Denzel Washington throws down with Jared Leto, Rami Malek in 'Little Things': 'These guys ain't playing' - USA TODAY

Denzel Washington brought his A-game to tangle with fellow Oscar winners Jared Leto and Rami Malek onscreen in his new movie "The Little Things.".

With three Oscar winners in the crime drama "The Little Things," Denzel Washington says: “We're all three world champions, if you will.” (Jan. 19).

When Jared Leto let his freak flag fly as the Joker in "Suicide Squad," the Method-mad actor sent his castmates taunting gifts – a live rat, even a dead pig.

Denzel Washington makes clear that definitely did not happen while filming "The Little Things," even though Leto plays cagey murder suspect Albert Sparma and Washington is the law as Deputy Sheriff Joe Deacon in the psychological thriller.

But the two-time Oscar winner makes it explicitly clear that he relished the opportunity to mix it up onscreen with two co-stars who have a strong case for inclusion in the next generation of American acting greats: fellow Oscar recipients Leto ("Dallas Buyers Club") and Rami Malek ("Bohemian Rhapsody"), who plays slick lead detective Jim Baxter in "The Little Things" (in theaters and streaming on HBO Max Friday).

Denzel Washington plays Sheriff’s Deputy Joe “Deke” Deacon in "The Little Things." (Photo: WARNER BROS. PICTURES).

Director John Lee Hancock says the first time the two laid eyes on each other in "Little Things" was in costume for a night scene where Deacon suspiciously checks out Sparma's car.

Denzel Washington's Joe Deacon keeps his eyes on murder suspect Albert Sparma (Jared Leto). (Photo: GLEN WILSON/WARNER BROS.).

With Malek's Baxter starting the questioning, Washington insisted on watching from behind one-way glass in the observation room for the initial fireworks, Hancock says

Denzel Washington says there was electricity in a central interrogation scene with murder suspect Albert Sparma (Jared Leto) and homicide detective Jim Baxter (Rami Malek). (Photo: NICOLA GOODE/WARNER BROS.)

Outside the "Little Things" arena, Washington need only look to his own household to see another of the next generation's great actors coming up: his son, "Tenet" star John David Washington, 36

Review: Even with Denzel Washington, cop thriller 'The Little Things' is a frustrating '90s throwback

Deke (Denzel Washington, left) gets in the face of Albert Sparma (Jared Leto) during an interrogation in the crime thriller "The Little Things." (Photo: WARNER BROS. PICTURES)

Jordan, started taking the Deacon weight off while filming "Little Things." He was noticeably fitter in time to shoot flashback scenes of a younger Deacon toward the end of the 2019 shoot

First 'Morbius' trailer: Jared Leto has a Marvel-ous taste for blood and broodiness