ET takes an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at John Travolta and Denzel Washington's new action/thriller 'The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3.'

In the film, John portrays the criminal mastermind of a highly-armed gang that hijacks the New York City subway system and threatens to kill passengers. Denzel plays a subway dispatcher who uses his vast knowledge of the system to try to outwit the criminals and save the hostages.

Travolta says he really enjoyed playing the evil mastermind. "Playing a bad guy is always a freeing experience -- because you don't have the same envelope of restrictions that you have playing a good guy." He also talks about being a "good match" on-screen for Denzel.

Speaking about John's performance, Denzel says: "He's a good bad guy. He's a nut."

Watch tonight's ET to see some tense moments and dramatic scenes from 'The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3,' which hits theaters June 12. For more movie news and exclusives, head over to ETonline's Summer Movie Guide!