Blair Underwood says one of his most memorable film roles nearly never happened.
The veteran actor recently reflected on his hesitation to join the 1996 crime drama “Set It Off,” a film now widely considered a cultural touchstone. The movie, directed by F. Gary Gray, follows four friends who turn to bank robbery amid economic hardship.
Underwood, who played Keith Weston, said he initially questioned whether the project aligned with his values and career goals. At the time, Hollywood debates about representation weighed heavily on his decision.
“I almost didn’t do it, but I’m glad I did,” Underwood said during a recent television appearance, recalling the film’s lasting impact.
Concerns About Representation
Underwood said the mid-1990s film landscape shaped his hesitation. He pointed to conversations within the industry about how Black stories were portrayed on screen.
“At the time, ‘Boyz n the Hood’ was out, ‘Menace II Society,’” he said. “There was a lot of conversation in Hollywood about, ‘Why does Hollywood allow us to do only gang-banging and hurting each other and shooting each other?’”
He also recalled that the script circulated with skepticism. Some critics dismissed it as simply another urban crime story.
“And then this script was running around town,” he said, noting it was being labeled by some as “Girlz in the Hood.”
Those concerns echoed earlier remarks he made in interviews, where he described “pushback” in Hollywood and his own reluctance after reading early pages of the script.
Underwood said he initially stopped reading after encountering a scene he found troubling, later admitting he had not finished the script before declining.
A Change of Heart
The actor eventually reconsidered after taking a closer look at the story’s emotional depth. He said he came to appreciate the film’s exploration of friendship, hardship and resilience.
“But it turned out to be so much deeper and so much better than that, and I’m honored to be a part of that,” Underwood said.
Released in 1996, “Set It Off” earned strong audience support and grossed more than $41 million worldwide on a modest budget.
The film starred Jada Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah, Vivica A. Fox and Kimberly Elise. It has since been regarded as a cult classic within urban cinema.
Looking back, Underwood said the experience reinforced a lesson about fully understanding a project before making decisions. He has often noted that reading scripts in full became a personal rule afterward.
Today, he speaks about the film with pride, acknowledging its emotional resonance with audiences and its enduring legacy.