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5 Movie Roles Will Smith Needs to Play
by Kofi Outlaw
(6 of 5)
(NOTE: We first published this a few years ago, but have dusted it off in honor of Men in Black 3 (read our review). It is meant to be humorous and satirical, in case you're wondering).
I'd only be half-kidding if I were to say that 75% of the time that a new leading man role is announced, I hear at least three people in our comment sections nominating Will Smith for the part. In fact, in my line of work I hear the name "Will Smith" mentioned so many times that it's becoming something of a neurotic tick in my brain. Now that Men in Black 3 is here, Smith's name has resurfaced once again in the cultural zeitgeist.
It never seems to matter what the role in question is: people seem to think that Will Smith - a.k.a. The Fresh Prince, a.k.a. Big Willie, a.k.a. "His Jiggyness" - is the man for part. Granted, Smith is ultimate embodiment of old Hollywood star power. The man has conquered everything - the radio airwaves, the small screen, silver screens all over the world - and his star power is still shining so bright that even his son, Jaden, has been able to bask in its glow (if The Karate Kid's $100 million gross is any indication).
Truly it is a Will Smith world we live in and rather than rage against the machine, I'll instead help oil its gears by providing you readers (and Hollywood, if you're watching) with "The 5 Roles Will Smith NEEDS to Play".
I'd only be half-kidding if I were to say that 75% of the time that a new leading man role is announced, I hear at least three people in our comment sections nominating Will Smith for the part. In fact, in my line of work I hear the name "Will Smith" mentioned so many times that it's becoming something of a neurotic tick in my brain. Now that Men in Black 3 is here, Smith's name has resurfaced once again in the cultural zeitgeist.
It never seems to matter what the role in question is: people seem to think that Will Smith - a.k.a. The Fresh Prince, a.k.a. Big Willie, a.k.a. "His Jiggyness" - is the man for part. Granted, Smith is ultimate embodiment of old Hollywood star power. The man has conquered everything - the radio airwaves, the small screen, silver screens all over the world - and his star power is still shining so bright that even his son, Jaden, has been able to bask in its glow (if The Karate Kid's $100 million gross is any indication).
Truly it is a Will Smith world we live in and rather than rage against the machine, I'll instead help oil its gears by providing you readers (and Hollywood, if you're watching) with "The 5 Roles Will Smith NEEDS to Play".
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Umm INtelliq what do you call Seven Pounds or Pursuit of Happyness? Pretty sure those are far beyond his normal personality as you put it. Also have you seen 6 degrees of separation? He plays a mentally disturbed homosexual con man it’s the furthest out there role he has ever done.
ive seen the first two you mentioned. those arent character roles in my opinion. i havent seen him do much that is far outside the box. if he has, i missed it. and if he has, it’s not what made him a superstar.
The hallmark of a great actor is the Oscar for best actor..Will Smith doesn’t have one so he’s not a great actor..bottom line…SO what if he can deliver in any genre and get @$$es in seats..that doesn’t make him great..BAH!! HUMBUG!!! BOOO!!!!BOO YOU WILL SMITH!! YOU HACK!!!
Sorry if I don’t take your word for it Daniel that the majority of the world think LL Cool J is a bad actor. Sure, he’s no Will Smith, but you saying “the world thinks he’s a bad actor” doesn’t make it so.
Now a bad MUSICIAN, I have no qualms with that.
Come on Andy, he might have been in the execrable Rollerball remake, but I’d forgive him for “Rock The Bells” and “Mama Said Knock You Out” alone!
ijust dopnt like LL, he is just bad bad bad……HE shoulda got ate instead of the almighty samuel l. jackson in deep blue sea
Lol Andy.
And Vic how do I use those bonus points!
Why limit to BIG? they could duo in a Vice Versa or Like FAther Like Son remake – give Jaden something to do in the movie other than begninning and ending
He is a great actor, but I get tired of him being in EVERYTHING. I can’t remember the last movie of Will’s I saw in the theater.
Maybe we need another article on supporting parts for Liam Neeson. I think every movie I’ve been to this year has had Liam in it – he’s like Where’s Waldo (exagerating of course)
LOL about Liam Neeson: the “wise old mentor” thing is getting pretty old with him.
If Will Smith can pull off Riddick in the next Chronicles film, I’ll be converted to the Smith cult,,,
Until then,,,
I bow to know one!
@790
I doubt that he would be able to pull that role off… Hopefully that’s not actually on the table, is it? lol
I hope they don’t have a Black Panther movie. Black Panther is about the dumbest comic hero ever. Yah, make a hero out of a domestic terrorist. Great idea. What next, a Timothy McVeigh inspired super hero?
That’s a bit harsh, Ken. BP as Don McGregor wrote him in Jungle Action in the ’70s was as far away from a domestic terrorist as you could possibly get. Groundbreaking stuff.
I’m talking about the real Black Panthers. By portraying a character of the same name in a comic that kids most likely read as a good guy that is, as you say, as far away from a domestic terrorist as you could possibly get is just implanting false images in childrens’ minds that the real people called by the same name are good guys.
Yes, I understand the socio-political climate of the time when the Black Panther Party was formed, but two wrongs don’t make a right. Martin Luther King Jr. always preached about obtaining equality without violence. And yes, I know that the BPP was originally not intended to be a violent group and INTENDED to make a difference through social programs and what-not, but intentions and what really happens often don’t coincide, and this was one of those times where they didn’t.
Black Panther was created before the Black Panthers organization was known of. Later ont they briefly changed his name to Black Leopard to avoid the connection but changed it back because it just sounded too dorky. He was never a domestic terrorist. He spent most of his time in his African kingdom of which he was a prince.
Ah, ok, I thought the character was intentionally named after the Black Panther Party. Shows how much I know about comics, lol. And yes, Black Leopard does sound pretty cheesy, haha.
Did you even read the comic book back in the 70′s?
just because they share the same name does not make them synonymous.
such a caveman approach to language would be to equate the members of the tea party (tea baggers) with people who enjoy tea bagging (also called tea baggers).
2 different ideas sharing the same name.
LMAO, that’s about all I have to say about that comment…
KenJ you gots to get out of Florida!!!
@790
LOL, never noticed this before, but you’re one of those people who put a “TM” or the “c” thing after their name?? Haha, sorry if I’ve made fun of that here on this site, not sure if I have or not, but didn’t notice you had that…
Get out of Florida Ken.
Soon as poss!!!!!!!!!
what a stupid article.
I am beginning to have my doubts of what is presented here on this website.
It seems to be getting a bit ridiculous at times…
BTW,
“Correct English would be “I am beginning to have my doubts ABOUT what is presented on this website.”
FYI.
*slow clap*…….*breaks into roaring applause*
Well you KNOW how much we need your validation to put something up on OUR site *eyeroll*
am i the only one who thinks this is an extremely dumb article?
pointless and dare i say it pretty pethetic.
dissapointed in you screenrant.
It’s a humor article – you obviously missed the joke.
But thanks for reading!
This is one of several extremely stupid articles posted on this site recently, does anyone really care about the roles Will Smith should play in the future? Will Smith might I suppose.
If there isnt any news or reviews or trailers, just dont put any old rubbish up, this has to be the silliest thing I’ve read on this site (which I love by the way), putting up articles like this is the first step on the road to AICN mediocrity.
Beckett
Um, I think we’ll continue to post exactly what we want. And posting every minute bit of movie “news” (or rumor or trivial happening or development) should be taken just as lightly as this article should.
You missed the point and joke.
And as for “mediocrity?” — I think we’re doing just fine in attracting readers
Maybe next time just say “I didn’t like this particular article” and move on, Hmmmm?
I didnt say you couldnt post exactly what you like, maybe I didnt realise it was a joke because I just couldnt be bothered to read all the way to the end.
“If there isnt any news or reviews or trailers, just dont put any old rubbish up,”
Yep that totally doesn’t sound like you’re telling us what to (and not to) post. Totally.
“this has to be the silliest thing I’ve read on this site (which I love by the way)”
Ummmm technically you ‘couldn’t be bothered to read the whole thing’ so you didn’t really read it, and were poo-poo’ing something you don’t know everything about.
FYI: There’s a running joke between us SR members about commenters who say “This article is stupid and/or uninteresting”
If you read it, you were interested. If you didn’t read it, you’re throwing around a half-formed opinion as if you truly know what you’re talking about. Gotta love the irony.
I’ll let you get in the final word and then we’ll move on. Hopefully my next op-ed is better received. Can’t all be homeruns…
@ allen heyer, red skull, and DrSamBeckett
Pay attention guys, its posted at the bottom of the article that it isn’t serious and is just for fun, just a little humor mixed in to all the movie news goodness we expect from ScreenRant.
“In West Philadelphia born and raised
On the playground is where I spent most of my days
Chillin’ out maxin’ relaxin’ all cool
And all shootin’ some b-ball outside of the school
When a couple of guys who were up to no good”
tell me this man doesnt have the chops to play ANYONE
Will Smith, Denzel Washington, Jamie Foxx, Samuel L. Jackson, Ving Rhames, Michael Clarke Duncan and .50 Cent are The Blackpendables.
Take 50 Cent out of that equation and you’ve got a movie I’d pay to see.
True that, for some reason Michael Jai White didn’t even occur to me at the time.
The “World’s Biggest Star?” Come on man, this is far from the truth.
OK….you tell us who is the World’s Biggest Star?
will smith has a big head!. he hasn’t done a good move since ID4, hancock was alright but it could have been better if will smith wasn’t in it!! why does every1 love him so much? fresh prince was the s*** back in the day but huh?! whats the hype about? even the rumor about him play cap america in the origins movie WTF! regardless of race or colour he cant act!
really , am legend, irobot, independance day and the pursuit of happiness. please just your facts straight
I had no idea that some Screen Rant readers lacked a sense of humor.
You don’t have to read every article on the site.
Vic
It thought it was a fantastic read, laughed the whole time i read it
even sent it to a good friend of mine whos a huge will smith fan, thanks for lighthearted work, it is a site about entertainment after all
I enjoyed reading it, Vic. Kofi had me going for a little bit but I then figured this must be a joke; and, of course, I was right. I see nothing wrong with this article, and think Hollywood should pay Kofi for the eventual theft of his idea.
Oh puh-LEEZ Screen Rant, you have lost the foresight and seriousness that has made this site the most hallowed place since Roger Ebert’s blog. I entirely support the more serious commenters here and I scoff at your poorly-veiled attempt at list-making by showcasing an obviously overrated star. I do believe Mr. Outlaw has more talent to be writing this. Whatsoever, Mr. Smith is so clearly better geared towards something in the vein of King Lear. Who needs an –excuse the vulgar talk– obvious hack as Ian McKellen when you have a gargantuan thespian as Mr. Smith? Think beyond Hollywood, Screen Rant!
(PS: To all those who read up to here and either applauded or started to write a scathing reply: you’ve been punk’d. Seriously, grow a sense of humor, people.)
Now seriously, this was a great list. I laughed a lot, considering how huge Will has gotten over the years and how much people cry out that he do ever so ridiculously big roles. But now, that BIG remake does sound like a great idea. I’m all for it, Kofi.
I must agree with your article but he is a superhero-Hancock. Will Smith is getting older so I don’t even know if he wants to do what you suggested. He is Big Willie and can do whatever he wants!!!
Umm Ken the comic character came out first when they named him the group wasn’t around.
Umm Daniel someone already pointed this out and I’ve already acknowledged it. Sorry I don’t know everything there is to know about comic books, it wasn’t part of the education and the real-world experience that makes up my knowledge, my mistake, must not have my priorities straight…
Hope you guy are only kidding about riddick any one can pull that role off I mean Vin proves that he pulled it off and he sucks.
You know Kofi just because some one doesn’t laugh at a bad joke it doesn’t mean that they missed it it means they didn’t find it funny .
That said some of you guys are taking it to far I thought it was a dumb joke but let’s not get carried away bashing the site or Kofi. Sure we hated the joke but others liked it. Also this site including Kofi has given us many great articles to read.
and the joke falls flat.
I think Will Smith would be great in The Wasp franchise. He is an original superhero. What do you think?
that remake of the movie “Big” pitch is actually a really good idea!
Will Smith would be great in The Wasp superhero franchise: http://www.sherrymoore.com Let me know what you think?