Deemed one of the greatest actors in Hollywood, Denzel Washington exudes a classic movie star aura. Renowned for his enduring charm and the seamless blend of irony and sincerity in his iconic roles, Washington embodies the timeless essence of a Hollywood legend. He is also known for avoiding the franchise films, with the notable exception of The Equalizer trilogy.
He has also been commended for the same by being named the second-highest-grossing actor to not star in a franchise, following the Titanic star Leonardo DiCaprio. However, Washington did not seem to mind the ranking, as he responded with a touch of wit.
Denzel Washington Has no Issues Losing to Leonardo DiCaprio
In a conversation with ScreenRant, Denzel Washington expressed his disinterest in sequels and potential franchise films, as he highlighted his approach of focusing on each film individually rather than considering potential sequels.
When he was informed that he has been ranked as “#2 for the highest-grossing stars who have not done a franchise,” right behind Leonardo DiCaprio, Washington humorously added, “They’ve got more categories… stars who have not done franchises. Is that a compliment?”
When it was suggested that DiCaprio shouldn’t be on the list due to his role in Critters 3, Washington jokingly replied, “I’ll tell him you said so.” It’s evident that the 69-year-old actor isn’t bothered by his placement on the list, let alone trailing behind DiCaprio.
The Training Day star had been among the actors who wield considerable box office power without starring in film series, until The Equalizer trilogy. It has been the only film series that he has starred in before the upcoming Gladiator sequel.
However, unlike Washington, many actors have achieved immense box office success by starring in popular franchises. Most of the highest-grossing actors in the industry are from franchises, notably from the MCU, including Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Samuel L. Jackson, and Scarlett Johansson.
Denzel Washington Rejected $2.7 Billion Franchise
Reports have stated that Denzel Washington was actually offered the role of Mr. Nobody in the Fast and Furious franchise. However, he reportedly denied the offer as the minimal character would not fully utilize his time and talent.
The role eventually went to Kurt Russell. As per ScreenRant,
“Although the actor has shown incredible range throughout his career, Washington’s characters tend to be much more serious than Russell’s, remaining stoic and reticent until it’s time to deliver an Oscar-worthy monologue.”
Despite not participating in blockbuster franchises like the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Fast and Furious, Washington remains one of the industry’s leading stars. As per Forbes, the Malcolm X star was one of the highest-paid actors of 2023 with the success of his 2023 film The Equalizer 3, which grossed $191 million globally.
The Equalizer 3 is available to stream on Netflix.
