amous

COVER STORY WILL SMITH
And with Pete Berg directing it, they definitely wanted to embrace
those multiple tones, as opposed to having somebody just deliver a
popcorn commercial film. There are a lot of different things that I
hope we delivered well. It won’t be just a typical summer movie, but
will stand up to some highbrow scrutiny.”
As for the film’s plot, Bateman explains. “People don’t like Will’s
down-and-out superhero because he’s so drunk, when he solves
crimes he causes a lot of collateral damage. Early in the film he saves
my life, and to pay him back I tell him I’m going to revamp his image
for him because I’m in corporate PR. And so we’re well into that —
I’m buying him a cape and telling him how to do news conferences
and all that kind of crap — and then he starts to fall for my wife,
Charlize Theron. This creates a contentious love triangle, et cetera.”
“I don’t even know what to say about this movie because it’s going
to sound so pretentious, but it’s the most original thing I’ve ever
seen in my life,” says Theron, who after Aeon Flux, her own unhappy
attempt at superheroics, has pretty much stuck to realistic dramas.
WEEKENDWARRIOR
Will Smith is the undisputed box office king of the July 4th long
weekend. Smith has starred in three films that have opened during the
U.S. holiday — Hancock will be his fourth — and they’ve all gone on to
be monster hits. However, you’ll notice Smith’s films are experiencing
a diminishing rate of return. Will Hancock buck the trend?
TITLE RELEASE DATE DOMESTIC GROSS (U.S.)
Independence Day July 3, 1996 $306,162,268
Men in Black July 2, 1997 $250,690,539
Men in Black 2 July 3, 2002 $190,418,803
36 FAMOUS JULY 2008
“It kind of gives the middle finger to the genre. There were days
when we were shooting when I looked at Will and said, ‘What the
hell are we doing? I don’t even know what’s going on right now.’ But
it was really interesting to shoot out of continuity and try to figure
out where you’re hitting what. Because it’s not just silly comedy.
There’s a lot of heavy stuff in this; really, really heavy stuff.”
All the better for Smith, who’s been leveraging his massive popularity
to stretch as an actor in recent years. Audiences were happy to
follow their glib, self-assured hero down more dramatic avenues in
his last two films, Legend and The Pursuit of Happyness. Hancock may
be a return to comedy, but it’s of a much edgier nature than before.
Yet that Big Willy confidence should still attract lots of customers.
“This is one of those times in my career when I feel almost like an
athlete as an actor,” Smith says. “Like I’m better than I’ve ever been,
like there’s so much that I can deliver emotionally and conceptually
to an audience. I feel like over the next 10 years that I’ll make the best
From Top Left: Will Smith (left), Jason Bateman and Charlize Theron; Smith says he’s in the best shape of his life, and we agree; Hancock does his thing
movies of my career. I’m in the best physical condition of my life and
mentally prepared and love what I do.”
“I think Will thought that if there was a director who could get in
there and help him find his dark side, it was me,” Berg notes. “But
look, we’re not making Leaving Las Vegas; there’s a difference between
Nic Cage as an alcoholic and Will Smith in a PG-13 movie. I did this film
for my seven-year-old son who wanted me to do a superhero movie.
It’s probably darker than most superhero films, but it’s not Very Bad
Things; not at this budget with a Fourth of July release.”
And with Smith in it, doing bad things or not, no one’s too worried
that Hancock will lose money.
“The guy could run for mayor, governor or president; I’d vote for
all three of ’em,” Bateman says of his charismatic co-star. “He’s so
nice and generous and blah blah blah.”
“I would make a film about tape recorders if Will Smith was in it,”
says Theron. “I love the experience of being around him.”
And that’s the superstar’s — and perhaps Hancock’s — ace in the
hole. But Smith hasn’t gotten as far as he has by just counting on his
innate appeal. He chooses his projects carefully. The way he talks
about it, he almost sounds…well, humble isn’t the right word. But
definitely more cautious than his bravado may suggest.
“I actually don’t consider myself a huge risk-taker,” Smith reveals.
“I’m a student of the patterns of the universe. So if I can figure out
how something is seemingly risky but I’ve got the numbers on my
side, I feel really comfortable taking a leap. Then it becomes about
execution: can you get into that artistic place where you’re advancing
an idea or a genre, and you can expend your energy in the most difficult
area, rather than bumping your head around ideas that have already
been proven or disproven?
“But I’m a very, very practical person. I wear seatbelts in real life.” F
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Bob Strauss lives in L.A. where he is a freelance entertainment writer.
JULY 2008 FAMOUS 37