Angelina Jolie and Denzel Washington were two of the most sought-after stars in Hollywood during the turn of the century, and it might be a puzzle for many fans how both of them landed on a mid-budget crime thriller movie. Director Phillip Noyce specifically picked Jolie and Washington for 1999’s The Bone Collector, but they weren’t the first choices.
Al Pacino in The Insider / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Apparently, veteran actor Al Pacino was tapped to play Lincoln Rhyme, the male lead character, but he decided it would be a much better choice to star in Michael Mann’s The Insider. This incident paved the way for Washington to land the role.
Why Phillip Noyce Chose Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie
Universal Pictures wanted high-profile actors such as Harrison Ford and Sean Connery to play Lincoln Rhyme. They also chose Demi Moore and Nicole Kidman for the part of Amelia Donaghy, but director Phillip Noyce had already made up his mind: he wanted Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie.
Seeing the studio wasn’t really pleased with his choice, Noyce proposed a deal that if he went over the budget, he would cover the expenses using his own money. If the movie is done and there’s remainder in the budget, he gets to keep it as a bonus – and he got the dough.
Angelina Jolie and Denzel Washington in The Bone Collector / Columbia Pictures
Speaking with SYFY, Noyce explained why he particularly chose Jolie and Washington for the project.
What I thought would distinguish the film would be fine acting. I felt that the basic horror beats of this film were rather mundane compared to those other movies. And so, we needed to go further in other areas.
That period in history was saturated with a long roster of serial killer movies. This plot in the film was the least interesting one, so they banked on the lead stars’ onscreen chemistry. The movie emerged as a success, earning over $151 million in worldwide ticket sales against a budget of $48 million, as per The Numbers.
Denzel Washington Was Advised Against Starring In The Bone Collector
Denzel Washington in The Bone Collector / Columbia Pictures
Denzel Washington’s character in The Bone Collector is quite far from the roles he has played in the past. While he’s used to all the action scenes, Lincoln Rhyme is a quadriplegic forensics expert who does his job from the comfort of his bed.
The actor admitted via Entertainment Weekly that he had peers who tried to warn him about taking the project.
Some people thought it was a big risk, but I just thought it was a great opportunity to do something different, and sort of showy in a way. Until I started trying to do it, and then I said, ‘Oh, shoot, I got myself in a jam here.’
Playing an immobile character is not as easy as it looks; Washington had to dominate the scene without using any gestures. Angelina Jolie praised her costar for doing such a great job pulling her character in by just eye contact and the use of the right words.
The Bone Collector is available to watch on Netflix.
