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Universal drops American Gangster

You would have expected Universal to have done the necessary math a couple of weeks before American Gangster was due to start filming, wouldn't you?

Oct 6 2004

Surely the reason that American Gangster has been shelved, just a couple of weeks before it was due to start filming in Harlem, can't be because the proposed $80 million budget exceeds the $70 million Denzel Washington's films usually gross?

Apparently, director Antoine Fuqua left the project early last week citing creative differences - thought to be with studio heads - as the cause. It's doubtful that the differences were with Washington, as last time they joined forces on Training Day, Denzel won an Oscar for Best Actor. Add producer Brian Grazer to the equation (A Beautiful Mind grossed $170 million and 8 Mile grossed $117 million) and in theory it should equal 'c-ching'.

The film itself also looked set to be a winner in creative terms - a great actor playing a great character in a great story. Washington would have played Harlem drug lord Frank Lucas, who profited from the Vietnam war in a shockingly immoral way - smuggling heroin in the coffins of dead soldiers.

If the problem was one of budget let's hope that Universal will eventually be able to see past the cash register and decide to fund this potential gem after all, we'll let you know.

User comments on this story

katrina mitchell said...

I am just so so very very thrill to see Mr. Washington on the big or little screen any day, and in whatever he plays. Posted on Aug 14 2006 21:09

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dorthy said...

l really lov Denzell Ms. Babbs is right you can bring it on to this momma too. He really got it going on. woooo weeee do he. Posted on Aug 14 2006 21:06

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babbs said...

like letisia j. said, i got all D's work, now someone needs to bring it on home to momma so I can have complete library. (where's Spike Lee) he and D can finish this movie by themselves. Posted on Aug 04 2006 16:41

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letisia jaime said...

i would really like to see this film out due to the fact that i have all of washington's collection besides this one. or if there is a way i can purshase one let me know asap because no one here back in the east belives me about this movie{american gangster} Posted on Jul 30 2006 20:18

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barbara said...

Mr. D, is so devine, his greatness shines, he cannot be duplicated. This lil' old gal from chicago knows, cause i have live half a century and still look like a 30 yr. old, and beloved by all who know me. Posted on Jul 27 2006 16:41

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