Giancarlo Esposito has revealed that he genuinely "hated" his Do the Right Thing co-star John Turturro during the production of Spike Lee's seminal 1989 film, and suspects the feeling was mutual at the time. The two actors portrayed opposing forces in the movie, which explores racial tensions in a working-class Brooklyn neighborhood; Esposito played Buggin' Out, an advocate for civil rights, while Turturro portrayed Pino, the overtly racist son of an Italian pizzeria owner.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Esposito admitted that while he hated Turturro on set, he simultaneously loved him because he recognized a shared essence in the other actor. "I hated him on Do the Right Thing, to be honest with you, and he probably hated me to a certain extent," Esposito recalled. "But I loved him all in the same emotional feeling because I recognised him."
The actors have since re-teamed for the new crime film The Only Living Pickpocket in New York, which opened in North America on Friday, October 30. According to Esposito, their professional relationship has thawed considerably over the intervening years, evolving into a profound connection. He described a moment on the set of Pickpocket where Turturro stopped mid-take, stared into his eyes, and declared, "You're my uncle. You're my father. You're my family." The sentiment brought tears to Esposito's eyes as he felt the same way.
Esposito explained that both actors are Italian and feel linked by their genetic structure and origins. He noted that Turturro experienced a sense of déjà vu, acknowledging in that moment that they were essentially in a room with all of his family. Do the Right Thing remains a major critical and commercial hit from 1989, having received two Oscar nominations including one for Best Original Screenplay. Its reputation as a defining American film has continued to grow, leading to its selection for preservation in the United States National Film Registry in 1999.
Sources: NME.