with a career spanning decades, it’s hard to find a movie he regrets turning down. However, there is one iconic film that still stirs a hint of regret in the actor’s heart: David Fincher’s Seven (1995). Washington, despite the filmmakers’ repeated efforts to secure him for the role, turned down the opportunity to star alongside Brad Pitt in what would go on to become one of the greatest serial killer thrillers of all time.

In a career-spanning 2018 interview with fellow actor Jamie Foxx, Washington opened up about the film he regretted passing on. When asked if there was ever a role he turned down that he now wishes he had taken, Washington immediately mentioned Seven. “They wanted me to play the Brad Pitt part,” he confessed, noting the film’s eventual success. However, he quickly followed up by explaining his decision to decline the project.

A Dark Script and a New Director

Washington admitted that the main reason he passed on Seven was the dark and disturbing nature of the script. “I thought the script was too demonic,” he revealed. This concern was shared by several other prominent actors at the time, including Ned Beatty, who was reportedly approached to play the role of John Doe, the film’s terrifying antagonist. Beatty famously called the screenplay “the most evil thing I’ve ever read.”

David Fincher, the director behind Seven, was relatively new to the scene when the film was in the works, having only directed Alien 3 prior to this. In a 2024 interview, Fincher revealed how New Line Cinema went to great lengths to accommodate Washington’s concerns about the script, even rewriting it “ten or 11 times” to try to secure him for the film. Despite these efforts, Washington still turned the role down.

The “Bait and Switch” Approach

Interestingly, Fincher admitted that he had never interacted directly with Washington during the Seven casting process. By the time Fincher was brought on as the director, Washington had already moved on from the project. However, Washington’s version of events differs slightly, as he pointed out that Fincher’s relative inexperience may have been another factor in his decision to pass. “I read the script, and it was dark,” he said, adding, “David Fincher was new on the scene. I think he had only done one movie.”

Despite the script revisions and Washington’s manager being appointed as a producer on the film, the actor still walked away. Fincher humorously remarked, “It was like, ‘If I produce the film, you can get Denzel.’”

Looking Back: “I Blew It”

In hindsight, Washington has admitted that he may have made a mistake by turning down the role. While he initially felt certain that it was the right decision, after seeing the final film, he confessed to Foxx, “Oh, I blew it.” Washington was gracious in his assessment, later acknowledging, “Evidently, it wasn’t for me. It was for Brad all the time.”

Despite Washington’s decision, Seven became a box office and critical success. The film’s haunting portrayal of a world engulfed in evil, along with Pitt’s and Morgan Freeman’s stellar performances, helped elevate it to a classic status, forever changing the landscape of crime thrillers.

A Tangible Influence on Future Roles

Washington’s decision to turn down Seven not only marked a significant moment in his career but may have also influenced some of his subsequent choices. Fans have speculated that the actor’s regret over passing on such a remarkable role affected the types of films he chose in the late 1990s. For example, Washington later took on the role of a supernatural serial killer thriller in Fallen (1998) and portrayed the paraplegic detective Lincoln Rhyme in The Bone Collector (1999). While both films were solid in their own right, neither came close to matching the critical acclaim or cultural impact of Seven.

Looking back, it’s easy to see how Washington’s decision to avoid the film might have set a different course for his career, especially in the genre of psychological thrillers. Yet, despite the missed opportunity, Washington’s career is undoubtedly one of the most celebrated in Hollywood. Seven might be a film that got away, but Washington’s body of work is a testament to his diverse range and undeniable talent.

In the end, Washington may have passed on one of the most iconic roles in modern film, but his decision to chart his own path in Hollywood has only solidified his status as one of the industry’s finest actors. Whether or not he regrets it, Seven was a landmark film, and the actor’s career continued to flourish, reminding us all that sometimes even the greatest actors have to pass on a part or two.