Four, count ‘em, FOUR Will Smith updates for you animals. I’ve been away from the blog for a few days due to well, just sheer laziness, but if you like Will Smith you should probably read these highlights.
First off, Men In Black 3 is in development, and word is the Fresh Prince and Tommy Lee Jones will both be back. I wasn’t a huge fan of MIB 2, although I was a fan of Lara Flynn Boyle’s outfit. Still, I probably won’t see this flick in theaters, I’m just going to wait for the million-plus times TBS will show it on Saturdays over the next few years.
In other alien fighting Will Smith news, Roland Emmerich (whose 2012 disaster movie is opening this weekend) says the only way he’d direct an Independence Day sequel is if Will is on board for it. That could be a problem if Smith’s asking price is too big, but Fox will probably open up the checkbook for him. That said I’m not sure if they can afford Jeff Goldblum, he’s just too bankable of a star these days. Not to mention Bill Pullman would love a second term as president, just so he can make another earth shattering speech. The question is, will the aliens come back in July again for the new flick? They should try earlier in the calendar, maybe Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day. Imagine that tagline: Santa’s Got a Brand New Bag…of Dead Alien Parts. Hire me, Hollywood. I can write this stuff all day.
Third on the docket is the long-rumored Spielberg/Smith Oldboy remake collaboration, which has apparently hit the skids and won’t be made afterall (whew). There was news of this movie going into development earlier in the year but apparently someone walked away from the negotiating table. Thank God, because I don’t think I could stand seeing a trailer with Big Willy Style opening up the elevator doors for that hallway scene (hammer in hand) and saying “Ah, hell nah” before busting skulls. That and *SPOILER* the incestuous undertones would be a little creepier this time around *END SPOILER*.
Finally, Smith is fishing for an Oscar nod in the future as he has been tabbed to play the lead role in an adaptation of the short story “Flowers for Algernon.” He would likely produce in some capacity as well as star. Sigh. For those of you unfamiliar with the story it focuses on a mentally handicapped man who’s given the chance to increase his intelligence by undergoing experimental procedures. Listen, we all know the only actor in Hollywood who can play a mentally handicapped person is I Am Sam‘s Sean Penn. Or I guess Tom Hanks for that role he played a few years ago. No not, Big, that was about a magic arcade machine, although he was borderline when it came to unhooking Elizabeth Perkins’ bra. Forrest Gump, that’s the one.
All in all it could be a big 2010 for Will Smith. It still doesn’t forgive him for trying to re-imagine The Karate Kid with his son, but that’s okay.
