11 People Who Got Paid Insane Money For NOT Making A Movie
2. Benicio Del Toro - American Gangster
For a film starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe - and directed by Ridley Scott no less - American Gangster should be much better than it actually is. The movie had a protracted development cycle, where it started life as a script called Tru Blu that was to be directed by Brian De Palma. When he left the project it was given to Antoine Fuqua instead, who cast Benicio Del Toro to play the detective trying to take down Washingtons drug lord. The studio grew concerned over the proposed budget of the movie, and questioned several of Fuquas creative choices. Since Fuqua refused to make any compromises they fired him, and cancelled the movie when a suitable replacement couldn't be found. Del Toro received $5 million thanks to his contract, and he didn't even have to lift a finger. The movie was resurrected a few years later with Ridley Scott directing, and Russell Crowe was cast in the detective role instead.
