Turning fear into fuel: The Directions story… Read more

Turning fear into fuel: The Directions story… Read more

Morgan Freeman has acted in over a hundred films and remains consistently active in his career. While his remarkable acting talent is sometimes eclipsed by his iconic on-screen persona—characterized by his calm demeanor and reassuring voice that captivates audiences—his skill was evident long before his Hollywood success or his Oscar win for *Million Dollar Baby*.

Freeman’s career began on the stage, including appearances on Broadway, before he took on major film roles. In the 1970s, he performed in Shakespearean productions and won an Obie Award for his portrayal in *Coriolanus*. By the time he entered Hollywood, Freeman was already a seasoned actor with a commanding presence.

His major breakthrough came in 1989 when he reprised his stage role as a chauffeur in *Driving Miss Daisy*. Released on the same day as the war drama *Glory*, these films cemented his stardom.

Given Freeman’s background, it’s understandable that a new director with a controversial script would be hesitant to approach him. When David Fincher took on *Se7en* after his success with *Alien 3*, he was nervous about offering Freeman the role of the veteran detective William Somerset in this dark, suspenseful thriller. Recalling his hesitation, Fincher told Screen Daily in 2014, “We can’t send him the script, Morgan Freeman is a genius. If we send him the script, he’ll never want to talk to me.” To his surprise, Freeman had already read it and was interested in the role.

In *Se7en*, Freeman portrays a detective on the verge of retirement, partnered with a young, impulsive rookie (played by Brad Pitt) as they hunt a serial killer whose murders follow the seven deadly sins. The film was a pivotal role for Pitt, who sought to break away from his “pretty-boy” typecasting. It marked a new direction for Freeman as well, proving he could be a leading box-office draw in addition to being critically acclaimed. The film solidified his status and gave him one of his most memorable roles, also helping to establish Fincher as an auteur. *Se7en* earned an Oscar nomination for Best Film Editing, while Fincher and Pitt achieved even greater success with *Fight Club* four years later, and Freeman went on to star in the beloved *The Shawshank Redemption*, which earned him his third Oscar nomination.