http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/ ... 7-20130801

With him on board, it'd have been insane.

good for dw, as he is too good to whore himself out for a franchise

I think Statham brings more excitement to the F&F fanbase than Denzel would have. Granted - his star power is much bigger and mat have helped attract a different crowd - but Statham fits in better with the demo.

except if he was a cop trying to stop them. something he has done many time before.

will be too biz in bats vs supes

Maybe for the 8th film! Which we all know there will be an 8th!

Agree 100%
Statham just fits better for the franchise

Denzel's gone Crazy!

Why! Why not do a cameo or what not in one of the biggest franchises out right now. Denzel...why???

Denzel Washington is definitely above this franchise. I know he has largely focused on audience friendly action and suspense films in recent years, but these are big-budget star vehicles for him and often by respected directors, such as Jonathan Demme or the late Tony Scott. Washington has no reason to do a supporting role in a Fast & Furious movie. There is a reason these films star Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Tyrese Gibson, and Michelle Rodriguez, and it is the same reason we will never see Denzel Washington, Tom Cruise, or George Clooney in one of them, even if they earn a billion dollars worldwide. They are trashy. Although the fact the producers thought Washington would even consider it does indicate films such as Safe House and 2 Guns have impacted his reputation in the industry to a certain extent. I am sure this is part of the reason he pursued Flight last year.

Denzel Washington is definitely above this franchise. I know he has largely focused on audience friendly action and suspense films in recent years, but these are often by respected directors, such as Jonathan Demme or the late Tony Scott. Washington has no reason to do a supporting role in a Fast & Furious movie. There is a reason these films star Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Tyrese Gibson, and Michelle Rodriguez, and it is the same reason we will never see Denzel Washington, Tom Cruise, or George Clooney in one of them, even if they earn a billion dollars worldwide. They are pure trash.

Although the fact the producers thought Washington would even consider it does indicate that the producers have no sense of reality in the real world the same as they have no sense of reality on film.

Good news

I always have to laugh at the thought of an actor having to maintain a reputation. Like acting is a life altering job like a brain surgeon or some sort of nuclear engineer.
He may have turned it down because he doesn't like the franchise, what would be fair enough or because he has some other project that interests him more. But the thought of someone considering that an actor is below or above something is ludicrous.
I very much prefer Oscar winning actors (Nicholson, Pacino, Kidman, Sarandon) willing to make fools of themselves in trashy Adam Sandler comedies or B-movie action vehicles ( DeNiro in Killer Elite or Brody in Predators) by such "respected" directors as Gary McKendry or Nimrod than arrogant pricks who consider they have something like a status they have to defend and the supporters that defend that idea.

Btw, Diesel has also worked with Oscar winning respected directors. Rodriguez too.

Smart move.

Yes, turning down MILLIONS of dollars. SMART move!

(says nobody ever)

Sure, if that's the way you want to run your career...

I like to make a lot of money in my career. Acting in a movie that will probably make $850+ mil WW and will get positive reviews and will be very well liked by audiences?

Sign me up. All day.

Denzel Washington gets tens of millions of dollars for any movie he does, though. He does not need to tie himself to a franchise to stay relevant the way Vin Diesel does.

This is a bit of an idiotic comment. I am not saying an actor needs to have the consistency of a neurosurgeon, but I believe most people are mindful of reputation. At least respectable people with a healthy level of ambition and a sturdy sense of professionalism. A band hopes to be regarded as a gifted and interesting group of musicians. An actor hopes to be regarded as popular and talented. An Olympic athlete hopes to be regarded as excellent within their discipline. A lawyer... A doctor... A carpenter... And so on and so forth.

And it is very true Diesel, an actor I have nothing against, has acted for greats such as Steven Spielberg and Sidney Lumet, but, let's be honest here, his career and image is not defined by Saving Private Ryan and Find Me Guilty. He is the macho lug from the street-racing movies. This is the image he has honed for himself. Almost no one has seen a new, non-Fast & Furious Vin Diesel movie for eight years.

Being in a single movie in a franchise does not "tie" you to a franchise.

It expands your brand.

And, again, F&F is a very well liked brand. And actually gets good reviews.

He probably would have only made 5-10 million for the role. That'd be a pay cut for him to go slumming. What can an actor honestly add to an ensemble film that's doing it again for the 7th time. This isn't Ocean's Eleven, and even Pacino seemed forced when he signed on for the third film.

Can't find the English source, bt I read a German article yesterday, which expanded on the situation. Denzel was supposed to have a small part in the 7th, but it would have been expanded to a major role in Fast & Furious 8.

So that means it could have been Diesel, Rock, Statham and Denzel? We wouldn't have even needed an Expendables 3.

Apparently the studio is keen on casting another A-lister in that role. Who would you think could fit, if they were going for a Denzel-type?

Maybe Forest Whitaker?

What do u think the role is?

I assume some bad guy.