Antonie Fuqua is in the midst of a career renaissance right now. After “The Guilty,” “Infinite,” and “The Day Sports Stood Still” last year, his Amazon Prime Video show “The Terminal List” dropped in July. Fuqua’s documentary series, “Legacy: The True Story Of The LA Lakers,” also hits Hulu on August 15. He also potentially has “Emancipation” on the way in 2023. However, Apple may hold off on that film’s release if the controversy surrounding Will Smith fails to die down.
READ MORE: Antoine Fuqua Says ‘Emancipation’ Starring Will Smith Is The “Best” Film He’s Ever Made
All of these projects indicate Fuqua is a talent in demand in Hollywood. However, when the director sat down with The Hollywood Reporter for a recent interview, he wanted to discuss a project that slipped through his fingers. So, which movie is the “one that got away” for Fuqua? None other than “American Gangster,” the 2007 movie that stars frequent Fuqua collaborator Denzel Washington as Harlem drug lord Frank Lucas.
“Oh, yeah. “American Gangster,” Fuqua said when asked what film he wished he did. “It breaks my heart just to say it out loud. [Fuqua was set to direct the film but left over “creative differences” with Universal. Ridley Scott eventually directed.] I didn’t know enough then. I don’t think I navigated it the way I should have, or had a full perspective and understanding of the business, like the fiscal responsibilities and the pressure that everyone’s under, including the executives.”
Fuqua didn’t go into detail about why “American Gangster” fell through for him, but he still feels strongly about it. “You do have to pause and take in the big picture,” he continued. “That one got away from me, and that will always break my heart. That was a chance for me to work with Denzel again in the genre that I grew up loving.” Fuqua and Washington first worked together on 2001’s “Training Day,” with Washington winning a Best Actor Oscar for his performance in the film. The pair have since worked together three more times: “The Equalizer” and its sequel and Fuqua’s 2016 remake of “The Magnificent Seven.”
As “Legacy” hits Hulu later this week, the question is whether it will be Fuqua’s last project released in 2022. Rumor has it that test audiences love “Emancipation,” praising both Fuqua’s direction and Smith’s lead performance, so Apple may push it for the coming awards season. And Fuqua is high on the movie, too, claiming it’s the best film he’s ever made. But even if Apple holds off on its release, the best days of Fuqua’s career may be in front of him.
