Page "Ridley Scott" Paragraph 20

Scott's next film was American Gangster, based on the story of real-life drug kingpin Frank Lucas.

He was the third director to join the project after Antoine Fuqua and Terry George.

Denzel Washington and Benicio del Toro had initially been cast, both actors having been paid salaries of $ 20 m and $ 15 m respectively without the film having gone into production.

Scott took over the project in early 2006.

He had Steven Zaillian rewrite his script to focus on the dynamic between Frank Lucas and Richie Roberts.

Washington signed back on to the project as Lucas, with Russell Crowe co-starring.

The film finally premiered in November 2007 to positive reviews and good box office.

In late 2008 Scott released espionage thriller Body of Lies starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Crowe once again, which opened to luke-warm ticket-sales and mixed reviews.