Director Antoine Fuqua Leaves "American Gangster"

October 4, 2004 - Director Antoine Fuqua will not be reuniting with his "Training Day" star, Denzel Washington, for the movie "American Gangster." The drama will also star Benicio Del Toro and was expected to start production in November 2004. The studio claimed creative differences caused Fuqua to leave the film.

A Universal spokesperson told Variety, "Unfortunately on this film we had creative differences and parted ways. The studio remains committed to the project."

"American Gangster" is based on the true story of a drug dealer who smuggled heroin in the caskets of Vietnam War soldiers. Denzel Washington will play the drug dealer, and Del Toro will co-star as a detective who catches him and eventually turns him into an ally in the war against drug dealers and crooked cops.

Steve Zaillian wrote the script and Brian Grazer is producing the film.

SOURCE: Variety