Jackie Chan to Play Miyagi Role in “Karate Kid” Remake

EW  is reporting that Jackie Chan is in is in negotiations for “The Karate Kid” remake which is set to star 10-years-old Will Smith’s son Jaden Smith. EW has also revealed that Harold Zwart (The Pink Panther 2) will direct the upcoming remake.

The speculation of Chan tackling Miyagi role could be true since previously the movie’s producer Will Smith has shared to MTV that the movie will be set in China.

“We’re making it with the China Film Group, so it’ll be based in Beijing. Mr. Miyagi was originally Japanese, so there’ll be a Chinese adaptation to it.”

Chris Murphy is on board to pen the screenplay.

The original “Karate Kid” stars Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso and Pat Morita as Mr. Miyagi. It centers on LaRusso, who has been a victim of school bully. Meeting a kind and humble Okinawan immigrant, Mr. Miyagi, he then learns to defend himself using karate.

Seven Pounds Review

“Seven Pounds,” which reunites Will Smith with Gabriele Muccino (who directed him in “The Pursuit of Happyness”), begins with a series of riddling, chronologically scrambled scenes. A man calls 911 to report his own suicide. He badgers a blind call-center employee - whom we suspect will be a significant character, since he’s played by Woody Harrelson - with complaints and insults. He embraces a lovely woman in an even lovelier beach house. He visits a nursing home where he terrorizes an administrator and comforts a resident.

For a while it is pleasant enough to contemplate these loose ends, and to tease from them the possible contours of a story. It is never unpleasant to watch Mr. Smith, who likes to play peekaboo with his charm, hiding it now and then behind fleeting shadows of anguish or malice. The music (Angelo Milli’s score and a handful of emotive pop songs) combines with the deep colors of Philippe Le Sourd’s cinematography to summon up intensities of sentiment not yet arrived at by the narrative, creating an interesting frisson of suspense. After a while, though, as the pieces of the puzzle snap together, curiosity gives way to incredulity…full story [The New York Times]

Within the movie’s first 20 minutes, it becomes clear that Ben is auditioning candidates — but for what? It appears he wants to make sure these candidates are really nice people, deserving of whatever largess he has the power to bestow upon them. Perhaps he’s running his own version of the Publisher’s Clearing House Sweepstakes? But unlike Ed McMahon, he’s not going to show up at just anyone’s house with that big fat check.

As I think more about the plot, I can barely believe I’m not making it up. In fact, I wish I were making it up. But “Seven Pounds” — which was written by Grant Nierporte and directed by Gabriele Muccino — is all too real. Muccino directed Smith in “The Pursuit of Happyness,” a deeply affecting picture (based on a true story) about a guy who can’t make enough money to keep a roof over his head and that of his child, but who, after just squeaking into a stockbroker-training program, is able to turn his life around. The picture conveyed how easy it is to hit a few bad breaks and suddenly find yourself living close to the edge, even in the so-called land of opportunity. And Smith’s performance was piercing partly because he’s simply so winning as a performer: If the most likable guy on Earth can nearly slip off the edge of it, then the rest of us had better be wary. (I’m wondering how “The Pursuit of Happyness,” made in 2006 and set in the 1980s, would look now, given the terrifying state of our economy, but I’m not sure I can bring myself to watch it.) …full story [Salon.com] Continue Reading…

“Hancock 2″ Confirmed by Will Smith

Will Smith talked to JoBlo recently while promoting “Seven Pounds” and told them that a sequel to his superhero movie “Hancock” will “definitely” be happening.

Smith added that there are a lot of unexplored characters in the “Hancock” universe that would be perfect for a sequel. He also confirmed that “Hancock 2″ should appear in theaters in a few years.

Opened in U.S. theaters on July 2, “Hancock” earned $624 million in worldwide ticket sales on a $150 million budget (debuted atop the North American box office with $62.6 million over the July 4 three-day weekend.) It also marked the eighth Will Smith film in a row to open at No. 1.

15 Photos and 3 Clips from Seven Pounds

Sony Pictures has revealed three brand new TV spots and photos from “Seven Pounds.” Rosario Dawson and Woody Harrelson also starring in the movie which Gabriele Muccino is directing from a script by Grant Nieporte.

The emotional story of a man who will change the lives of seven strangers Ben (Will Smith) is an IRS agent who is deeply depressed after the death of his wife, and guilt-ridden for mistakes from his past. He decides to kill himself, but to also help seven struggling individuals before doing so. When he meets Emily (Rosario Dawson), a beautiful woman with an heart condition, he falls in love with her, complicating his plans of suicide.

“Seven Pounds” arrives in theaters on December 19, 2008. Continue Reading…

I Am Legend 2 Prequel Or Sequel?

Earlier we reported that Warner Bros. was moving forward with a prequel “I Am Legend.” But now rumor has it that “I Am Legend 2″ might indeed be a sequel after all.

The original idea was for the film to take place “several years before the original film” and follow Will Smith’s character Robert Neville as he fails to save a small pocket of survivors.

AICN recently had a scooper email them about the new film:

Let’s start at the beginning. Smith is actually the one who developed the initial story. It took place several years before the original film and there were still pockets of survivors and the story centered around Smith interacting, bonding, and ultimately failing to save them. For months this was the story. Warner’s didn’t much care for it and Smith and Weiss eventually came on board and all parties agreed to change things up. Well this change is pretty insane, the film is no longer a prequel, it’s a f@#*ing sequel!

The site also said that they had never never tested this source before, so this news should be “consumed with a grain of salt.” Of course, the studio hasn’t commented on the development of I Am Legend 2.

Will Smith’s “Seven Pounds” Trailer (updated)

Here’s the first trailer from Will Smith’s new movie “Seven Pounds.” Rosario Dawson and Woody Harrelson also starring in the movie which Gabriele Muccino is directing from a script by Grant Nieporte.

The story centers on a man Ben (Will Smith) who is deeply depressed after the death of his wife. Ben inadvertently falls in love while attempting to kill himself. Rosario Dawson will play a love interest who suffers from a serious heart condition. Woody Harrelson will portray a motel attendant who becomes intrigued by his suicidal new tenant.

http://www.worstpreviews.com/trailers/sevenpounds_trailer.flv

“Seven Pounds” is scheduled to hit theaters on December 19th 2008.

Update: 13. October 2008. (better quality Seven Pounds trailer)

Will Smith’s “I Am Legend” Prequel In Works

“I Am Legend” was very successful so Warner Bros will make Will Smith’s movie prequel which is the only way to extend a franchise that grossed $584 million worldwide.

His character was killed in the first film, after extracting a potential cure for the virus for the scattered but this news is great for fans - more adventures of younger Robert Neville.

Will Smith will reprise his role as scientist Robert Neville and Francis Lawrence will return to direct.

The prequel will chronicle the final days of humanity in New York before a man-made virus caused a plague that left Smith’s character the lone survivor among a mutated mob in the city.

The studio has set DB Weiss to write a script that is based on a detailed outline that was hatched over the past few months by Smith, Akiva Goldsman, James Lassiter and Lawrence.