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De'aundre Bonds was initially given a role in the film. On the night that he learned he was awarded the role, he attended a family celebration and was involved in an altercation with his aunt's boyfriend. The altercation ended with Bonds stabbing the man to death. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison.
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Denzel Washington's debut as a movie director.
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Will Smith, Cuba Gooding Jr., Mekhi Phifer and Ja Rule expressed interest in the lead role. Denzel Washington didn't want a star and cast newcomer Derek Luke.
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Denzel Washington agreed to star in the movie mainly because he knew it was the only way it would get financed.
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Derek Luke was working at the Sony Studios gift shop when he met Antwone Fisher who was working on the lot as a security guard. When Fisher's screenplay was bought by Fox Searchlight, Luke asked Fisher for a copy of the script. He went to the casting director unannounced and asked to audition. He has since admitted "I was so terrible I started crying" but Luke was invited to audition again. Denzel Washington came to the gift shop to tell Luke that he got the part.
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