Several months ago we reported that Denzel Washington would reunite with director Tony Scott for the drama, “Unstoppable.” It appears that the project may be scuttled because even studios are feeling the heat from the recession.
Reportedly, Washington dropped out of the film after 20th Century Fox asked him to take a cut in his $20 million salary.
In the film, Washington would play a veteran engineer who jumps into a locomotive with a young conductor (Chris Pine) to halt an unmanned runaway train filled with a toxic chemical.
Reportedly, 20th Century Fox had previously cut the budget from $107 million down to $100 million but wanted to take it down to the low $90 million range. The studio wanted Washington to shave $4 million off his $20 million fee, but he declined.
The trade has updated its story, however, saying that after Washington’s camp made that decision, 20th Century Fox prepared to come back to the table with a different offer that the studio hoped would entice the actor to re-consider his decision.
The actor was said to be looking at other projects for the fall.
