Entertainment Movies Ryan Reynolds Gave Denzel Washington His First Black Eye The Safe House costars got pretty physical while filming in South Africa By Catherine Kast Published on January 31, 2012 07:30 AM Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty; Scott Kirkland/INF It turns out that action star Ryan Reynolds may be just as dangerous off-screen as he is on. Denzel Washington says that Reynolds gave him a black eye while they were filming Safe House in South Africa. “I’ve never had a black eye in my life!” Washington, 57, told reporters Saturday while promoting the film, which hits theaters Feb. 10. “There’s a scene where I reach over to try to choke him while I have handcuffs on. We were flying around in the car. It just happened that as I was reaching forward he was flying back … and POW.” Reynolds, 35, plays a CIA newbie who is forced to watch over Washington, a notorious fugitive. The two eventually end up on the run together, with plenty of brawls between the brawny costars. Reynolds joked that this punch was a highlight of his career. “That was my early retirement,” he said. “I’ve given Denzel Washington a black eye and I should probably go home.” But Reynolds admitted that he was a little embarrassed after the incident, saying, “It was weird to feel my face on fire.” Regardless, said Reynolds, “I’m glad I was your first. If it had to be anyone, it was an apologetic Canadian.”