Will Smith
Smith said that he was definitely considering playing the president elect sometime in the future, and then remarked that his ears made him a lock for the role. It's a joke he has shared many times. He explained that a Barack Obama biopic excited him because the film, "Already has one heck of an ending!" For anyone that is expecting to see this within the next couple of years might have to hold their breath, though. If Mr. Smith has it his way, he'd want to wait eight years before producing and starring in a film about America's first black president. He also commented that he'd want to wait until at least six months after Obama was out of office before releasing it, which he felt should have been done with Oliver Stone's W. Still, there is a chance that we could see a film about Obama starring Smith sooner that.
You can watch our entire conversation about this later in the month when we will have exclusive video interviews with both Will Smith and Rosario Dawson in support of Seven Pounds, which opens December 19th.
Seven Pounds was released December 19th, 2008 and stars Will Smith, Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson, Michael Ealy, Barry Pepper, Elpidia Carrillo, Robinne Lee, Joe Nunez. The film is directed by Gabriele Muccino.
Comments (54)
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jpb011
i think i should play obama as a child
3 years agoby @jpb011Flag
Alyce (Uh-Lease)
jumping the gun much??? At least let the guy take office before deciding to make a film about his presidency...jeez
3 years agoby @alyceepoohFlag
Javen
Definitely a huge step in history to have an African American as our President, but to make a film about it, in a Hollywood type fashion is the wrong way to go. Instead, it should be a doc*mentary film. We don't need a portrayal of Obama, we need to see the real Obama. That would seem to be more appropiate. Don't you think? Will Smith is no doubt a very talented actor and person and when the film is made I think the audience will only have more questions and desires to see what a doc*mentary film can offer, and that is a real sense of truth. Movies that are made about such things seem to form a different reality.
3 years agoby @javenFlag
Err
clearly i don't think will smith would make a great obama, duh.
and who are you, moviemaniac's alter ego? we don't know each other, but if we did you'd know a movies potential profit margin does not get me all hot and bothered. i still think actor's should be picked based on whether are not they would fit the part, not whether or not they'll put the producer's kids through college.
3 years agoby @err2005Flag
THE JOKER
commrade no one i bashing obama. were saying this is a bit soon for a movie and no one even knows how he is going to do in office.
3 years agoby @mcleve02Flag
CelluloidDreams
AKA: (The film will also be known s!) ...I kiss ass!
3 years agoby @2movieguysFlag
The Narrator: The Better Man
Rofl! Good one "They call me ITCHY BALLS". I love that part in Tropic Thunder.
3 years agoby @narratorFlag
Shadow Of The Day
OK.
3 years agoby @asifFlag
Brian
Truth.
3 years agoby @brianFlag
Diaigma
Was bound to happen eventually. I mean, it didn't take long for Hollywood to make 2 films about 9/11.
3 years agoby @diaigmaFlag
-comrade-
I'd say the nature of his campaign itself and it's outcome, effectively culminating the Civil Rights Movement is definitely worth a film, but it looks as though this is slated for the end of hi term(s), so I'm sure will have something to see by then.
3 years agoby @taberjohnson18Flag
CelluloidDreams
Ummmmm Ok!
3 years agoby @2movieguysFlag
T.Clark
Ummm...why exactly do they need a better reason than that again?
3 years agoby @insertusernamehereFlag
Yahzee
Nonsense. I love Will but this thing about an Obama film? They need a better reason than "he's the first black president of the US"
3 years agoby @yahzeeFlag
They call me ITCHY BALLS
Ehem...he looks like a butt f*cker.
3 years agoby @danbrchFlag
Messenger
I think Harry J. Lennix would make a better Obama and mean DAMN look at him!
3 years agoby @messengerFlag
They call me ITCHY BALLS
As "Kirk Lazarus" in TROPIC THUNDER would say..."HRUH! What do YOU mean YOU people?!?"
3 years agoby @danbrchFlag
-comrade-
I'd like to see anyone who trashes Obama come up with an idea to put America in order. At least he's trying to solve the f*cking problems.
3 years agoby @taberjohnson18Flag
MovieBuff
Yea... I got that err, but why in the world would a studio say "no will smith, you wouldn't make a great obama, if we make this movie i think we'll get someone else to do it".... after, like you said, they say "okay will smith you can do it because then we'll make sh*tloads of money because you're will smith and everyone loves you"? If this gets done, I definitely would want to make a "sh*tload" of money if I was a studio president. Wouldn't you? You strike when the iron is hot. Smith made an average movie with "Hanc*ck", but it STILL made a "sh*tload" of money. Whether you like him or not, he puts money in bank. More than Denzel Washington. That would be the studio's point of view.
As for Will Smith's point of view... I mentioned this in an earlier comment on this thread. Smith is a good actor who will do the part justice. Those who say "give someone else a chance" are not thinking straight. You don't become famous and rich by "giving" away parts like this. You take them BEFORE someone else does. That's like you making a million dollars and having a chance for another million... and people telling you "give someone else a chance to win a million". You would say "bullsh*t, I'm taking the second million".
The studio wins. Will Smith wins. And yes, I dare say, the audience wins. He's proved time and again he's a good actor. So why would somebody tell him "no... we're making this movie with someone else"?
3 years agoby @moviebuff123Flag
Err
i think you missed the point.
will smith wants to do this, will smith wants to do that, everyone says "okay will smith you can do it because then we'll make sh*tloads of money because you're will smith and everyone loves you".
well maybe somebody should just say "no will smith, you wouldn't make a great obama, if we make this movie i think we'll get someone else to do it".
3 years agoby @err2005Flag
MovieBuff
You guys miss the point. There is already talk about this not because Obama is a good or bad President (he's not even in office yet)... no, its about the fact that he is the FIRST ever black man to be ELECTED into the office of the President of the U.S. Believe me, I would rather have them make a movie about a President who is capable and DID a great job in office, but this is being considered because of its historical significance... it doesn't matter if he's a good President or not. But I really do hope he does well and gets our country back on its feet.
3 years agoby @moviebuff123Flag
Err
joker makes a valid point, what if he gets in there and ruins everything?
hahaha.
oh man, you wanna believe sh*t cant get any worse, but theres always ways to make things worse.
3 years agoby @err2005Flag
THE JOKER
i agree with waiting til after he is no longer president. In a way this is really stupid. i voted for obama but this is overkill.They are making a movie about him and he hasnt done anything for us as president yet. what if he gets in there and screws everything up even worse than we are now. i think they should wait and see how he does as a president first.
3 years agoby @mcleve02Flag
Orionbolt
I was joking to one of my friends about this a couple of months ago. I didn't expect it to happen but then again im not suprised.
3 years agoby @orionboltFlag
Err
someone should just say "no' to will smith once in a while.
3 years agoby @err2005Flag
Mutant
I'm a big fan of Smith's but I just don't think he should do it. Besides, 2016 is far off and he may never play the part.
He'll be over booked anyway with other films.
As for your President, never liked the man just bring home the troops. It's not your war.
3 years agoby @zenderFlag
Atreus
Ok.... this trend is becoming annoying. Take a look at the new film "W" which is about Bush and his "Trillion Dollar Mistake"..... The guy is still in office! We have not had history, hindsight, nor natural progression to show us how great or terrible a president he really was. Now we have Obama, who is not even in office yet and with almost no political experience, who has had no chance to prove himself or show his competence, already getting movie deals to support him. In truth, I think it is terribly inappropriate and rude.
A movie should not be made about the merits of an event or individual until we have had time to look at it without a clouded judgement. And no, I'm not loving on Bush or hating on Obama - I am just wishing that people would hop off the bandwagon long enough to put things into perspective.
3 years agoby @atreusFlag
Tomp1210
yeh Denzel or someone, Will's brilliant but it doesnt suit his looks I think. He was brilliant in TPOH
3 years agoby @tomp1210Flag
Tomp1210
good idea, considering i know nothing about him, he is going to be assassinated by Hilary (just wait), and is the first black president ever. Will be interesting.
see.
3 years agoby @tomp1210Flag
Phatlightning
little too early to even talk about this.. we may never even see a 2016.. LOL for god sakes the man isn't even in the office yet and theres talks of him having his own biopic.
3 years agoby @sxers2k1Flag