The Playlist

Wicky Wild 'Wild Bunch': Will Smith To Star In Remake Of Sam Peckinpah Classic

By Oliver Lyttelton
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May 14, 2013 4:19 PM
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9 Comments

News

In theory, Will Smith is still one of the biggest movie stars on the planet, but it's been over five years since "I am Legend" and we're still awaiting a proper of how test of his star power has fared since then. Granted he did return last summer after a four-year gap with "Men In Black 3," which performed well, but that was always his biggest franchise and a sub two hundred million domestic gross for an expensive franchise movie isn't blowing anyone away. The end of this month should see a more significant test when "After Earth" hits theaters, although even that sees him playing second fiddle to son Jaden Smith.

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Will Smith To Replace Ben Affleck In Con Man Movie 'Focus,' Kristen Stewart Drops Out

By Drew Taylor
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April 17, 2013 8:55 PM
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25 Comments

News

According to a report in Variety, Will Smith is lining up his next role – as an older con artist who teaches a young female con artist (to be played by Kristen Stewart) his thieving ways. The movie, entitled "Focus," is written and directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, who most recently directed the hit comedy "Crazy, Stupid, Love" for Warner Bros. (the same studio producing "Focus").

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Will Smith Says He Wanted Tarantino To Rewrite 'Django Unchained'; Didn't Think Django Was The Lead

By Oliver Lyttelton
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March 25, 2013 10:59 AM
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21 Comments

News

While "Django Unchained" was pretty much an unqualified success in terms of awards and money taken in (a Best Picture nomination, two Oscars and $400 million worldwide), there'll always be an intriguing what-could-have-been hanging over it: Quentin Tarantino wrote the title character for Will Smith, and while Jamie Foxx ended up taking the part, the idea that the clean-cut megastar could have starred in the bloody Western has cast a long shadow over the film.

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Fear Is Not Real: Watch The Trailer For Will & Jaden Smith's 'After Earth' Directed By M. Night Shyamalan

By Kevin Jagernauth
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December 10, 2012 11:03 AM
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10 Comments

News

So, did the trailer for "Oblivion" not fill your appetite for futursitic sci-fi in which Earth is no longer as it seems? Well, get comfortable because Will Smith and his son Jaden Smith have teamed up with M. Night Shyamalan for "After Earth" and after this first trailer....we're not quite sure what it's about....

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Quentin Tarantino Says He Didn't Fall Out With Will Smith Over 'Django Unchained' Plus New Pic From The Film

By Kevin Jagernauth
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November 15, 2012 4:19 PM
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1 Comment

News

While Quentin Tarantino recently revealed that Idris Elba, Chris Tucker, Terrence Howard, M.K. Williams and Tyrese were among those he's considered to lead "Django Unchained," it's Will Smith whose name has always drawn the biggest buzz out of those early reports. And while Tarantino said in the midst of a Playboy interview that meeting with Smith “was an excuse for us to hang out and spend time with one another,” he insist that they're still cool, even if it didn't work out.

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Hallelujah! Will Smith’s Biblical Vampire Tale A Go At Sony

By Drew Taylor
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August 31, 2012 11:43 AM
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3 Comments

News

Earlier this summer it was reported that Will Smith, former Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and perpetual Man in Black, was set to make his feature directorial debut on “The Redemption of Cain,” a big-budget biblical epic based on the tale of murderous sibling rivalry. While it’s not clear whether or not he’ll direct the project, The Wrap is reporting that his production company Overbrook, will produce the film and Sony has just given it the green light, with production slated to begin next summer in London, Jordon, and Morocco. Casting will to commence under the guidance of Francine Maisler in the next few weeks.

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'The Devil Wears Prada' Scribe Aline Brosh McKenna To Rewrite 'Annie' Remake

By Ryan Gowland
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July 27, 2012 1:20 PM
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0 Comments

News

Hey, remember a year ago when Will Smith wanted Emma Thompson to write him a remake of the musical "Annie" for his daughter Willow Smith to star in? Well, apparently, it's still happening, but now Smith wants another writer to work on Thompson's script.

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Will Smith To Tell The Biblical Tale Of Cain & Abel In Developing Directorial Debut

By Kevin Jagernauth
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July 12, 2012 3:17 PM
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4 Comments

News

Hollywood is getting Biblical and Will Smith wants to get jiggy with this emerging trend. With Darren Aronofsky currently building his ark for "Noah," and with two different Moses movies in the works -- one from Steven Spielberg and another from Ridley Scott -- is seems the Old Testament is kind of totally hip at the moment. And now another famed story from the book of Genesis is being primed for the big screen.

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James Newton Howard Reteams With M. Night Shyamalan To Score 'After Earth'

By Joe Cunningham
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July 12, 2012 10:39 AM
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12 Comments

News

There’s an argument – and it’s an argument that this writer subscribes to – that ever since “The Sixth Sense” each of M. Night Shyamalan’s films has been worse than the one that preceded it. “The Sixth Sense” > “Unbreakable” > “Signs” > “The Village” > “Lady in the Water” > “The Happening” > “The Last Airbender.” You may have a few minor quibbles with that order, but it’s hard to disagree that, broadly, the quality of Shyamalan’s movies have followed a distinctly downward trajectory. So that being said, hands up if you’re excited for “After Earth”!

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Will Smith's Not That Interested In 'I Am Legend 2,' Explains Why He Bailed On Tarantino's 'Django Unchained'

By Edward Davis
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June 13, 2012 5:53 PM
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19 Comments

News

Back in 2007, "I Am Legend" grossed $585 million worldwide for Warner Bros. Costing only $150 million -- kinda modest for a major tentpole these days -- the Will Smith-starring post-apocalyptic actioner also grossed $126.2 million in DVD revenue, making it the sixth best-selling DVD of 2008. Not too shabby, right? Plus, the film plays on cable all the time and those rights must have also cost a pretty penny. So in the logical, brand-obsessed bean-counting world of Hollywood, a sequel would seem like a natural move.

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