Turn Advertising Off
 
    Archive      DVD News      TV News      Features      Interviews      Deals      Dollars      Announcements      Top Stories

McG Wants Will Smith for 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea?

Source:  Latino Review
Latino Review caught up with Terminator Salvation director McG and pressed some questions about his upcoming project 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. It turns out he's trying to get Will Smith to play his main character Nemo:

McG talked a bit about his idea and all of a sudden I heard him say, "The character Nemo in this film is more about obsession, he is obsessed and people tend to forget that when you become so obsessed you end up being the villain."

McG continues, "'Man I'm trying to get Will Smith to do it, been trying to get a hold of him. I've been wanting to work with him for a long time already. That guy's great."


The film is an origin story of Nemo as he creates his warship, the Nautilus. The characters come from the Jules Verne novel.

The 1954 original "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" was the first live-action film made by Walt Disney, became the second-highest grossing film that year and won three Oscars.


28 Comments


January 19th, 2009 4:03pm
"For one will smith doesn't look Indian enough and two he's Black..."
Please tell me you weren't trying to make a point with that "opening statement." I about died with laughter. "Smith doesn't look Indian enough..." Now, that's funny. {though I don't think that was your intention}.
  (Delete)
January 18th, 2009 10:07pm
For one will smith doesn't look Indian enough and two he's Black.No offense to black people but this movie should take place way earlier than the 20,000 lgs movie and it took place before the civil war.My point is that It is not likely a black captain would be able to pull it off in those days.Will Smith is one of my favorite actors and is AWSOME in everything he's in,But not this one!I could see Ben Kingsley as a good captain nemo.
  (Delete)
January 18th, 2009 11:12am
I like the idea that they are trying to pursue here. At Will Smith's early career he was good, not great but good. His recent work like I AM LEGEND, HANCOCK, THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS AND SEVEN POUNDS were incredible. I definatley think that Will Smith can pull it off. So I am loooking foward to seeing this movie!
  (Delete)
January 16th, 2009 2:48am
"Hey Chad, I stand by my post 100 percent. Will Smith is in the same boat as Julia Roberts (job one: putting butts in seats). McG said "I've been wanting to work with him and that guy's great" -- what the fuck do you expect him to say -- he is great -- at getting butts in seats and at being Will Smith. Of course he wants him, for the reason I stated, hell so would I if I had a stake in the project and just wanted box office -- it is a biz afterall. But if I wanted a seriously good film (lasting, iconic) I'd have a damn good story and exceptional actors (major chops). There is no way Will would make a great Nemo. I like Will in many roles, but this one is not right for him."

This is all speculation and assuming too much lol. You don't know McG, maybe he secretly has a crush on Fresh Prince when he was younger (sexually or nonsexually) and always wanted to work with him? Since you are now basing everything in this article as assumption and no facts whatsoever, let's see...McG is also a scientist and he has cured cancer but no one knows about it yet. What other stuff can we make up at the top of my head... oh sorry that wasn't in the article? My bad.

Back to the facts.
Will Smith = talented...everything lol.
Julia Roberts = fugly no talent actress.
= Terrible comparison lol

And my main question to you is why do you assume that McG only wants him cause his name is Will Smith? Yeah, I'm sure the studio that makes the picture would want a big name like that, but as a director, I don't think that's what directors think of when they want to cast somebody. Will Smith is big, but not that big. He's been in a few good movies, but nothing has given him the credibility he deserves. He can keep doing Happiness and Seven Pounds type of films, but it won't make him a legend sort of speak. For example, if you take Brad Pitt, he has numerious legendary films like Snatch that Will Smith could never touch. Hell, now everytime I think of Achilles I think of Brad Pitt in Troy. Whether you like that movie or not, Brad Pitt was awesome. Another legendary character. Honestly, I'd like to see Will as a Ghostbuster, I think that would be his legendary character. He needs one. Christian Bale has Batman, Tobey has Spiderman, Hugh Jackman has Wolverine, Johnny Depp has several- Jack Sparrow, Edward Scissorhands, and Sweeney Todd. Robert Downey Jr. has Iron Man, Ron Perlman has Hellboy, Elija Wood has Froto, and Oliver Platt-Kiefer Sutherland-Charlie Sheen have The Three Musketeers lol. All these actors are huge because they took on a legendary character from all places, be it books, comics, or old short stories. Not saying Will Smith is right for this, I'm just saying it's not like he's a bad choice.
  (Delete)
January 15th, 2009 5:58pm
I think they could make it work.
But McG hasn't even asked Will Smith, yet...
  (Delete)
January 15th, 2009 11:16am
That could work as well Vamp, despite how much i'd love to see Ben Kingsley in this role, he plays a great indian. Not only did he do a spellbinding performance in Ghandi but he is also playing the bad guy in the new Prince Of Persia film.

If you move the location Zz then it wouldn't be Captain Nemo it'd be more like Captain Smith Of Africa
  (Delete)
January 15th, 2009 10:00am
I like the idea, but isn't Captain Nemo supposed to be Asian? Hmmmm. Why not try and get the guy they got to play Captain Nemo in "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen." He was great as the character, and he couldn't be TOO much older. lolz!
  (Delete)
January 15th, 2009 9:52am
Definitely Will Smith...
And as I said before; simply move the action from India to Africa, and you have a great film...
Hopefully McG gets a hold of Smith.
  (Delete)
January 15th, 2009 2:46am
I get what brunchking is saying but really you can't comment on the production yet because we haven't seen nada.

And yes it is true because people now see Will Smith as a icon of acting, when the name 'Will Smith' or another class-A actor is slammed on a production, then they do rake in more profit or as Brunch put it 'get more butts in sit.'

Would you go see a Captain Nemo film starring Jason Rodriguez
or
A film starring Will Smith as Captain Nemo.

Will Smith's career has recently soared to new heights since The Pursuit Of Happiness & I Am Legend (because he held I Am Legend on his own and still made ir a box office success).
  (Delete)
January 14th, 2009 11:48pm
Hey Chad, I stand by my post 100 percent. Will Smith is in the same boat as Julia Roberts (job one: putting butts in seats). McG said "I've been wanting to work with him and that guy's great" -- what the fuck do you expect him to say -- he is great -- at getting butts in seats and at being Will Smith. Of course he wants him, for the reason I stated, hell so would I if I had a stake in the project and just wanted box office -- it is a biz afterall. But if I wanted a seriously good film (lasting, iconic) I'd have a damn good story and exceptional actors (major chops). There is no way Will would make a great Nemo. I like Will in many roles, but this one is not right for him.

BTW, I like that tardhatch comment I'll have to remember that one, you scroat! lol
  (Delete)
January 14th, 2009 8:36pm
brunchking, delete your comment, re-read the article and type your comment. I'll let you have a retry cause apparantly you didn't read it correctly lol. McG said he personally like Will Smith and that is why he wants him to be involved. Where you got "They are worried about drawing crowds based on name and not a good production" is beyond me lol. Who is worried? McG? He is one person. ONE. Not they. And I doubt he is worried since they could have any good actor play the part. It's not like he said or "they" (lol) said "we can't do this movie without Big Willy". Just relax you tardhatch and stop pulling shit out of the article that isn't there. "Oh and they don't want to do the movie cause they want a sea horse instead of a giant squid" lol...you might as well had said that. Pwned. Now that I'm done making fun of you, you can go ahead and delete your comment and repost a "smart" one.
  (Delete)
January 14th, 2009 7:48pm
What Vis said. i mean it would be weird, although it worked in League. Still, Smith can pull it off. And Kingseley as perfect a fit he is, I dont think hes naval looking, or whatever enough. he looks to delicate for the role.
  (Delete)
January 14th, 2009 4:02pm
And Schilke, origin stories usually detail the characters 'origin stories'. Therefore, Nemo would be much younger, and age throughout the film.
  (Delete)
January 14th, 2009 4:00pm
What about Ben Kingsley?

Before people comment on his colour, yes he is part indian and also see Ghandi
  (Delete)
January 14th, 2009 4:00pm
It's a great novel, and I'd love to see more of Captain Nemo's backstory. In the book,The Mysterious Island, Nemo is an Indian prince, whose family gets murdered and kingdom destroyed. He then dedicates his life to science.

Move the action to Africa. Same story. Different setting.
I see no problem in WIll Smith playing this character.
  (Delete)
January 14th, 2009 3:07pm
In the words of Will Smith -- Aww, Hell no!

The fact that they are trying this indicates to me that this project will suck. They are worried about drawing crowds based on name and not a good production. Really sad to read this.
  (Delete)
January 14th, 2009 3:05pm
Gary Oldman would eat this role up too.
  (Delete)
January 14th, 2009 3:05pm
Are you kidding ? This is a terrible casting idea. Will Smith is "ok" , but just isn't cut out for a role like this. He is too full of himself to take this character seriously. Plus, Nemo should be slightly older. Connery or Harrison Ford perhaps.........too bad Sean retired.
  (Delete)
January 14th, 2009 12:52pm
Interesting. I could actually see this. I don't think in this day and age I'd be able to take an Indian seriously as a captain of a giant warship anyways
  (Delete)
January 14th, 2009 12:09pm
Nemo was indian!
  (Delete)
January 14th, 2009 11:25am
Mcg is really busy, this film will be a cash cow for sure, will smith i am not to sure of but hey the book was good so let's give it a go.
  (Delete)
January 14th, 2009 11:20am
Wasn't Captain Nemo asian or persian something like that.

I really can't see Smith in this role despite the fact that he is a very versatile actor.
If it's animated then i'd say yeah go for it, but live-action nah.

I also agree with Chad Vital, i've been waiting for someone to update this for ages too ahhh, the old version is still classic though with the collassal squid
  (Delete)
January 14th, 2009 10:56am
Hell no! Will smith is great in all,but doesn't strike me as the nemo type! Bad Idea McG!If this movie follows nemo as a young man will smith is getting a little to old for the part!that movie is one of my favorites that Walt Disney did and I,ve read the JV book.I just can't see will as Nemo!Maybe the fish but not the famous Captain Nemo
  (Delete)
January 14th, 2009 10:34am
Yeah I agree about this

Will Smith can play any role. Well. And since it is him I probably watch it.

Although I still am pulling for Fresh Prince Movie
  (Delete)
January 14th, 2009 7:30am
Will Smith is like crack right now. Seriously, what haven't people been trying to cast him for? Thank God he is such an incredible actor, or it would be really annoying :D
  (Delete)
January 14th, 2009 7:21am
will smith is the man and ill watch any movie he acts in
  (Delete)
January 14th, 2009 4:31am
I do not know about Will Smith though.
  (Delete)
January 14th, 2009 4:22am
I've had this idea for like 3 years now saying they should make a new, uptodate version of this. It's about time somebody in Hollywood caught up lol good lord. This has blockbuster/cash cow written all over it.
  (Delete)

User Name:
Password:
 
Don"t have an account?
Get One Now!
LATEST COMMENTED STORIES
MOST ACTIVE IN THE LAST 10 DAYS
MOST COMMENTED STORIES OF ALL TIME
TOP FILM STORIES
EXCLUSIVE: The Princess and the Frog Cast & Crew Featurette!
Movieweb's 2009 Blu-ray Holiday Gift Guide!
MovieWeb's 2009 DVD Holiday Gift Guide
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Viggo Mortensen and Cast Travel on The Road
Join the The Twilight Saga: New Moon Review Party!
Win Huge Prizes from Ninja Assassin!
EXCLUSIVE: J.J. Abrams Goes Talks Star Trek And Beyond!
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: First Look at the Indie Film Fix
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: John Woo Visits Red Cliff
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: The Blind Side Cast Interview Featurette
EXCLUSIVE: Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans Interviews!
EXCLUSIVE: Lluis Homar & Blanca Portillo Talk Broken Embraces
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Carla Gugino Is One of the Women in Trouble
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Hal Holbrook Stands in That Evening Sun
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Pirate Radio Cast Interview Featurette
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: The Messenger Cast Interviews!
EXCLUSIVE: Jason Schwartzman Talks The Fantastic Mr. Fox
EXCLUSIVE: John Cusack & Amanda Peet Battle the Year 2012
CONTEST: Win Huge Prizes from The Blind Side!
Win the Official Pirate Radio Soundtrack
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Brand New Brothers TV Spot!
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: New Women in Trouble Clip
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Watch the Transylmania TV Spot
Bruckheimer & Mechner Talk Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Fall Into This New Collapse Clip!
EXCLUSIVE: Grant Heslov Talks The Men Who Stare at Goats
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Gentlemen Broncos Cast Interviews
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Sean Patrick Flanery and Norman Reedus Are Back in The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day
EXCLUSIVE: VIDEO: Corey Feldman Talks Lost Boys 3: The Thirst
Become a MovieWeb Fan on Facebook!
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Creators Discuss Michael Jackson's This Is It!
Watch the Official Full-Length Avatar Trailer Right Now!!
EXCLUSIVE: Dolph Lundgren Talks Command Performance!
EXCLUSIVE: Dolph Lundgren on The Expendables Sequel & More!
EXCLUSIVE: First Look At The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day!
Win A Unique Prize from Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day
Win Huge Prizes from The Box!
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Ti West Resides in The House of the Devil
EXCLUSIVE: Paranormal Activity's Katie Featherston & Micah Sloat
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Astro Boy Cast & Crew Interview Featurette
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Visit Fezziwig's in Disney's a Christmas Carol
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Saw VI Cast Interview Featurette
CONTEST: Win Huge Prizes from Saw VI!
EXCLUSIVE: Richard Harrah Takes Us Deep Into The Canyon
Win Big Prizes from Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Where the Wild Things Are Cast Featurette
Win Great Prizes from Law Abiding Citizen
EXCLUSIVE: Harold Ramis Talks Ghostbusters 3 and Meatballs
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Peter Jackson Talks The Hobbit!
NEW FEATURE! Create Lists! Build Your DVD Collection and More!
NEW FEATURE! Watch Full-Length Movies and TV Shows!
LATEST FILM NEWS
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: The Princess and the Frog Cast & Crew Featurette
Ron Clements, John Musker, Randy Newman, Terrence Howard, Anika Noni Rose, Bruno Campos, Jennifer Lewis and Keith David Speak!
Kat Dennings Secures a Role in Thor
Natalie Portman revealed the actress will appear in Kenneth Branagh's film.
Anthony Peckham Comes Aboard for Deep Sea Cowboys
The Invictus screenwriter will tackle this true-story adventure.
The First Beastly Teaser Trailer Arrives!
Take a look at this upcoming film starring Vanessa Hudgins and Alex Pettyfer.
2 New Posters for Rob Marshall's Nine
Take a look at a new pair of one-sheets for this new musical.
Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer to Pen Uncharted: Drake's Fortune?
Scribe Kyle Ward (Hitman 2) is said to no longer be working on the project.
Paradox Entertainment Will Reboot Kull the Conqueror
Robert Ervin Howard's character first appeared in Weird Tales magazine in 1929.
Joel Kastelberg and Etchie Stroh Will Produce The Howling: Reborn
The film is planned for a Halloween release.
 Click Here! for our complete news archive.
TOP DVD STORIES
Win Funny People on DVD Today
Take Home Imagine That on DVD
Movieweb's 2009 Blu-ray Holiday Gift Guide!
MovieWeb's 2009 DVD Holiday Gift Guide
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Angels & Demons Special Feature Clip
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: New Megafault DVD Special Feature Clip
EXCLUSIVE: J.J. Abrams Goes Talks Star Trek And Beyond!
It's A Very Sunny Christmas with Rob McElhenney & Glen Howerton
J.J. Abrams Boldly Talks Star Trek DVD and Blu-ray
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Get Your First Look at Deadline!
CONTEST: Win Huge from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Watch Our It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: A Very Sunny Christmas DVD Clip Right Now!
CONTEST: Win Star Trek: The Art of The Film!
CONTEST: Bring Home the Outrageous Bruno on DVD
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Hit The Open Road with This New DVD Clip
EXCLUSIVE: First Look at a Fight Club Blu-ray Commentary Clip!
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Brand New Up Special Feature Clip
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: New Wrong Turn at Tahoe DVD Clip
Win Fight Club 10th Anniversary Blu-ray!
Win a Spread Poster Signed by Ashton Kutcher!
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: New G.I. Joe: The Complete Series DVD Clip
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Forrest Gump Blu-ray Special Feature Clip!
Hasbro & Legacy FX Talk G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra DVD
EXCLUSIVE: Shawn Ryan Reminisces on The Shield
CONTEST: Win Aliens in the Attic on Blu-ray!
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: The Cove DVD Trailer!
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: New Aliens in the Attic Special Feature Clip
Become a MovieWeb Fan on Facebook!
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Edward James Olmos Gets Fired Up About Battlestar Gallactica: The Plan!
EXCLUSIVE: Dolph Lundgren Talks Command Performance!
EXCLUSIVE: Erick Avari Talks Stargate: 15th Anniversary Edition
EXCLUSIVE: Ellen Jin Over Talks Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Command Performance DVD Red-Band Clip
CONTEST: Win Battlestar Galactica: The Plan on DVD
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: New Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs DVD Clip
EXCLUSIVE: Tibor Takacs Takes Us Back Through The Gate
EXCLUSIVE: Tamer Hassan Talks Wrong Turn 3: Left for Dead
Take Home Orphan on DVD!
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: New Wrong Turn 3: Left for Dead DVD Clip
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Stargate 15th Anniversary Blu-ray Clip
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Watch the First 7 Minutes of Adoration!
Win Drag Me to Hell on DVD
Win South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut on Blu-ray
EXCLUSIVE: Quinn Lord Wrecks Havoc in Trick 'r Treat
NEW FEATURE! Create Lists! Build Your DVD Collection and More!
LATEST DVD NEWS
Universal Soldier: Regeneration Comes Alive on DVD and Blu-ray on February 2, 2010.
We have all the details on this film starring Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren, plus the first trailer.
Early Paranormal Activity DVD/BD Details
Take a look at this new trade advertisement with the first details on this popular horror film's release.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Finally Comes to Blu-ray on February 2, 2010
We have all the details on this Terry Gilliam adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson's classic book.
Black Dynamite Gets Groovy on DVD and Blu-ray on February 2, 2010
We have all the details of Michael Jai White's blaxploitation film in both formats.
New The Hangover 'Missing Photos' Emerge
Take a look at some of these digital camera images that you can find on the DVD.
CONTEST: Win Funny People on DVD Today
We're also giving away some magnetic comedy kits as well.
CONTEST: Win Imagine That on DVD
Here's your chance to win this new Eddie Murphy comedy.
CONTEST: Win the Brand New Far Cry on DVD
Here's your chance to win Uwe Boll's brand new film on DVD.
 Click Here! for our complete news archive.
LATEST TV NEWS
2 New Clips from Dexter S04E10: Lost Boys
Here are two new video glimpses into this week's upcoming episode.
2 New Clips from Californication S03E10: Dogtown
Take a sneak peek at the upcoming episode of this Showtime hit series.
TV DAILY: (11.23) New Episodes of SNL, FlashForward, It's Always Sunny, and More!
Stop in and catch all of the exciting full-length episodes of the popular shows you recently missed.
Psych Picked Up for a Fifth Season
The quirky USA Network series will see another season on the network.
Oprah Winfrey Sets Up Sexually Charged HBO Series
Secretary screenwriter Erin Cressida Wilson will write the pilot.
First Look at the TV Spot for Season 4 of Big Love
The series returns to HBO on January 10th.
Courteney Cox Stops Production of Cougar Town
The actress puts the brakes on the show due to a "private family matter."
Watch the Final Seinfeld Reunion Commercial for Curb Your Enthusiasm!
The last time you'll see the Seinfeld cast together is on this Sunday's season finale episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm!
 Click Here! for our complete news archive.