Denzel Washington played the lead role of Nick Styles in the 1991 action crime thriller, Ricochet. The film had a moderate box office performance, but the writer of the film initially envisioned it as a Dirty Harry film. However, the script written by Fred Dekker proved too much for Clint Eastwood, the iconic Harry Callahan, who rejected the script, deeming it too grim.
Notably, the Dirty Harry films were known for their dark and intense themes. Washington was eventually cast in the film, but the violent script was not fully brought onto the screen. In fact, some of the scenes had to be edited down due to the disturbing reactions from the test audience.
Denzel Washington’s Movie Was Too Grim For Clint Eastwood
In an interview with FakeShemp.net, Fred Dekker shared that his script for Ricochet was initially planned as a Dirty Harry film. When it was pitched to the legendary Clint Eastwood, he turned it down as he felt the story was too grim even for Dirty Harry. At one point, Dekker considered directing the script himself and even met with Kurt Russell about starring in the film. Dekker shared with FakeShemp.net:
“I had actually written RICOCHET as a Dirty Harry movie. When Clint Eastwood deemed it “too grim” (which is funny if you’ve seen a Dirty Harry movie), the producer Joel Silver took in a different direction. I met Kurt Russell about starring in it with me directing, but eventually it became the movie you know. I counted seven things of mine left in the finished product. Great cast though, and Russell is a Facebook friend.”
As Dekker explained, when Joel Silver took over the film, he hired Russell Mulcahy to direct and Denzel Washington to star in the film. The story by Dekker underwent significant changes in the screenplay by Steven E. de Souza. Reportedly, some of the violent and gory scenes that made it to the film, were cut down after a test screening.
Mulcahy explained that in one of the scenes from the initial cut, John Lithgow’s Hitman character tortures Styles until he vomits, and the film explicitly shows the vomit and the clean-up. No wonder, Clint Eastwood rejected this movie considering his history of playing the ‘macho man’ characters.
Clint Eastwood May Have Had Some Problems With Certain Scenes And Plotlines
After Mulcahy’s explanation, fans may not want to watch an uncut version of the film. However, the original film itself was difficult to watch. Denzel Washington’s character gets kidnapped, drugged, and r*ped in the film, something Clint Eastwood would have never agreed to. The Million Dollar Baby actor further would have taken objection to the lead character having a drug dealer friend.
The fate of the film may have been different if it had been part of the Dirty Harry franchise. It grossed $21 million during its theatrical run and went largely unnoticed by a wider audience. Washington went on to become a legendary star himself in Hollywood, while Eastwood retired the Dirty Harry character as he was too old to carry the character.
Clint Eastwood’s next directorial venture, Juror #2, is currently in production and Denzel Washington recently released the third installment to his successful franchise, The Equalizer.
Ricochet is now available for streaming on Cinemax.
