7 Will Smith Movies We Never Got: Beyond The Matrix

It’s astonishing how many well-known films Will Smith has been in that it’s challenging sometimes to even consider projects he didn’t get off the ground, especially when iconic lines from movies like “Bad Boys” or “Independence Day” are floating through your thoughts. After all, any movie star has had their share of unrealized projects. However, for Smith, there have been numerous high-profile productions that never made it to the screen. In certain instances, it seems that abandoning the project was a wise choice, as superior films like “I Am Legend” and “Enemy of the State” were ultimately produced instead.

There’s still a lot of intrigue surrounding the various unproduced films featuring Will Smith. Perhaps it was the allure of unexplored aspects of his acting talent that these projects promised. Or maybe it was the prospect of working with a visionary director. Some of them simply had captivating storylines that would have been fascinating to watch Smith bring to life. Regardless, these seven unreleased Will Smith movies remain incredibly intriguing to imagine. It’s a pity we didn’t get to see some of these projects instead of films like Bright or Emancipation.

Actually, let me correct that for a more natural flow: “By the way, pardon the interruption, Matrix fans, but we’re delving into less well-known Will Smith movies that never made it to the big screen. Everyone’s familiar with the idea of Smith as Neo, but these other untouched projects are far from the spotlight!

Steven Spielberg’s Oldboy remake

Back in the days before Spike Lee and Josh Brolin’s remake of “Oldboy” graced our movie screens, there was a strong possibility that Steven Spielberg and Will Smith would join forces to create an English adaptation of this 2003 Korean masterpiece. Frankly, I believe the original film stands flawlessly on its own, but the thought of these two talented individuals tackling such a dark story is intriguing. I often wonder how Will Smith, known for his crowd-pleasing films like “I, Robot,” would portray the chilling twist in “Oldboy.” Sadly, we’ll never get to find out as this project fell apart around late 2009, denying us the chance to witness Smith’s take on the intense role of “Oldboy.

The Legend of Caine

Back in the late 2000s, Smith was slated to act in “The Legend of Caine”, a modern retelling of the Biblical tale of Cain and Abel. Given that this project was announced just a month after the release of “Twilight”, it would have presented this ancient story with a vampire twist. In 2012, Sony acquired the rights to produce the film, and interestingly enough, Smith expressed his desire to direct. To date, he has only two directorial credits: one for an episode of “All of Us” in 2006 and another for a YouTube video in 2017. The whole concept behind this seemingly bizarre project makes it intriguing to imagine how it would unfold on the big screen.

The Suspicion Remake

Back in early 2010, Smith was aiming to star as the lead in a reboot of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic 1941 thriller “Suspicion.” In this story, a newlywed couple found themselves in turmoil when the wife suspected her husband of planning to kill her for a large inheritance. Smith was set to take on the role originally played by Cary Grant. The idea of Michael Bay remaking a Hitchcock film is quite unsettling. But the allure of Smith portraying such a morally ambiguous character is truly captivating.

Fantastic Voyage

In one potential update of the contemporary version of “Fantastic Voyage”, director Shawn Levy expressed his willingness to take on the visually intense project only if Will Smith was cast. The idea of pairing Smith with a sci-fi adventure storyline like “Fantastic Voyage” seems like it could result in an enjoyable summer blockbuster. Additionally, Smith could serve as a captivating and relatable human element amidst the fantastical journey within the human body, much like he did in past science fiction films such as “Men in Black”.

The City That Sailed

For years, Will Smith was connected to a unique family drama titled “The Floating City“, about a father in Manhattan who is so homesick for his daughter (living abroad) that the city itself detaches and drifts towards her. The director of “Deadpool & Wolverine“, Shawn Levy, was previously involved with this project, but he might not be the best fit for such emotional and fantastical content. Instead, consider directors like J.A. Bayona or Vera Drew, known for blending heartfelt emotions with extraordinary material, to steer this movie towards artistic greatness.

Harvey

In 2009, director Steven Spielberg expressed his intention to remake the classic film “Harvey,” which was originally starred by Jimmy Stewart. It was rumored that Tom Hanks and Will Smith were the top contenders for the lead role. While Hanks has often been compared to Stewart, Smith is not typically associated with this comparison. This potential casting of Smith as the protagonist presents an intriguing twist because it would bring something fresh to the story compared to the original film. Furthermore, there seems to be a strong desire from both Smith and Spielberg to collaborate on a project together, and it would be captivating to witness the unique cinema they could create together.

Brilliance

Despite initial attempts at the project “Brilliance” dating back to the mid-2010s, Will Smith remains committed to seeing it through. Originally set for Julius Onah, who later directed “Captain America: Brave New World,” to direct, this high-concept sci-fi film promised an intriguing collaboration between the two talents. Given Onah’s impressive work with actors, as demonstrated in his 2019 film “Luce,” one can only imagine what Smith would have accomplished under his guidance. The anticipation surrounding Smith’s performance in “Brilliance” is palpable. With Smith re-attached to star in the project as recently as 2022, when it was assigned a new director in Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, curiosity about the film’s outcome only grows.

2025-01-23 05:12