On his final day of filming “Vigilant 3,” Denzel Washington completed his final scene and quietly slipped away. He knew, of course, that it was a historic occasion, but the two-time Academy Award-winning actor is not a man to make a fuss.
He played Robert McCall, the former US Marine and intelligence agent who becomes a ruthless vigilante when confronted with injustice, in three films spanning a decade, working alongside director Antoine Fuqua and a team of trusted collaborators. to create a contemporary cinematic anti-hero that captivated millions around the world.
The final installment of the trilogy is set in Italy – McCall seeks refuge in a small coastal town when he becomes embroiled in a battle with the mafia – and when the director shouted, “Cut,” it was a special moment for Washington, even in a career as stellar as his. But the protagonist simply packed his bags and returned home.
Washington first played McCall in “The Vigilante” in 2014, reuniting with Fuqua, who had directed him in his brilliant Oscar-winning performance as a corrupt cop in “Training Day” (2001). In fact, “The Vigilante 3” marks their fifth film together.
Washington was born in Mount Vernon, New York, and studied theater at Fordham University. After starring in the medical drama “St. Elsewhere”, established himself as one of the best actors of his generation with films such as “Mo’ Better Blues”, “Philadelphia”, “Red Tide”, “The Devil in a Blue Dress”, “The Perfect Plan”, “American Gangster ”, “The Book of Eli”, “Protecting the Enemy” and “Armed and Dangerous”.
The prolific actor gave this interview before the Screen Actors Guild strike. He won two Academy Awards; Best Supporting Actor for “Tiempos de gloria” (1990) and Best Actor for “Training Day” (2001). He has eight other Oscar nominations.
News: What was it like making “The Vigilante 3”?
Denzel Washington: First it was very different because we were in Europe, specifically Italy, which was great and specifically the Amalfi Coast, which was beautiful.
News: Did you know that part of Italy?
Washington: I had actually been to the Amalfi Coast but I had never been where we filmed. It’s a part of Italy that I love. I have been all over Italy and for the last 30 years we have gone to that part of the world almost every summer. But I had never been there for work before. And it is absolutely beautiful. It was a real pleasure to work there.
News: What does taking Robert McCall from the American stage and putting him in Italy add to the story?
Washington: I wouldn’t say he’s not in his element, but obviously there are language differences, cultural differences, food differences, all those things. So McCall has challenges to face, but he always faces them. And he is a man who loves a challenge.
News: Looking for some peace there?
Washington: I definitely think so. And not in the way you think when you first get there, but as you develop, the people you meet, the city you become a part of. I don’t know if we can say that he is looking for something that has nothing to do with his stay in Italy. But I think it speaks more to his restlessness and his inability to leave his job.
News: Robert McCall is the only character he has returned to on the big screen. What does he have that he likes to perform?
Washington: What I discovered from talking to people is that they like the character because he stands up for justice. Just different people I’ve talked to really like that character and say, “Well, he can catch the bad guys that we can’t catch.” He can grab those in authority, the people in power, and take them down and that seems to be something that audiences are interested in about him.
News: But how important is the emotional core that is part of the “The Vigilante” films?
Washington: Interestingly, it gives people a chance before executing (no pun intended) justice. He tries to give people a chance to do the right thing, but he keeps running into the wrong people.
News: And while we’re talking creative partnerships, the film reunites you with Dakota Fanning after first working together on “Man on Fire” almost 20 years ago. How was that?
Washington: It’s just interesting to look into that little girl’s eyes 20 years ago and now she’s a grown woman. It’s a little strange for me personally, not in a bad way. But she is just lovely and needless to say she is very talented.
News: Let’s talk a little about the history of “The Vigilante”. His character encounters a very formidable adversary in the form of the mafia, right?
Washington: Yes, he gets drawn into the lives of the people in this small town where he finds himself. And he can’t help it. Initially he is hurt and needs help and that is part of it, Robert is a person who is not used to needing or wanting help. He has largely been a loner. And that is not the case now. He can’t go any further alone. He is forced to deal with people, he is forced to depend on people and, ultimately, he is forced to learn to enjoy other people.
News: What kind of preparation did you have to do for this film?
Washington: It’s been a two-year process so far, just my physical transformation, since the beginning of 2022 I lost about 13 kilos and now I’ve probably lost another 7 kilos. There is a line in “The Tragedy of Macbeth” where he talks about the “yellow leaf” of his life and I think I am in that place now, I think I am in the yellow leaf period, the leaves are not going to be that green anymore. (laughs). And that’s fine. So I am in a present where physically, spiritually and mentally I want to be at my best. I want to see what the limit is, what I have to offer.
News: Do you enjoy that kind of physical challenge?
Washington: Yes, I do. I don’t want to say you have to reinvent the wheel, but you need challenges, and in this case, even in preparation for making “Gladiator 2,” just the physical challenge and, you know, you have to rise to the occasion. And I’m achieving it (laughs).
News: How much of the action scenes do they let you do? The film falls on his shoulders, do they try to prevent him from doing certain things?
Washington: Well, because I’ve been training and boxing for years, for decades, I’m good at throwing punches and being physical. But to answer your question, I have a great stunt double and I try to let him do as much as he can and I try to take credit for everything (laughs). So when it comes to throwing punches, I’m usually the one throwing them! When it comes to taking hits it’s usually him and when it comes to throwing them it’s usually me!
News: So you still box?
Washington: Yes. In fact, when I get up in the morning it’s part of my training. And you know, Father Time is undefeated (laughs).
News: How was your last day on set? When she finished and said goodbye to this character that has spanned the better part of a decade.
Washington: I didn’t think about it that way because I was going home. I do not know what I was thinking of. It wasn’t a moment. And the reality is that you never know…
News: You never know if you might play him again?
Washington: I know, but you never know (laughs). My body knows it. My knees know it.
News: And what do you hope audiences get from the film?
Washington: I hope you feel the warmth that is part of this. You start supporting these people. I think the town of Atrani only has about 800 people and in our story they all come together to fight. Their strength is in numbers and they help fight the bad guys. They are no longer afraid of being bullied and it was fun to be a part of this story. I hope people enjoy it the same way they enjoyed the first two movies. It has lots of spectacular action and brilliant performances from a great cast.
News: And that last day, did you have an emotional farewell with the director or did you just leave?
Washington: I’m always one of those who walks away calmly and without big speeches. In fact, on my last day we were filming in Rome and I am a quiet person, without fanfare, before you realized I was already gone.
News: And that suits the character, right?
Washington: That’s true. After having done his work, she left.
News: But maybe he could come back if we needed to?
Washington: Maybe there must be some crime in Paris or the south of France? I smell bad guys on the Greek islands! There’s gotta be some bad guys in there (laughs)
