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."
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.
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Captain Nemo comes to theaters in 2013. The film is directed by David Fincher.
Comments (28)
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ZanyZap
"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}.
3 years agoby @zanyzapFlag
VooDoo77
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.
3 years agoby @deathstardestroyerFlag
coolactor159
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, HANC*CK, 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!
3 years agoby @coolactor159Flag
Chad Vital
"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 f*ck 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.
3 years agoby @chad-vitalFlag
ZanyZap
I think they could make it work.
But McG hasn't even asked Will Smith, yet...
3 years agoby @zanyzapFlag
J.A.Ottley.Writer / Director
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
3 years agoby @chronicFlag
Vamp
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!
3 years agoby @vampire2000Flag
ZanyZap
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.
3 years agoby @zanyzapFlag
J.A.Ottley.Writer / Director
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).
3 years agoby @chronicFlag
brunchking
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 f*ck 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
3 years agoby @brunchkingFlag
Chad Vital
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 sh*t 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.
3 years agoby @chad-vitalFlag
The Narrator: The Better Man
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.
3 years agoby @narratorFlag
ZanyZap
And Schilke, origin stories usually detail the characters 'origin stories'. Therefore, Nemo would be much younger, and age throughout the film.
3 years agoby @zanyzapFlag
J.A.Ottley.Writer / Director
What about Ben Kingsley?
Before people comment on his colour, yes he is part indian and also see Ghandi
3 years agoby @chronicFlag
ZanyZap
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.
3 years agoby @zanyzapFlag
brunchking
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.
3 years agoby @brunchkingFlag
schlike22
Gary Oldman would eat this role up too.
3 years agoby @schlike22Flag
schlike22
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.
3 years agoby @schlike22Flag
T.Clark
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
3 years agoby @insertusernamehereFlag
The Dark Knight
Nemo was indian!
3 years agoby @thedarkknight23Flag
Lock and Stock
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.
3 years agoby @m-man360Flag
J.A.Ottley.Writer / Director
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
3 years agoby @chronicFlag
VooDoo77
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
3 years agoby @deathstardestroyerFlag
Mmm_mmm
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
3 years agoby @mmm-mmmFlag
Atreus
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
3 years agoby @atreusFlag
Mr.Rated-R
will smith is the man and ill watch any movie he acts in
3 years agoby @residentevilfanFlag
Shelley
I do not know about Will Smith though.
3 years agoby @shelleyFlag
Chad Vital
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.
3 years agoby @chad-vitalFlag