DreamWorks sets up ‘Old Boy’ club

In a potential high-profile star-writer reunion, “I Am Legend” co-scribe Mark Protosevich is in early talks to pen the remake of “Old Boy” that boxoffice king and “Legend” star Will Smith is developing with director Steven Spielberg. DreamWorks secured the remake rights from Mandate Pictures, which also is staying involved in the project. Although the studio was meeting with several high-profile writers to do the adaptation, Smith invited Protosevich to meet with Spielberg on the project. – from THR

Jaden Smith is the next ‘Karate Kid’

Columbia Pictures is back in the dojo with a new version of the 1984 hit “The Karate Kid,” which has been refashioned as a star vehicle for Jaden Smith. The film will be produced by Jerry Weintraub (who launched the original franchise) and Overbrook Entertainment’s James Lassiter, Will Smith and Ken Stovitz. Will Smith, who is the 10-year-old actor’s father, co-starred alongside Jaden in his feature debut, “The Pursuit of Happyness,” which Overbrook and Escape Artists produced for Columbia. – from Variety

Steven Spielberg and Will Smith in talks for ‘Oldboy’

Steven Spielberg and Will Smith are in early discussions to collaborate on a remake of Chan Wook-park’s “Oldboy.” DreamWorks is in the process of securing the remake rights, and the new pic will be distributed by Universal. In the 2003 Korean original, a man gets kidnapped and held in a shabby cell for 15 years without explanation. Suddenly, he’s released and given money, a cell phone and clothes and is set on a path to discover who destroyed his life so he can take revenge.

Spielberg had been looking for an opportunity to make a film with Smith, who would play the kidnapped man if all the pieces fall into place. Spielberg is looking for a writer to begin the development process.

- from Variety

Seven Pounds Trailer! Will Smith!

WB plans ‘I Am Legend’ prequel

Warner Bros. has set in motion a prequel to the Will Smith starrer “I Am Legend.”
The plan is for Smith to reprise his role as scientist Robert Neville, with Francis Lawrence returning to direct. Akiva Goldsman and his Weed Road banner will produce with James Lassiter, Smith’s partner in Overbrook Entertainment.

The studio has set D.B. Weiss to write a script that is based on a detailed outline that was hatched over the past few months by Smith, Goldsman, Lassiter and Lawrence.

The prequel will chronicle the final days of humanity in New York before a man-made virus caused a plague that left Smith’s character the lone survivor among a mutated mob in the city.

Making a prequel was the only way to extend a franchise that grossed $584 million worldwide for Warner Bros. and keep Smith in the lead role. His character was killed in the first film, after extracting a potential cure for the virus for the scattered survivors.

- from Variety

Will Smith: Actor Clears Up Scientology Rumors Again

Will Smith is NOT a Scientologist!
Again, the two-time Oscar nominee has cleared that rumor up to Fox News columnist Roger Friedman.
The author of the ‘Fox 411′ daily column approached the 39-year-old ‘Hancock’ actor at the premiere of ‘Lakeview Terrace,’ which Smith produced with partner James Lassiter, and asked him was he a Scientologist.
“I am not,” he told Friedman.

- from here

Awww Hell Yeah! Will Smith Is Not Captain America!

Hey folks, Harry here to restore your faith in the world – Multiple sources from MARVEL have confirmed that Derek Luke, of Spike Lee’s MIRACLE AT ST. ANNA, doesn’t know what he’s talking about when it comes to Will Smith and CAPTAIN AMERICA. Marvel never offered the part, nor did they approach or entertain a conversation about Will Smith for CAPTAIN AMERICA. That said – I’m sure they have a few parts that they’d like him for, just not Captain America.
So there ya go. They haven’t gone insane and we don’t need to be confused, angry and scared about it anymore. — harry from AICN

Is Will Smith The New Captain America?

When Marvel announced that “Captain America” was making its way to the big-screen, fans everywhere began speculating who would be donning the famous red-white-and-blue tights. Nothing has been heard since, but during an MTV News interview regarding his role in “Miracle at St. Anna,” actor Derek Luke let slip that a very prominent – and surprising – face could be the star of Marvel Studios’ next blockbuster film.

“I heard they offered Will Smith ‘Captain America,’” said Luke, adding that the intriguing casting rumor “just shows you how times have changed.”

While this word through the Hollywood grapevine is nothing more than a rumor at this point, it should be noted that Marvel hasn’t shied away from changing up the race – and gender – of established characters in recent years. Upon kicking off his celebrated take on “The Ultimates” (Marvel’s re-imagining of their classic superteam The Avengers), Mark Millar changed S.H.I.E.L.D. head honcho Nick Fury from a crew-cut, cigar-chomping, middle-aged white man to, well… Sam Jackson.

- from MTV

Will Smith puts on ‘Pharaoh’ hat

Will Smith may next morph into a god.
“Braveheart” scribe Randall Wallace will write “The Last Pharaoh,” a Columbia drama crafted as a vehicle for Smith to play Taharqa, the pharaoh who battled Assyrian invaders in ancient Egypt.

Smith, James Lassiter and Ken Stovitz will produce for Overbrook Entertainment.

Smith, who has long wanted to play the pharaoh, brought Wallace the Taharqa story.

The film will focus on his battles with Assyrian leader Esarhaddon starting in 677 B.C.

Smith next stars for Columbia in “Seven Pounds,” a reteam with “Pursuit of Happyness” director Gabriele Muccino that Overbrook produced with Escape Artists.

- from Variety

Sony Sets ‘Hancock’ Blu-ray for November

After weeks of speculation, Sony Pictures has confirmed a late-November Blu-ray touchdown for the Will Smith blockbuster ‘Hancock.’

Originally rumored for an early-December release, fans will get the $200 million-plus-grossing superhero spoof earlier than expected when Sony debuts the Blu-ray of ‘Hancock’ on November 25, day-and-date with the standard DVD.
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As the studio has only just issued a trade alert for ‘Hancock,’ all tech specs and supplement details are still under wraps. We’ll certainly keep you posted as soon as the full press announce comes in.

Suggested retail price for the Blu-ray has been set at $38.95.

- from HDDigest