Will Smith Drops Out Of Another Film
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It looks like there's one blockbuster out there now without it's star. The franchise-starter Brilliance already had Will Smith involved in a massive story involving agents pursuing the gifted in the future. But it looks like Will Smith's Big Willie Style might not be suited to the Julius Onah-directed film. Nope, today is the day Brilliance shines just a bit dimmer.
Smith has backed out of Brilliance, according to a report from Deadline. Adapted from the novel by Marcus Sakey, the David Koepp-penned movie was set up at Universal by Legendary Pictures, who themselves are flush off the success of Godzilla. The film was to concern a separate group of evolved humans with special skills, called "brilliants," and the agent tasked with hunting them down to eliminate a terrorist threat. Smith would have played agent Nick Cooper, but now he ain't playin' nobody, as no reason was given for his departure (though sources claim it was an issue of timing, as the start date kept shifting).
Universal intends to march ahead with a new leading man to team with Noomi Rapace, with a fourth quarter 2015 or first quarter 2016 release date planned for Brilliance. The little known Onah is also still in place, though Will Smith's departure leaves this film at a bit of a standstill. You don't really make something this derivative unless you have a big star, which despite some recent disappointments, Smith still is. If Legendary has franchise hopes for the film, they'll be bullish and bring on someone new within days. The question for them likely is, "Is Will Smith replaceable? And by who?"
So, Will Smith, what are you up to? The A-lister wrapped the con-man thriller Focus a little while ago, and that's set for release in February. Until then, he could just lie back on his stacks of million dollar bills, but that's not what movie stars do. Particularly after the failure of After Earth, a not-good movie that had the misfortune of a target on its back for looking like a Will and Jaden Smith vanity project. Smith also opted against showing up for a second Independence Day as well, suggesting a stronger handle on the reins in keeping his movie star status. He's got nothing in the pipeline, though he remains attached to projects like Selling Time, City That Sailed, and the janky-sounding The Redemption Of Cain.
Unfortunately, his collaborators on these films are the likes of DJ Caruso (Disturbia), Akiva Goldsman (Winter's Tale) and Shawn Levy (Night At The Museum). Are these the type of guys you want handling your return to A-List acting? Nobody would have noticed Smith's dodgy taste in directors if he hadn't turned down Django Unchained awhile back. Now, Smith's gotta f!ght his way back to center stage. It seemed like Brilliance would be the movie to do that, but it looks like it'll have to be something else.
Smith has backed out of Brilliance, according to a report from Deadline. Adapted from the novel by Marcus Sakey, the David Koepp-penned movie was set up at Universal by Legendary Pictures, who themselves are flush off the success of Godzilla. The film was to concern a separate group of evolved humans with special skills, called "brilliants," and the agent tasked with hunting them down to eliminate a terrorist threat. Smith would have played agent Nick Cooper, but now he ain't playin' nobody, as no reason was given for his departure (though sources claim it was an issue of timing, as the start date kept shifting).
Universal intends to march ahead with a new leading man to team with Noomi Rapace, with a fourth quarter 2015 or first quarter 2016 release date planned for Brilliance. The little known Onah is also still in place, though Will Smith's departure leaves this film at a bit of a standstill. You don't really make something this derivative unless you have a big star, which despite some recent disappointments, Smith still is. If Legendary has franchise hopes for the film, they'll be bullish and bring on someone new within days. The question for them likely is, "Is Will Smith replaceable? And by who?"
So, Will Smith, what are you up to? The A-lister wrapped the con-man thriller Focus a little while ago, and that's set for release in February. Until then, he could just lie back on his stacks of million dollar bills, but that's not what movie stars do. Particularly after the failure of After Earth, a not-good movie that had the misfortune of a target on its back for looking like a Will and Jaden Smith vanity project. Smith also opted against showing up for a second Independence Day as well, suggesting a stronger handle on the reins in keeping his movie star status. He's got nothing in the pipeline, though he remains attached to projects like Selling Time, City That Sailed, and the janky-sounding The Redemption Of Cain.
Unfortunately, his collaborators on these films are the likes of DJ Caruso (Disturbia), Akiva Goldsman (Winter's Tale) and Shawn Levy (Night At The Museum). Are these the type of guys you want handling your return to A-List acting? Nobody would have noticed Smith's dodgy taste in directors if he hadn't turned down Django Unchained awhile back. Now, Smith's gotta f!ght his way back to center stage. It seemed like Brilliance would be the movie to do that, but it looks like it'll have to be something else.
Comments
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After Earth got him shook. He don't know how to handle flopping. It'd never happened before.
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After Earth got him shook. He don't know how to handle flopping. It'd never happened before.
Wild Wild West?
turning down the matrix for wild wild west would be one. lol -
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He's not even going to be in the next Independence Day.
The ? is going on? -
Nah, as terrible as it was, WWW still grossed $220 million.
Wrong choice, but can't call it a flop. -
pass over matrix for wild wild west
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I actually liked WWW. -
His next movie is a ? romantic comedy wtf
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Probably saw some Hollywood fuckery that he didn't want to be apart of.
Ain't like dude NEEDs to make movies. -
Probably saw some Hollywood fuckery that he didn't want to be apart of.
Ain't like dude NEEDs to make movies.
man he is apart of that hollywood fuckery with that Scientology ? -
Wild wild west flopped by his standards....but it would be a success for 90% of Hollywood -
Same for After Earth.. still made 243 million. When he loses.. he still wins.
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Recaptimus_Prime360 wrote: »
Im all for going against the grain sometimes, but really, I dont believe you. That movie was not good at all. But will smiths name salvaged any profit.
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the film sounds good - might go cop the book of the premise
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Lets get bad boys 3
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I think he felt typecast with this film..
He's not getting any younger and these 'save the world' movies he's been in the last decade or more will get old real quick.
I hope Focus is a good film just so that he can flush out the wackness that was After Earth..
He needs however to be a bit eclectic and diverse with his movie roles these days before he falls off. Eddie Murphy was the biggest star of the 80s but he didn't expand his artistry enough.. -
Part of the fun of being Will Smith must be doing whatever the ? you want to do whenever the ? you want to do it.
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Will Smith as a true villain? When is that going to happen?
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MikeydaGawd wrote: »His next movie is a ? romantic comedy wtf
Hitch 2? -
I thought him and Denzel were doing a remake of a comedy
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MikeydaGawd wrote: »His next movie is a ? romantic comedy wtf
Yea think like a man 3 with kevin hart.
That's that philly connect. -
They needa make a fresh prince movie where he narrates the RNS ? that really went down when Carlton got shot...and make it so they were in Vegas and saw PAC with jada 30 minutes before PAC was killed.
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Lol at liking wild wild west. Best part of that movie was when Kevin Kline said this about salma Hayek...
Artemus Gordon: She's a breath of fresh ass.
Capt. James West: Pardon me?
Artemus Gordon: What?
Capt. James West: You said "ass."
Artemus Gordon: No, I didn't. I said, "It's nice having her on board, she's a breast of fresh air."
Capt. James West: Let's just get some shut ass.
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