The One Movie Denzel Washington Says He Should Have Accepted

Before he became known for intense and serious roles, Denzel Washington was seen as one of Hollywood’s most charming stars. Early in his career, audiences loved him for his warmth and calm presence. His work on the TV series St. Elsewhere and films like Remember the Titans helped build his image as someone viewers could instantly trust and root for.

That makes one decision from the 1990s stand out even more. In past interviews and public conversations, Washington has shared that he turned down a role in the 1995 thriller Se7en. The film later became a classic, but at the time, he had doubts. According to Washington, the main reason was his hesitation about working with director David Fincher, who was still early in his career and not yet widely respected in Hollywood.

Back then, Fincher was best known for directing stylish music videos for artists like Madonna. His first major movie, Alien 3, had a rough production and did not give him the strong reputation he has today. Washington was coming off powerful films like Malcolm X and Crimson Tide, and he was careful about choosing his next steps.

It is not clear which role Washington was offered, but many believe it would have been the older detective later played by Morgan Freeman. At that point, Washington may have felt that the role was too close to the calm and steady characters he had already done many times. He seemed to sense that he needed a change.

That change came a few years later. In 2001, Washington surprised everyone by playing the corrupt and dangerous cop Alonzo Harris in Training Day. The role completely flipped his public image. Instead of being the good guy, he became someone frightening and unpredictable. The performance earned him an Academy Award and opened the door to darker and more daring roles.

From that moment on, Washington’s career expanded in new directions. He moved easily between action films like The Equalizer and deeper stories like The Book of Eli. He also stepped behind the camera, directing films such as Fences, based on August Wilson’s play.

Washington is still moving at full speed in 2026. He received strong reviews for Highest 2 Lowest, a mystery thriller released in late 2025 that reunited him with Spike Lee. The film is a modern take on Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low and has been praised for its sharp tension and performances.

He also has several major projects on the way. Here Comes the Flood, a heist film directed by Fernando Meirelles, finished filming in January 2026 and will arrive on Netflix later this year. Washington stars alongside Robert Pattinson and Daisy Edgar-Jones. Another long-awaited project is a historical epic about the general Hannibal, directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by John Logan. Washington has spoken for years about wanting to bring that story to life.

Most recently, he caught attention for his role in Gladiator II. While reactions to the film were mixed, many critics agreed that Washington’s performance as the villain was the standout part of the movie.

Looking back, passing on Se7en is one of the rare choices Washington has openly questioned. Still, his career shows that even missed chances can lead to bold reinventions.

Do you think Denzel Washington made the right call by turning down Se7en, or would that role have changed his path even more? Share your thoughts in the comments.