Will Smith Bringing Hurricane Katrina Hero Biopic
May 21, 2009 by Ross MillerOne of the most notable and remembered hurricane disasters of the last few years (although it certainly isn’t the only one) was Hurricane Katrina. It …
One of the most notable and remembered hurricane disasters of the last few years (although it certainly isn’t the only one) was Hurricane Katrina. It has been attributed as one of the worst hurricanes the U.S. has ever experienced, with a death toll of almost 2,000 (with over 700 missing) and a cost in the tens of billions of dollars. A notable hero of the disaster was John Keller, an ex-Marine who kept safe hundreds of people during a five day ordeal.
With this in mind, Will Smith and Overbrook Entertainment (which he is a co-owner of) have acquired the rights to make a biopic about Keller. We only know that the rights have been acquired, but there’s no word yet on whether it will be about his entire life or just the bravery and heroism he displayed in 2005 during the chaos.
Something tells me, for dramatic effect’s sake, it will just be the latter, with maybe a little back story thrown in at the beginning…
Although no casting news has come out yet about the John Lee Hancock-directed movie (The Alamo, The Rookie), it is expected by that Smith will end up portraying Keller. Not only does this make sense with Smith being one of the few truly bankable movie star in the business, as well as the fact he’s producing it, but Smith also clearly resembles Keller (see left).
Much like any film based on the events of 9/11, making a film that has anything to do with Hurricane Katrina needs to be treated sensitively. I am not one of those people who think that no movies should be made about tragic real life events like this – they should, because I think it’s important to get those kinds of stories out there. However, I am not in favor of them making it just to plainly capitalize on the magnitude and impact of the event, either by playing up the fact that it’s based on a real tragic event or making it overly politicized.
With the 9/11 attacks, they made countless documentaries and a couple of feature films, the latter taking the form of World Trade Center and United 93. Both were incredible stories that needed to be told, but with the latter in particular they did a brilliant job with it that made for one hell of a harrowing experience (I didn’t think they made a particularly good movie with World Trade Center, though).
I think with Keller’s heroic story, they can follow in United 93′s footsteps. As long as they don’t make it too sappy, politicized or go about things with a disregard for sensitivity to the tragic event that occurred, it should make for compelling and dramatic viewing.
What do you think of them making a movie about the Hurricane Katrina hero John Keller? Do you think Smith should play the lead and produce?
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Before Vic bans us from the site, what comments do you think I made up?
@cat
Maybe it has something to do with the subprime scam that a certain someone in office now helped allow… MAYBE…
And how come our government won’t do the one thing that will save our auto industry without any bail outs or anything? Get rid of labor unions. How come they don’t do that?? I wonder…
In 2007 GM outsold Toyota in number of cars sold, yet GM had billions in losses while Toyota had billions in profits, why do you think that is? And who do you think allows for this to keep going? The problem with American companies are almost all linked to labor unions, who do you think grants them so much power? Ask yourself those questions, research the answers, then talk politics.
Ken, GM’s downfall is crashing by design as this all sounds worse than it will be for GM in the long run. In the end the unions will be taken out… This is made to look horrific yet after all is said and paid off the CEO’s will still be there running the same company as the workers pay the price of this economic con-job.
(Consider how much GM spends on pointless tv commercials, ah its in the hundreds of millions)
Unions are part of the fabric of America and no matter how you perceive them the institution needs to be upheld and defended…
People need to have all the voice they can get these days. If it means belonging to a group that stands up for the rights of its workers so be it…
The feds are trying to chip away at our individual freedoms and rights all the time… Try to have an open mind on this,,,
LOL 790, and Toyota and all of these other companies don’t pay millions in commercials? The FACT is, there are factory workers in GM with a highschool education level getting paid more than people with masters or even some with doctorate degrees. I’m talking about someone who sweeps the floor getting paid $70+ per hour, and that isn’t just some made up example, there ARE people sweeping the floor there making that money. Then there are the people who go to “work” everyday, clock in, and sit in a lounge and watch tv while getting paid because the union decided it is unfair for modern robotics to take over jobs, so they have to pay them regardless of if the robots are doing the job for them or not. Then there’s the FACT that after they are fired or laid off, they continue to get paid 90% of their salary. So that means GM has to pay their workers and even those who no longer work there.
Is this because the unions are so super nice and want to help the workers? Um, maybe, or MAYBE it’s because for every person GM has to pay, unions get what they call “membership fees.” Do they know they are driving American companies out of business? Of course, do they care? Not as long as they are getting these fat pay-offs now.
Go look up the numbers, go look at the average salary of a factory worker in GM, and you tell me if you should be earning that on a highschool level education. Go look up the number of units sold, like I said, GM outsold toyota in number of units sold in 2007, but thanks to the unions, they actually LOSE some $300 for every car built and sold. It actually isn’t profitable for them to stay in business when the average salary of their highschool educated workers is around $60-$80,000 a year… Heck, why the hell did I bother getting a college education? I might as well have moved to Michigan or wherever and work in a factory putting the bolts to mount the steering column of some car and get paid much more than I am getting paid now… Heck, maybe I’ll get lucky and get fired and get paid 90% of my salary when I’m not even working there anymore…
Labor unions served a purpose once upon a time. And in some cases they still do. But they have FAR too much power. The logical solution to GM’s mess is to allow them to file for bankruptcy, which would void their labor union contracts, they can clean up their labor force, renegotiate labor union terms, and be back on their feet. But the current administration RUSHED the bail out plan just to prevent them from having that option. You think it was a coincidence? You know the unions bascially said “hey, we paid for your campaign, now this is what we need you to do” and bam, look at where we’re at. We give millions to GM, they ditch an American legend (Pontiac) and within 3 years (2 years most likely), they will be in need of another bail out, guaranteed. Just wait, you’ll think back and remember me saying this.
And just in case you haven’t realized this, but the labor unions don’t at all protect you from the “feds,” they are in fact a controlling member of the “feds.” Talk about losing individual rights, there are a lot of jobs where you are FORCED to join the union in order to work there, you have no choice. That means MANDATORY member dues. And the few places where they give you the choice of union membership, if you choose to not be part of the union, they charge you “maintenance fees” which conveniently equal the same amount as membership dues, and they also go to the union. How convenient…
Ken your taking an extreme view of auto Unions… Sure you can make the argument that some of the Unions have too much power, then there’s the other fact that GM and other auto manufacturers waste billions of dollars every year that dwarf Union costs.
Ken if you dig deep you’ll find out that the auto giants are all one big happy family. None of them are loosing money the American auto companies all own parts of the Japanese markets as well as the German auto firms etc…
Union dues provide heath care,,,,
Oh, so my views which are backed by facts and numbers and are pretty well known facts in the industry are extreme?
Daniel F, are you reading this???
Apparently 790 is calling ME a conspiracy theorist because I can do math… Hm, profit from car < price to pay workers to build car = $$loss. Damn, is so far fetched, why can’t I be normal and just believe in the New World Order and how 9-11 was planned by secret societies…
Unions are a great idea… In theory sadly much like communism they didn’t pan out to well. Unions do not protect anyone, but the people running it. Your union dues get spent however they see fit and you really don’t have say in the matter. Unions force everyone to go on strike when a lot of the times the majority of the people don’t actually want to go on strike. Unions encourage bad behavior and aggressive tactics that get people hurt. They also encourage people to be extremely cruel to people who are so desperate for a job that they take something they know is temporary and work as a so called scab. I’d go on, but Ken covered most of it.
I love how you actually post facts Ken it’s an amazing thing. Stats numbers and math scary words to some people I guess.
Yah Daniel F, good point about compulsory dues being used in ways the members paying those dues do not desire. Just look up which political party is supported by the most labor union members versus which political party almost all of labor union donations go to.
Want to see more scary math?
In 2007
GM: 9,369,524 cars sold
Toyota: 9,366,xxx cars sold
It’s not by a big margin, but they still sold more cars, but let’s give Toyota the benefit of the doubt and say they are even, so you would think that they would be about even in profits/losses right? Wrong.
GM: $38,730,000,000 loss
Toyota: $17,146,000,000 profits
ken
I saw you wrote something to me but I didn’t actually read it. I’ve become so annoyed by your comments that when I get the email and it says ken I just hit the delete button. Not enough time in the day to waste listening to you. Screenrant would be such a more enjoyable site without kens posts.
Ken, 790,
Remember that comment I made up a ways? I guess you guys didn’t pay attention.
I feel like a school teacher and you two are the disruptive kids in the class I have to keep an eye on.
Vic
Sorry about that Vic,,,
^
Ken your making me look bad !!
^
@Cat,,, LOL !!!!
If your reading this, you rock !!!
We’re just making sure you’re paying attention Vic, lol, just kidding.
@790
And I’m glad cat said what she did, I always find it amusing when people are unable to accept opposing opinions, oh the good times…
“Ken your making me look bad ”
Don’t make me go grammar nazi on you again…
Now that’s not fair 790 you did that well enough on your own.
Anyway I believe we were on the topic of Will Smith in the movie. I think it sounds cool, but like most people say I think they need to stay away from politics focus on the man and his heroic actions.
Lol, Daniel don’t take it all to seriously…
Btw, I’m hoping you can find some emotion in this Katrina film…
Umm ok what ever that means.
I very like will smith
This film will be a disgraceful sham. Read these letters:
Katrina story turns a tragedy into a cartoon
Posted by Letters to the Editor May 30, 2009
Re: “Will Smith to play Katrina hero John Keller in Sony Pictures release, ” Living, May 20.
Perhaps you have heard of a recent memoir whose central premise was two lovers who kissed through a concentration camp fence, later exposed as a complete fabrication, with actual Holocaust survivors understandably furious.
Ultimately, John Keller, the “hero” of American Can Co., will be exposed as such a character. I wish you would stop perpetuating his story.
For starters: There was no 11 feet of water in the American Can. At its deepest point, in the deepest part of the street outside, the water was perhaps 6 feet deep. Water was only ankle deep at best in the lobby. Which isn't to say it didn't suck. But when you exaggerate, all can be called into question. Why not throw in some snakes and alligators?
Mr. Keller claims he saved “244″ folks. If you did the research you would find there were maybe 400 people stuck in the building — and that seems generous — which would mean this guy personally saved two-thirds of them. His only impressive feat is getting his yarn so far up the Hollywood food chain.
I was at American Can. I couldn't have picked this man from a lineup without looking at his picture in the paper. Why? Because while he may have been assisting a handful of people in some wing of the building, the rest of us were doing the same with whoever was within our radius.
I don't want the horror of my Katrina experience turned into a cartoon. The cartoon of “Col. Keller, the One-Man Calvary, Saves the Day!”
There were many quiet and humble heroes from those times, unlike the boastful and self-aggrandizing Mr. Keller.
Brett Evans
New Orleans
National Guard was there to rescue 'Can man'
Monday, April 09, 2007
Re: “The can man,” Living, March 25.
The day after Katrina hit, air crews attempted to land on the roof of the American Can Co. However, the roof could not support the weight of a 15,000-pound helicopter, so we relocated alongside Jefferson Davis Parkway.
John Keller would have anyone paying to read his story of selfless booze-looting, boat-stealing and cop-impersonating believe that no one was there to rescue him, and that he shepherded 244 people so impotent they had to cling to his every action in hope of rescue.
The fact is that helicopters were landing on his doorstep every 10 to 15 minutes, 14 hours a day, and lifting 20 to 35 people every time.
Among others, those flying were New Orleans natives, National Guardsman who lived here, worked here and rescued here.
Step onto the sidewalk beside the North Jeff Davis Parkway Post Office and look at the former Lindy Boggs Medical Center. Think about all the hundreds of patients and staff we rescued from this spot.
Then look across Bayou St. John and think about the thousands that swam, waded or floated to us atop debris from all parts of Mid-City while Mr. Keller was only 250 feet away, most of his path under less than a foot of water.
I'm no longer flying for the Louisiana Army National Guard, though I've continued to work in the city now flying an air ambulance helicopter.
We didn't stop flying until we saw no one left waving their hands for help. We did prioritize those in immediate medical need, but we left no one behind.
Nathan B. Blaesing
Harahan
This film will be a disgraceful sham. Read these letters:
Katrina story turns a tragedy into a cartoon
Posted by Letters to the Editor May 30, 2009
Re: “Will Smith to play Katrina hero John Keller in Sony Pictures release, ” Living, May 20.
Perhaps you have heard of a recent memoir whose central premise was two lovers who kissed through a concentration camp fence, later exposed as a complete fabrication, with actual Holocaust survivors understandably furious.
Ultimately, John Keller, the “hero” of American Can Co., will be exposed as such a character. I wish you would stop perpetuating his story.
For starters: There was no 11 feet of water in the American Can. At its deepest point, in the deepest part of the street outside, the water was perhaps 6 feet deep. Water was only ankle deep at best in the lobby. Which isn't to say it didn't suck. But when you exaggerate, all can be called into question. Why not throw in some snakes and alligators?
Mr. Keller claims he saved “244″ folks. If you did the research you would find there were maybe 400 people stuck in the building — and that seems generous — which would mean this guy personally saved two-thirds of them. His only impressive feat is getting his yarn so far up the Hollywood food chain.
I was at American Can. I couldn't have picked this man from a lineup without looking at his picture in the paper. Why? Because while he may have been assisting a handful of people in some wing of the building, the rest of us were doing the same with whoever was within our radius.
I don't want the horror of my Katrina experience turned into a cartoon. The cartoon of “Col. Keller, the One-Man Calvary, Saves the Day!”
There were many quiet and humble heroes from those times, unlike the boastful and self-aggrandizing Mr. Keller.
Brett Evans
New Orleans
National Guard was there to rescue 'Can man'
Monday, April 09, 2007
Re: “The can man,” Living, March 25.
The day after Katrina hit, air crews attempted to land on the roof of the American Can Co. However, the roof could not support the weight of a 15,000-pound helicopter, so we relocated alongside Jefferson Davis Parkway.
John Keller would have anyone paying to read his story of selfless booze-looting, boat-stealing and cop-impersonating believe that no one was there to rescue him, and that he shepherded 244 people so impotent they had to cling to his every action in hope of rescue.
The fact is that helicopters were landing on his doorstep every 10 to 15 minutes, 14 hours a day, and lifting 20 to 35 people every time.
Among others, those flying were New Orleans natives, National Guardsman who lived here, worked here and rescued here.
Step onto the sidewalk beside the North Jeff Davis Parkway Post Office and look at the former Lindy Boggs Medical Center. Think about all the hundreds of patients and staff we rescued from this spot.
Then look across Bayou St. John and think about the thousands that swam, waded or floated to us atop debris from all parts of Mid-City while Mr. Keller was only 250 feet away, most of his path under less than a foot of water.
I'm no longer flying for the Louisiana Army National Guard, though I've continued to work in the city now flying an air ambulance helicopter.
We didn't stop flying until we saw no one left waving their hands for help. We did prioritize those in immediate medical need, but we left no one behind.
Nathan B. Blaesing
Harahan