Oldboy Will Smith

Will Smith is reportedly set to star in Stevcen Spielberg's new movie.

The 'I Am Legend' actor is in talks to sign up to appear in the director's remake of Chan Wook Park's 'Oldboy', a Korean film which was originally released in 2003.

The film follows a man who gets kidnapped and is held in a shabby cell for 15 years, with no explanation given for his capture.

He is suddenly released and given money, a mobile telephone and clothes and embarks on a journey to discover who destroyed his life so he can seek revenge.

Will is expected to play the lead role in the movie, which has not yet gone into development as the director is looking for a writer to pen the script.

Via myparkmag.co.uk

Oldboy Will Smith

Will Smith is reportedly set to star in Stevcen Spielberg's new movie.

The 'I Am Legend' actor is in talks to sign up to appear in the director's remake of Chan Wook Park's 'Oldboy', a Korean film which was originally released in 2003.

The film follows a man who gets kidnapped and is held in a shabby cell for 15 years, with no explanation given for his capture.

He is suddenly released and given money, a mobile telephone and clothes and embarks on a journey to discover who destroyed his life so he can seek revenge.

Will is expected to play the lead role in the movie, which has not yet gone into development as the director is looking for a writer to pen the script.

Via myparkmag.co.uk

Miley Cyrus in 'fascinating' list

Miley Cyrus and Will Smith have been included in US top ten of "fascinating people".

US TV star Barbara Walters compiles an annual "10 Most Fascinating People" list which airs as a TV special on ABC.

Also on her list this year are Tom Cruise, comedian Tina Fey, Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps and radio host Rush Limbaugh.

The top spot on the list, as well as three others, have not yet been named.

The list is drawn up from the year's most prominent names in entertainment, sports, politics and pop culture.

Via thisishullandeastriding.co.uk

Spielberg and Will Smith May Redo Bloody Oldboy

After he directs British schoolboy comic Tintin, Steven Spielberg is casting his gaze overseas to far darker material. The filmmaker is reportedly in talks to remake Korean revenge drama Oldboy with Will Smith in the lead.

Winner of the 2004 Cannes Film Festival Grand Jury Prize, director Chan Wook-park's manga-based thriller became an art house hit. Beautifully shot, the original Oldboy tells a gripping tale about a Seoul businessman (played by Min-sik Choi, pictured) who gets kidnapped and tossed into a cell for 15 years by unseen captors for no apparent reason. Escaping at last, he follows a trail of clues to avenge his tormentors.

Oldboy would mark the first collaboration between Spielberg and Smith. Variety reports that Spielberg is now looking for a writer to develop a script for American audiences.

Via wired.com

Stunning Emma Watson wows film fans

Harry Potter starlet Emma Watson wowed fans at the second National Movie Awards last night as she stopped to chat and sign autographs.

The 18-year-old thrilled the crowd in a stunning white, Victorian-style, Alexander McQueen gown with a jewel encrusted bust.

And the rising star, who won an award for Best Female Performance at last year's awards, appeared pleased to talk to fans and have her photograph taken before heading inside at the Royal Festival Hall in London.

Award nominee Meryl Streep and Kylie Minogue however snubbed the red carpet at last night's Awards.

A crowd of teenagers wearing t-shirts with slogans such as ‘Meryl is my Momma’ and clutching flowers for their heroine were left disappointed as the Mamma Mia! star failed to appear.

Instead she and pop princess Kylie were sneaked in another door at the Royal Festival Hall.

All four male nominees – Pierce Brosnan, Will Smith, Johnny Depp and Christian Bale – failed to appear at the ceremony.

And the leads from Sex and the City nominated in the best comedy category were also absent, sending Chris Noth – aka Mr Big – in their place.

“I have no idea why they’re not here,” said Noth. “They’re probably all busy, I had a window and I love London so I wanted to come.”

Stars who did make the carpet included Jason Statham, Eddie Izzard and the child stars of Prince Caspian, the latest Narnia film.

Nicole Kidman stepped out for the first time since becoming a mum - and met ABBA's Bjorn Ulvaeus, 63. The Aussie beauty, 41, gave birth to Sunday Rose in July.

Olympic gold medallist Chris Hoy raced down the red carpet in a kilt and Samuel L Jackson was sporting his trademark cap as he arrived.

Emma Watson said she was looking forward to presenting an award.

“It was such fun to be here last year,” she said. “And I won an award which made it extra special.”

Eddie Izzard, at the event to present the best comedy award, said he has enjoyed working with Tom Cruise on their new film Valkyrie.

“It was scary because on my first day I had a six page scene to shoot with him. But he was very polite and very Tom Cruiseish.”

Via thesun.co.uk

Will Smith to attend Hancock gala

Will Smith, Charlize Theron and Jason Bateman will be among the stars attending the premiere of Hancock, a film about a bungling superhero, today.

Smith plays the title character, Ray Hancock, who manages to do jaw-dropping damage during his well-intentioned bids to save lives. Ray's wife, played by Theron, insists he is a lost cause.

The gala premiere is taking place in London's Leicester Square.

Via teletext.co.uk

Will Smith stuns Charlize Theron with a Slap!

Charlize Theron was in for a shock when her co-star in the film Hancock gave her a sharp slap! The co-star was none other than Will Smith, who strongly denies the accusation!

Here’s what happened. The scene required Will to raise his hand and carry out a ‘fake slap’. They even practised for the scene a number of times. But when the camera started rolling, what Charlize received was a nice slap on her cheek!

She says, “He tried to fake slap me one time, but the fake one just didn’t happen. I think he just hit me! But Will claims I leaned into his hand and that’s how it happened. I was so shocked! I was like, ‘He just slapped me!’ But he said, 'I did not slap you. I had my hand there and you turned into it.' But it’s no issue actually! He’s no woman beater! We’re just kids on the set!”

Via galatta.com

Will Won't Wear Scientologarb

Tom Cruise-azy, Scientolowife Katie Kate, Jada Pinkett-Smith and Will all met up at Cut for dinner -- where Will actually wore a bedazzled t-shirt reading "Party Starter" on it. Everyone else wore regulation black.

Will & Jada looked genuinely excited about all the paparazzi outside though, and even gave up a kiss for the cameras (take our word for it.) TomKat, not so much.

Via tmz.com

Will Smith wins 'Hitler' damages

Actor Will Smith has received an apology and damages from a news agency after it falsely accused him of saying Adolf Hitler was "a good person".

World Entertainment News Network (WENN) published the article, titled "Smith: Hitler Was A Good Person", in December.

His solicitor, Rachel Atkins, told London's High Court the article was "deeply distressing" to Smith and had caused him "acute embarrassment".

WENN's solicitor apologised for the "misleading allegations".

Ms Atkins said the star, who was not in court, was "a highly-respected actor of international repute and a man of complete integrity".

She said the I Am Legend star believed Hitler to be "a vile and heinous man".

"The article alleged that the claimant had declared in an interview that Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler was a good person," she said.

"The allegation is false and without any foundation.

"It wholly misrepresents the claimant's actual words, given in an interview to the Daily Record, a Scottish newspaper and website."

Legal costs

Ms Atkins said the article had been picked up by the world's media and said "the libel remains at large".

"Whilst the defendant retracted the article and circulated a correction and apology to the recipients of the original article, the correction and apology has not received any media attention," she said.

The London-based news agency agreed to pay undisclosed damages as well as Mr Smith's legal costs.

Ms Atkins said that, because of this and the public apology, Mr Smith considered that "his reputation has been entirely vindicated" and therefore "would not proceed any further in his action".

John Melville-Smith, for WENN, said: "Through me the defendant offers its apologies to the claimant for any distress and embarrassment caused by this article.

"The defendant accepts that the allegations concerning the claimant were misleading and published in error."

Via bbc.co.uk

Will Smith is powerful as an urban 'Legend'

If one were to choose the best candidate for last man on Earth, Will Smith would probably be the best man for the job.

A gifted physical actor with charisma to burn, he's one of the very few actors who can star essentially solo in a feature-length film and keep us riveted.

So, on the strength of his performance and an intriguing apocalyptic story, the first half of I Am Legend is fascinating and fun to watch.

But a little more than halfway in, Legend, based on the book by Richard Matheson (which also spawned 1971's Omega Man and 1964's TheLast Man on Earth), deteriorates into a schlocky zombie horror flick and loses its steam.

Smith plays Robert Neville, a scientist still working to reverse the incurable man-made virus that wiped out the population. Because he is immune to the virus, he becomes the last man standing in New York. Seeing such a vibrant city become a ghost town is almost worth the price of admission.

After the outbreak, Neville is left with only the company of his beloved German shepherd and sad memories of his wife and child. But, even in this seemingly deserted metropolis, he's not truly alone. Undead mutant creatures are lurking nearby. Though he outwits them for a while, they eventually come to torment Neville and try to devour him.

But because of the been-there, done-that quality of zombie movies and the poor quality of the computer-generated imagery, his faceoffs with them are not scary or suspenseful. The rampaging zombies don't look at all convincing. Instead, they look like escapees from a second-rate video game.

Smith's physical transformation is awe-inspiring. He got in peak shape and lost 20 pounds for the role. And in the midst of the grim reality of his isolation, he makes desperate efforts to tap into his humanity. His strong comic sense is well used here. The close relationship with his dog is altogether believable and touching.

Smith is one of the few actors who can seem personable while muttering to himself or talking to his dog.

But his powerful performance is not enough to save the movie — initially a potent meditation on loneliness and an absorbing doomsday action movie — from taking a wrong turn and never getting back on track.

Via usatoday.com

Rosario Dawson and Woody Harrelson Join Will Smith In Seven Pounds

It seems like today is the day for casting announcements! It has been reported that Woody Harrelson and Rosario Dawson have signed on to Will Smith’s upcoming drama, Seven Pounds.

Seven Pounds sees Will reteam with The Pursuit of Happyness’ director Gabriele Muccino. The film follows the story of a guilt-ridden man who finds love while intending to commit suicide in a run-down motel.

Dawson will be playing Smith’s love interest who suffers from a congenital heart condition. Harrelson will play a motel worker who forms a friendship with Smith’s suicidal character.

Seven Pounds is set to be released in late 2008 - prime pickings for award season I think!

Via product-reviews.net