You Probably Haven’t Seen This 1970s Sci-Fi Masterpiece (& It Was Supposed To Get a Remake With Will Smith)

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A classic 1970s science fiction film nearly got a modern remake with Will Smith, but the project was canceled. Even though artificial intelligence is now commonplace in 2026, fans of sci-fi shouldn’t be worried – the genre has long explored the ethical questions raised by AI. From the intelligent action of Total Recall starring Arnold Schwarzenegger to the seven seasons of the Black Mirror anthology series on Netflix, sci-fi has consistently tackled these themes.

One forgotten classic that gave viewers early insight into the potential pitfalls of AI was 1970’s Colossus: The Forbin Project, a thriller from The Taking of Pelham One Two Three director Joseph Sargent. With a script from The China Syndrome’s James Bridges, Colossus: The Forbin Project is based on the novel Colossus by author D.F Jones. A real-life Royal Navy commander in World War II, Jones put his personal military expertise to use in this book’s story of a supercomputer that gains sentience and plots to overthrow humanity.

Colossus: The Forbin Project Is An Underrated ‘70s Sci-fi Masterpiece

While this storyline might sound a lot like a certain Schwarzenegger sci-fi franchise about an android assassin, Colossus: The Forbin Project takes its plot in a very different direction from the apocalyptic storyline of the Terminator movies. In Colossus: The Forbin Project, the titular defensive system attempts to take control of all mankind as its operating system tells Colossus that this is the best way to avoid further conflict.

After making the misguided decision to link the US defence system up with its Soviet competitor, Eric Braeden’s Charles Forbin and William Schallert’s CIA Director Grauber soon scramble to shut down Colossus before the system ignites World War III. When Colossus launches a nuclear missile at the Soviet Union and the Soviet defence system responds in kind, the stage is set for a political techno thriller where both sides must work together to stop their rogue weapons systems.

Will Smith’s Potential Colossus: The Forbin Project Remake Was Floated Over Ten Years Ago

Although Will Smith is famous for the post-apocalyptic film I Am Legend, he was once close to starring in a remake of the 1970 sci-fi movie Colossus: The Forbin Project. The remake was stuck in development for more than ten years, and after I Am Legend became a hit in 2007, Ron Howard was initially considered as the director.

The Apollo 13 director seems like a perfect fit for an updated take on the techno thriller, and Smith was first attached to star in the remake in late 2010. However, by 2013, Men in Black screenwriter Ed Solomon was reportedly working on a new script, and nothing has been heard from the project in the 13 years since that update.

Given how quickly the field of artificial intelligence is advancing, a remake of Colossus: The Forbin Project would likely feel old news by the time it was completed. Plus, with Will Smith already committed to the I Am Legend 2 sequel, it’s improbable he’d star in another sci-fi film so soon. Therefore, the chances of this remake, starring Will Smith, happening in the near future are extremely low.

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2026-06-10 00:11