Did You Know Denzel Washington Almost Played This Major Role in Fast & Furious Movies

Denzel Washington in the Fast & Furious movies? Now that’s an exciting thought. He was actually considered for a big role in the franchise. But Washington turned it down, leaving the door open for another Hollywood legend.

This decision wasn’t surprising. Washington is one of the greatest actors of all time. The actor has starred in action-packed movies before, but he’s very selective about the roles he takes. As fun as the Fast & Furious movies are, they’re not exactly known for deep storytelling or complex characters.

For Washington, who’s used to leading films with dramatic and powerful roles, saying no to the Fast saga might’ve been the right move. Let’s take a closer look at why he turned it down, why it worked out for the best, and other iconic roles he passed on over the years.

Denzel Washington Almost Took Iconic Fast & Furious Role

When you think about it, Denzel Washington playing Mr. Nobody makes sense. The character is a secretive, slick government agent with a lot of power but very little backstory. That’s the kind of role the 69-year-old could make unforgettable.

Mr. Nobody first appeared in Furious 7, bringing some serious spy vibes to the series. He played a big part in introducing Ramsey, the tech genius, to Dom’s team. Washington also helped Hobbs and Shaw team up and was later revealed to have saved Han after his supposed death in Tokyo Drift.

That’s a lot of influence for one character. But as important as Mr. Nobody is, his role isn’t very big. He’s more of a plot driver than a fully developed character. Kurt Russell did an excellent job with it, but it’s easy to see why Washington said no.

A role like that wouldn’t let Washington show off his full acting chops. Let’s be real—when he’s in a movie, you expect him to steal the show, not just show up for a couple of scenes.

Why Denzel Washington Dodging Fast & Furious Was Smart

Dodging Mr. Nobody might’ve been Denzel Washington’s smoothest move yet. While Kurt Russell killed it in Furious 7, the franchise kind of forgot about him after that.

By the time Fate of the Furious and F9 rolled around, Mr. Nobody was mostly sidelined. He showed up briefly, gave some cryptic instructions, and then disappeared. In F9, the character was only mentioned in a distress call, and the movie left his fate unclear.

For Russell, this was fine. He’s a veteran action star who brought his usual charm to the part. But imagine if Washington had taken the role. His fans would’ve expected more—bigger scenes, deeper moments, and a real story arc. Instead, they would’ve been disappointed to see him reduced to a minor supporting role in such a huge franchise.

Sure, The Fast & Furious franchise may rake in billions, but it’s not exactly built for deep character arcs. Washington is used to leading films, not just filling in gaps. By skipping out on this part, he avoided being wasted in a role that didn’t do justice to his talent.

Denzel Washington’s Other Major Rejected Roles

This isn’t the first time Denzel Washington has turned down a big role. Over the years, he’s been offered some iconic parts but decided they weren’t right for him. Take Se7en, for example.

The Oscar winner was originally offered the role of Detective Mills, the young cop played by Brad Pitt. If he had taken it, Se7en would’ve reunited Washington with Morgan Freeman, his co-star from Glory.

Their chemistry in Glory was incredible, and seeing them team up again would’ve been amazing. But Washington thought the script for Se7en was too dark and passed on the project. As he said in an interview with Grey Goose Vodka:

I thought the script was too demonic, then I saw the movie, and I was like ‘oh, I blew it.’ But, you know, it worked out alright.

Pitt ended up playing Mills and nailed the role, especially in the unforgettable What’s in the box?! scene. Still, it’s fun to imagine how Washington’s version of Mills might’ve been different—probably calmer, more intense, and just as gripping.

Another big role he passed on? Blade. Back in the ’90s, Marvel wanted him to play the half-vampire superhero. At the time, Washington was already a huge star, and casting him as Blade would’ve been a bold move. But he said no, and the role went to Wesley Snipes, who turned it into one of the most iconic superhero performances ever.

Instead of Blade, Washington went on to star in Fallen, a supernatural thriller where he played a detective hunting a demon. It wasn’t a blockbuster, but it gave him a great platform to shine as the lead.

These choices show how carefully Washington picks his projects. He’s not afraid to turn down big opportunities if they don’t feel right. And even when he says no, he always finds other ways to deliver incredible performances.