An email chain from studio execs has revealed that Sony Pictures was reluctant to cast Denzel Washington in big films because he's black.
In the emails, a producer is seen discussing about Washington's box office hit 'The Equalizer' and the use of black actors in future films with Sony Chairman Michael Lynton, the Mirror reported.
The producer said that he is not saying that 'The Equalizer' should not have been made or that African American actors should not have been used because he personally thinks Washington is the best actor of his generation, but casting him means they're "ok with a double if the picture works" (a double is a baseball term which is inferior to a homerun).
The unnamed producer continued that the 59-year-old actor is reliable at the domestic box office, safe, but has not had a huge success in years, adding that he believes whenever possible the non event pictures, extra 'bets' should have a large inherent upside and be made for the right price.
He further wrote that he believes that the international motion picture audience is racist and in general pictures with an African American lead don't play well overseas, but Sony sometimes seems to disregard that a picture must work well internationally to both maximize returns and reduce risk, especially pics with decent size budgets.