The Spike Lee movie Robert De Niro declined to star in: “He didn’t want to do it”
Spike Lee is one of the most important cinematic figures of all time. He has made a lasting and unforgettable impression through his provocative and meaningful body of work, which explores the experiences of the Black community in America. Through his unflinching and vibrant lens, the director has created some of the most impactful pieces of modern cinema that are still referenced and relevant today, commenting on prevailing issues such as racial discrimination and oppression.
While he became equally as well-known for his performances in his films, he also regularly worked with actors like Denzel Washington and Samuel L Jackson, becoming a fierce collaborative force. However, there is one actor that he desperately wanted to work with. This never came to fruition, despite the fact that he now believes it would have been detrimental to the film.
The historical and cultural impact of Do The Right Thing cannot be overstated, capturing the ingrained racism in America and the legacy of trauma within the Black community. The film follows a Brooklyn local called Buggin‘ Out who notices that Sal, who owns a local pizzeria, only has pictures of Italian actors on his wall of fame. Buggin’ Out believes that a pizzeria in a Black neighbourhood should showcase Black actors, and tensions rise when Sal refuses to do so, becoming a symbol of racism and intolerance in their community.
The story unfolds over the hottest day of the summer, following a sprawling cast of actors and their different experiences within this community. Danny Aiello famously plays Sal in the film, bringing a foreboding mood as the camera shoots him from low down, capturing his looming and threatening presence. However, while Aiello seems like the perfect choice for this role, Lee initially had very different casting plans and approached Robert De Niro for the role.
At this point in his career, De Niro was starring in films like Jacknife and We’re No Angels, coming off of his success in the early 1980s in King of Comedy, Raging Bull and Once Upon a Time in America. Lee approached the actor about starring in the film, believing him to be a perfect fit for the role of Sal.
When describing this, Lee said, “I wanted Rob De Niro to do it, but he didn’t want to do it. But it turned up. Here’s the thing, though. With De Niro, one of the greatest actors ever, it would have tipped the scale. It would have been a Robert De Niro movie instead of an ensemble piece.” At this point in his career, De Niro was at the height of his fame and a household name across America, something that Lee is right to imagine would overshadow the collective nature of the film.
Each character adds something to the tapestry of this community and the tensions that have been slowly building for many years, something that might have been portrayed differently if such a huge star was cast in a role that is supposed to have equal power to the others. Each person within this story is a crucial part of adding to the portrait of a particular moment in time, with no story being less important than the other in this cumulative and powerful piece of work.
