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*New York Post columnist Cindy Adams is reporting that Ridley Scott has finished shooting “American Gangster,” the drama starring Denzel Washington in the real life story of a man who smuggled drugs into Harlem in the coffins of American soldiers returning from Vietnam.
The film began shooting all around New York this past summer after much pre-production drama – including the sudden exit of the film’s original director Antoine Fuqua, and co-star Russell Crowe replacing Benico del Toro as the detective who finally brings Washington’s character to justice.
According to Adams, replacing Fuqua caused production to be delayed, which, in turn, left a dent in Washington’s pocket.
“Denzel's contract provided for a specific start date,” Adams wrote. “It stated he'd receive a penalty of his full $20 mil salary if it was delayed. Well, it was - and he did. Whether the man pocketed another $20 mil when he actually made the film, this I don't know. I do know he just got a very expensive Central Park West apartment.”
Chiwetel Ejiofor, RZA and John Ortiz are also in the cast of “American Gangster,” based on the life of drug-kingpin-turned-informant, Frank Lucas, who grew up in segregated North Carolina where he watched as his cousin was shot by the Klan for looking at a white girl.
He eventually made his way to Harlem where he became a heroin kingpin by traveling to Asia's Golden Triangle to make connections, shipping heroin back to the US in the coffins of soldiers killed in Vietnam. He soon made upwards of one million dollars a day in drug sales.
Lucas was shadowed by lawman, Richie Roberts (Crowe), who finally helped bring the kingpin to justice. The two then worked together to expose the crooked cops and foreign nationals who made importing heroin so easy.