Denzel Washington's Unique Demands on Set: A Look Back at 'Safe House'

Fourteen years ago, Denzel Washington starred alongside Ryan Reynolds in the action thriller Safe House. During the film's production, Washington had very specific ideas regarding the fight sequences.

When actors collaborate with stunt coordinators, it often leads to intense discussions. Each Hollywood star aims to present their best self on screen. Olivier Schneider, a seasoned French stunt and fight choreographer, knows this all too well. He has worked with notable figures like Daniel Craig and Liam Neeson, and has been instrumental in the action sequences of the Fast & Furious franchise. However, his experience with Denzel Washington on Safe House remains particularly memorable.

Schneider and Washington teamed up for the 2012 action thriller Safe House, where Washington portrayed the infamous criminal Tobin Frost, who must escape with young agent Matthew James Weston, played by Reynolds, after an attack on a CIA safe house.

Before filming began, Schneider faced a significant challenge: he needed to present Washington with the fight choreography he had prepared. The two-time Oscar winner was not an easy collaborator. Schneider recounted, "On the first day I met him, I showed him the previsualizations—scenes I had filmed in advance with stunt performers and his double. I wanted to demonstrate how the fights should unfold and what exactly he would be doing. He asked me questions to determine if I truly understood the script and had done my homework."

Denzel Washington's Unconventional Request

One moment from their collaboration stands out vividly in Schneider's memory. Washington requested to see a particular fight scene multiple times before interjecting, saying, "No, he hit me six times and I only hit him five. I’m the star of the film—he cannot hit me even once!"

Schneider had to work hard to persuade him: "This opponent is your main antagonist," he explained to Washington. "You’ll be fighting him again later. What’s the point of a final duel if you’ve already clearly defeated him in the first encounter?" Ultimately, Washington relented, but not without making a last-minute adjustment: "Fine, then he hits me five times—and I hit him five times!"

Washington’s strong-willed nature is evident, not just in his approach to fight choreography but also in his stance regarding the Oscars. For more on why he has abstained from voting as an Academy member for the past 25 years, check out the following article: "They ignore me, I ignore them": Why Denzel Washington hasn’t voted for the Oscars in 26 years.

This is an updated re-release of an article that previously appeared on FILMSTARTS. A similar piece was published earlier on our French sister site AlloCiné.