Edward Zwick enters in to the Jack Reacher franchise with Never Go Back, collaborating with Tom Cruise (again) to bring Lee Childs’ immensely popular creation to the big screen. We sat down with Zwick to ask him about the challenges in entering in to a pre-established franchise, and the joy in directing Cruise. He also […]
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- 10/20/2016
- by Stefan Pape
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Whatcha gonna do when they come for you? Hand over your money and sit your ass down, that’s what. Bad Boys 3 is happening, according to Martin Lawrence. Appearing on Conan, Lawrence was asked if a third movie was going to happen to which he replied “I believe so. Yes. I just talked to Jerry Bruckheimer yesterday and he said its real, they’re working on the script, they’re getting close and it all looks good.” So, it may be happening. With no official green light status, this could be hanging in limbo for quite some time. And that’s even before you think about Will Smith’s involvement. Whether or not big willie wants some bad boy action again, remains to be seen. With a number of movies in production for the fresh prince, including Selling Time, Hancock 2 and The American Can, the actor is certainly...
- 8/14/2014
- by noreply@blogger.com (Vic Barry)
- www.themoviebit.com
Will Smith and director Shawn Levy will unite on The City That Sailed.
The Men in Black star was originally attached to the project in 2009 alongside his I Am Legend director Francis Lawrence.
Now he is back on board the 20th Century Fox fantasy adventure project with the Real Steel and Night at the Museum filmmaker.
The City That Sailed centres around the daughter of a New York City street magician who lives in England.
She discovers a set of magical candles in a lighthouse, and her wish to be reunited with her father causes the island of Manhattan to break away and begin moving across the ocean towards her.
Levy most recently directed The Internship and will next work on Night at the Museum 3.
Smith will be seen starring in the upcoming Hurricane Katrina drama The American Can.
The Men in Black star was originally attached to the project in 2009 alongside his I Am Legend director Francis Lawrence.
Now he is back on board the 20th Century Fox fantasy adventure project with the Real Steel and Night at the Museum filmmaker.
The City That Sailed centres around the daughter of a New York City street magician who lives in England.
She discovers a set of magical candles in a lighthouse, and her wish to be reunited with her father causes the island of Manhattan to break away and begin moving across the ocean towards her.
Levy most recently directed The Internship and will next work on Night at the Museum 3.
Smith will be seen starring in the upcoming Hurricane Katrina drama The American Can.
- 11/15/2013
- Digital Spy
One of America's most popular actors can only scrape in at No 3 with his latest film – is the Smith era officially over?
It is not too often that a Will Smith movie fails to open at No 1 so make a note of the weekend just past, when After Earth arrived in third place on $27m. With the exception of last year's cash-in Men in Black III, Smith has been off our movie screens since the self-righteous train wreck that was Seven Pounds in 2008. Perhaps he should have stayed away, because the box-office career of the man once known as Mr July 4th in homage to his seemingly inexhaustible multiplex magnetism could be in its death throes.
Men in Black III opened at No 1 in May 2012 and did extremely well in theatres, grossing $624m worldwide by the end of its run. Cast iron proof of Smith's enduring appeal, you might say.
It is not too often that a Will Smith movie fails to open at No 1 so make a note of the weekend just past, when After Earth arrived in third place on $27m. With the exception of last year's cash-in Men in Black III, Smith has been off our movie screens since the self-righteous train wreck that was Seven Pounds in 2008. Perhaps he should have stayed away, because the box-office career of the man once known as Mr July 4th in homage to his seemingly inexhaustible multiplex magnetism could be in its death throes.
Men in Black III opened at No 1 in May 2012 and did extremely well in theatres, grossing $624m worldwide by the end of its run. Cast iron proof of Smith's enduring appeal, you might say.
- 6/3/2013
- by Jeremy Kay
- The Guardian - Film News
Will Smith: The Wild Bunch remake (photo: Will Smith in After Earth) Will Smith has been mentioned in connection with Focus, the caper tale that was to have starred Ben Affleck and Kristen Stewart, and is to star in Edward Zwick’s Hurricane Katrina drama The American Can. But that’s not all. His producing company is working on a remake of the Broadway musical Annie — which got a less-than-satisfactory screen version back in 1982 — and apparently he wants to revive The Wild Bunch as well. Set during the Mexican Revolution of the 1910s, Sam Peckinpah’s ultra-violent 1969 classic Western features William Holden, Ernest Borgnine, Edmond O’Brien, and other movie veterans as a group of outlaws fleeing from Robert Ryan while out to do one last job in war-torn northern Mexico. The Will Smith The Wild Bunch reboot, however, is to be set in the present, though the perilous...
- 5/15/2013
- by Zac Gille
- Alt Film Guide
After picking up the lead role in Focus, Deadline reports that Will Smith will play the lead role in two additional projects.
The next film that Smith has signed onto, The American Can, chronicles the true story of an ex-marine who rescued around 244 people (many of them elderly) who were left stranded after Hurricane Katrina. The American Can refers to the name of a dry building to which the hero transported the stranded. The film is based on John Keller who was seen in the documentary New Orleans My Life, My Home, My Love.
Ed Zwick (Glory, Blood Diamond) will direct Smith from a screenplay written by Adetoro Makinde (shorts: In Time, It Takes A Village) and John Lee Hancock (The Alamo, The Blindside).
According to Deadline, Focus is expected to shoot before The American Can.
As for his third project (reports Deadline)…
The Accountant, will see Smith play a brilliant autistic man who,...
The next film that Smith has signed onto, The American Can, chronicles the true story of an ex-marine who rescued around 244 people (many of them elderly) who were left stranded after Hurricane Katrina. The American Can refers to the name of a dry building to which the hero transported the stranded. The film is based on John Keller who was seen in the documentary New Orleans My Life, My Home, My Love.
Ed Zwick (Glory, Blood Diamond) will direct Smith from a screenplay written by Adetoro Makinde (shorts: In Time, It Takes A Village) and John Lee Hancock (The Alamo, The Blindside).
According to Deadline, Focus is expected to shoot before The American Can.
As for his third project (reports Deadline)…
The Accountant, will see Smith play a brilliant autistic man who,...
- 4/19/2013
- by Alex Corey
- LRMonline.com
One of the dozens of projects on Will Smith's future slate... a film initially announced 4 years ago, in May 2009, when Sony Pictures and Smith's Overbrook Entertainment picked up the movie rights to the story of an ex-Marine who orchestrated the rescue of hundreds of his neighbors during the Hurricane Katrina disaster. John Lee Hancock was to write and direct the project, titled The American Can. Standing at 6-ft-seven and 260 pounds, John Keller, the ex-Marine, lived in a five-story apartment building; and after chasing some looters, emerged as the man in charge of the 244 residents, many of them elderly or handicapped. For five...
- 4/19/2013
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
It seems Will Smith is getting jiggy with it, cinematically speaking. Though he's a major box office star, the Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air is super choosy and generally averages about one movie per year. But it looks like he's ready to get much busier. Earlier this week he replaced Ben Affleck on Warner Bros. con man romantic comedy "Focus," and now two more projects are dropping into his lap. The first one has actually been around for a while. Entitled "The American Can," way back in 2009 "The Blind Side" director John Lee Hancock signed up to direct (he co-wrote the script too, but he has since moved on) with Smith to star. Two years later, Smith was going to produce the movie instead, and was eager to get Denzel Washington for the lead role. Now, two more years on, the actor is back in the starring role and has Ed Zwick ("Love And Other Drugs,...
- 4/19/2013
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
It's now over two years since since "The Blind Side" came from nowhere to not only become a surprise box-office smash, but also earn a Best Picture nomination at the Academy Awards, and a Best Actress statuette for Sandra Bullock. As such, it's somewhat surprising that it's taken so long for its writer-director, John Lee Hancock, to get another project going.
The helmer, who got his start penning "A Perfect World" for Clint Eastwood before directing the hit "The Rookie" and the giant flop "The Alamo," has had plenty of projects circulating. Over the last couple of years, he's been attached to electronics prodigy biopic "Electric Boy Genius," Will Smith-produced Hurricane Katrina drama "The American Can," Bonnie & Clyde pic "Highwaymen" and most recently, the John Grisham adaptation "The Partner," but none have moved that close to production. Fortunately, he's just entered negotiations to direct a project that has all kinds of heat behind it.
The helmer, who got his start penning "A Perfect World" for Clint Eastwood before directing the hit "The Rookie" and the giant flop "The Alamo," has had plenty of projects circulating. Over the last couple of years, he's been attached to electronics prodigy biopic "Electric Boy Genius," Will Smith-produced Hurricane Katrina drama "The American Can," Bonnie & Clyde pic "Highwaymen" and most recently, the John Grisham adaptation "The Partner," but none have moved that close to production. Fortunately, he's just entered negotiations to direct a project that has all kinds of heat behind it.
- 2/28/2012
- by Oliver Lyttelton
- The Playlist
It's now over two years since since "The Blind Side" came from nowhere to not only become a surprise box-office smash, but also earn a Best Picture nomination at the Academy Awards, and a Best Actress statuette for Sandra Bullock. As such, it's somewhat surprising that it's taken so long for its writer-director, John Lee Hancock, to get another project going. The helmer, who got his start penning "A Perfect World" for Clint Eastwood before directing the hit "The Rookie" and the giant flop "The Alamo," has had plenty of projects circulating. Over the last couple of years, he's been attached to electronics prodigy biopic "Electric Boy Genius," Will Smith-produced Hurricane Katrina drama "The American Can," Bonnie & Clyde pic "Highwaymen" and most recently, the John Grisham adaptation "The Partner," but none have moved that close to production. Fortunately, he's just...
- 2/28/2012
- by Oliver Lyttelton
- Indiewire
There was a time (the early '90s) when adapting a John Grisham novel for the big screen was essentially like printing money. The run of "The Firm," "The Pelican Brief," "The Client" and "A Time To Kill" arguably marked the high point of those years, while nowadays, NBC is struggling to get anyone to care about their TV take on that Tom Cruise movie. But New Regency, whose honcho Arnon Milchan was behind 'Kill,' 'Client' and "Runaway Jury," is going to give it another go with "The Partner." "The Blind Side" director John Lee Hancock has been tapped to write and direct the movie, but it still might not be his next project. The helmer has been taking his sweet time choosing something being linked to the electronics drama "Electric Boy Genius" and the Will Smith-produced Hurricane Katrina pic "The American Can" in the past little while.
- 1/28/2012
- The Playlist
Julia Stiles has kind of fallen off the map, with 2007′s The Bourne Ultimatum being the last thing I can even remember her being in. Whatever the reasons for this absence from major features, Deadline informs us of her signing on for The Silver Linings Playbook, the next film from David O. Russell that stars Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, and Jacki Weaver. She’s joining the group as the older sister of Lawrence‘s character, a “depressed woman who, when her husband dies, goes on a sexual spree, even at the cost of her job.”
Also becoming attached is Chris Tucker, whose involvement we heard about roughly a month ago. This would be his first movie since 2007′s Rush Hour 3; between Stiles and he, this is something of a… 2007-related comeback film. Okay, not really — but it does show that an interesting cast is being pulled...
Also becoming attached is Chris Tucker, whose involvement we heard about roughly a month ago. This would be his first movie since 2007′s Rush Hour 3; between Stiles and he, this is something of a… 2007-related comeback film. Okay, not really — but it does show that an interesting cast is being pulled...
- 10/5/2011
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
Originally attached to lead the film himself, Will Smith is now looking to offer the lead role in the Hurricane Katrina drama, The American Can, to the two-time Academy Award-winning actor, Denzel Washington, Vulture report.
The film has been written and will be directed by John Lee Hancock, the writer-director of The Blind Side, which won Sandra Bullock her Oscar for Best Actress two years ago.
The American Can is based on the real-life events in a New Orleans apartment building during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the most costly natural disaster in recorded history in the United States at more than $80bn. The film will tell the story of,
the real-life harrowing ordeal suffered by the residents of the American Can apartment complex when the levees broke. Trapped by eleven feet of fetid water for two days, a six-foot-seven ex-Marine named John Keller stayed behind to ward off looters and help...
The film has been written and will be directed by John Lee Hancock, the writer-director of The Blind Side, which won Sandra Bullock her Oscar for Best Actress two years ago.
The American Can is based on the real-life events in a New Orleans apartment building during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the most costly natural disaster in recorded history in the United States at more than $80bn. The film will tell the story of,
the real-life harrowing ordeal suffered by the residents of the American Can apartment complex when the levees broke. Trapped by eleven feet of fetid water for two days, a six-foot-seven ex-Marine named John Keller stayed behind to ward off looters and help...
- 6/30/2011
- by Kenji Lloyd
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
For anyone who knows about Hurricane Katrina, you know that those devastating couple of days in Louisiana brought tragedy and heartache to a lot of people. However, it brought out the heroism in some. That is what Will Smith’s The American Can is about.
Here is the synopsis that I found on Vulture:
The script, by The Blind Side writer-director John Lee Hancock (who will also direct Can), follows the real-life harrowing ordeal suffered by the residents of the American Can apartment complex when the levees broke. Trapped by eleven feet of fetid water for two days, a six-foot-seven ex-Marine named John Keller stayed behind to ward off looters and help care for the dozens of aged or infirm residents who couldn’t evacuate. After spending two futile days trying to flag down help, Keller ultimately succeeded in getting desperately needed food, water, and medical supplies air-dropped onto the...
Here is the synopsis that I found on Vulture:
The script, by The Blind Side writer-director John Lee Hancock (who will also direct Can), follows the real-life harrowing ordeal suffered by the residents of the American Can apartment complex when the levees broke. Trapped by eleven feet of fetid water for two days, a six-foot-seven ex-Marine named John Keller stayed behind to ward off looters and help care for the dozens of aged or infirm residents who couldn’t evacuate. After spending two futile days trying to flag down help, Keller ultimately succeeded in getting desperately needed food, water, and medical supplies air-dropped onto the...
- 6/30/2011
- by rpmcmurphy
- GeekTyrant
Given the harrowing human drama of 2005’s Hurricane Katrina and its devastating impact on New Orleans, it’s a wonder it hasn’t been tapped for many more films than we’ve actually gotten. But Will Smith is not letting the opportunity go by. He’s still trying to get based-on-fact pic The American Can made, and is busy trying to convince Denzel Washington to star.Smith first got involved back in 2009 when he and his Overbrook Entertainment company bought the life rights to the story of John Keller, a man who saved many lives in the aftermath of the storm.Keller, a tough, tall former Marine, helped keep the 150-odd residents of his apartment complex – American Can, which is where the project gets its title, unsurprisingly – safe when they were cut off by 11-foot-high floods of fetid water. Many of those living in the building were elderly and infirm,...
- 6/30/2011
- EmpireOnline
Things are going to get savage for "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn" star Mia Maestro.
The Hollywood Reporter has the news that Maestro, who plays new vamp Carmen in "Breaking Dawn," has joined the cast of Oliver Stone's latest "Savages." She will be playing Benicio Del Toro's wife in the ensemble flick. Taylor Kitsch, Aaron Johnson and Blake Lively also star in the drama.
In the news after the jump, find out who Will Smith is lining up to star in his Katrina drama, which "Breaking Bad" stars have films in the works, and who is attempting to adapt "The Giver."
Will Smith Wants Denzel Washington For "The American Can"
According to Vulture, Will Smith is eying Denzel Washington for the lead role in his Hurricane Katrina drama "The American Can." It tells the true story of the residents of the American Can apartment complex after the levees...
The Hollywood Reporter has the news that Maestro, who plays new vamp Carmen in "Breaking Dawn," has joined the cast of Oliver Stone's latest "Savages." She will be playing Benicio Del Toro's wife in the ensemble flick. Taylor Kitsch, Aaron Johnson and Blake Lively also star in the drama.
In the news after the jump, find out who Will Smith is lining up to star in his Katrina drama, which "Breaking Bad" stars have films in the works, and who is attempting to adapt "The Giver."
Will Smith Wants Denzel Washington For "The American Can"
According to Vulture, Will Smith is eying Denzel Washington for the lead role in his Hurricane Katrina drama "The American Can." It tells the true story of the residents of the American Can apartment complex after the levees...
- 6/29/2011
- by Terri Schwartz
- MTV Movies Blog
Today's batch of news items doesn't necessarily include anything major, though it does include a fair number of intriguing features ranging from Scarlett Johansson teaming with Once director John Carney, an Australian sci-fi film with Carey Mulligan and a secret sci-fi script from Roland Emmerich and then some. Check out the details below.
Scarlett Johansson has signed on to star in Once director John Carney's new film Can a Song Save Your Life?, which will be executive produced by Judd Apatow. Set in New York, the film tells the story of a washed-up Aand#038;R man who forms a passionate bond with a young singer-songwriter (Johansson) from out of town. Johansson will sing a number of songs in the film. Shooting will begin in New York next year on a budget of around $10 million. [The Sunday Post]
Giancarlo Esposito (The Usual Suspects) has signed to star in I, Alex Cross based on the James Patterson novel.
Scarlett Johansson has signed on to star in Once director John Carney's new film Can a Song Save Your Life?, which will be executive produced by Judd Apatow. Set in New York, the film tells the story of a washed-up Aand#038;R man who forms a passionate bond with a young singer-songwriter (Johansson) from out of town. Johansson will sing a number of songs in the film. Shooting will begin in New York next year on a budget of around $10 million. [The Sunday Post]
Giancarlo Esposito (The Usual Suspects) has signed to star in I, Alex Cross based on the James Patterson novel.
- 6/29/2011
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
With such a busy schedule, actor Will Smith wants Denzel Washington to take the lead role in the post-Katrina Hurricane drama “The American Can.” The film is based on a true story about the real-life ordeal suffered by the residents of the American Can apartment complex when the levees broke after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans. An ex-Marine John Keller helped the residents to survive by warding off looters and flagging down some help. The rescue finally arrived after he moved dozens of aged and infirm to the rooftop of the American Can. The story was told in a 2005 documentary “New Orleans: My Home, My Life, My Love.” You can watch part of the documentary by clicking here. Washington would play the lead role of John Keller. Smith planned to star as Keller himself, but he signed on to star in M. Night Shymalan’s science fiction movie “One Thousand A.E.,...
- 6/29/2011
- LRMonline.com
Will Smith has tapped Denzel Washington to star in The American Can, according to New York magazine's Vulture blog.
The film will be based on the true story of John Keller, who stayed behind in his New Orleans apartment complex to ward off looters and take care of residents unable to evacuate after the levees broke as a result of Hurricane Katrina...
Read More >...
The film will be based on the true story of John Keller, who stayed behind in his New Orleans apartment complex to ward off looters and take care of residents unable to evacuate after the levees broke as a result of Hurricane Katrina...
Read More >...
- 6/29/2011
- by Rich Juzwiak
- TVGuide - Breaking News
Since 2009, actor-producer Will Smith has wanted to make the Hurricane Katrina-based drama The American Can, and may have finally found the answer: to cast Denzel Washington in the role Smith was going to play.
Vulture reports that Smith's schedule is keeping him from committing to the movie as an actor, as Smith is scheduled to appear in writer-director's M. Night Shyamalan's One Thousand A.E. with his son Jaden Smith starting early next year. Smith is currently working on the budget-ballooning sequel Men in Black III.
American Can would star Washington as ex-Marine John Keller, who warded off looters and helped take care of the residents of the American Can apartment complex in New Orleans, which was trapped under seven feet of water after the the levees broke in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The script for the movie was written by Blind Side writer-director John Lee Hancock, who also plans to direct.
Vulture reports that Smith's schedule is keeping him from committing to the movie as an actor, as Smith is scheduled to appear in writer-director's M. Night Shyamalan's One Thousand A.E. with his son Jaden Smith starting early next year. Smith is currently working on the budget-ballooning sequel Men in Black III.
American Can would star Washington as ex-Marine John Keller, who warded off looters and helped take care of the residents of the American Can apartment complex in New Orleans, which was trapped under seven feet of water after the the levees broke in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The script for the movie was written by Blind Side writer-director John Lee Hancock, who also plans to direct.
- 6/29/2011
- by Ryan Gowland
- Reelzchannel.com
The headline may lead you to think that Denzel Washington and Will Smith will finally be working together on a film, and that’s technically true. It’s just not quite in the way that you would expect.
Vulture says that Smith is asking Washington to star in The American Can, which the former will be producing for The Blind Side director John Lee Hancock, who also wrote the screenplay. The movie tells the true story of residents of the American Can apartment complex in New Orleans, who had to fend for themselves for two days after Hurricane Katrina struck, as they were trapped by “eleven feet of fetid water.”
New Orleans citizen John Keller — a six-foot-seven ex-Marine — is the main subject of the story, as he both helped fight off robbers, and care for the denizens of the building. He gained the food and medical supplies that were needed...
Vulture says that Smith is asking Washington to star in The American Can, which the former will be producing for The Blind Side director John Lee Hancock, who also wrote the screenplay. The movie tells the true story of residents of the American Can apartment complex in New Orleans, who had to fend for themselves for two days after Hurricane Katrina struck, as they were trapped by “eleven feet of fetid water.”
New Orleans citizen John Keller — a six-foot-seven ex-Marine — is the main subject of the story, as he both helped fight off robbers, and care for the denizens of the building. He gained the food and medical supplies that were needed...
- 6/29/2011
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
It looks like Will Smith is set to offer Denzel Washington the lead role in his Hurricane Katrina drama "The American Can" reports Vulture.
The film follows the real-life harrowing ordeal suffered by the residents of an apartment complex trapped in eleven feet of fetid water for two days following Katrina. A 6’7” ex-Marine named John Keller stayed behind to ward off looters and help care for the dozens of aged or infirm residents who couldn’t evacuate.
"The Blind Side" writer-director John Lee Hancock penned the script and will direct. Smith is producing the film and at one time looked set to possibly star as well but has now passed on that due to his commitment to M. Night Shyamlan’s "One Thousand A.E.".
The film follows the real-life harrowing ordeal suffered by the residents of an apartment complex trapped in eleven feet of fetid water for two days following Katrina. A 6’7” ex-Marine named John Keller stayed behind to ward off looters and help care for the dozens of aged or infirm residents who couldn’t evacuate.
"The Blind Side" writer-director John Lee Hancock penned the script and will direct. Smith is producing the film and at one time looked set to possibly star as well but has now passed on that due to his commitment to M. Night Shyamlan’s "One Thousand A.E.".
- 6/29/2011
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
For a couple of years now, Will Smith has been trying to get his Hurricane Katrina drama, The American Can off the ground. Written by John Lee Hancock(The Blind Side), the film tells the true story of the New Orleans residents of the American Can apartment complex led by ex-Marine John Keller in defending their homes and trying to survive in the wake of the flood disaster. At one point it...
- 6/29/2011
- by Travis Hopson
- Punch Drunk Critics
Will Smith is reportedly very keen for Denzel Washington to sign on for the lead role in Hurricane Katrina drama The American Can.
Smith has been trying to bring the project to the big screen for at least two years. Originally signing on to produce and star in the film, he now intends to stay strictly behind the camera, offering up the role to Washington.
Smith's recent decision to star in M. Night Shyamalan’s One Thousand A.E., has now been pushed back to January 2012, forcing Smith to bring forward The American Can.
The Hurricane Katrina story follows the harrowing events impacted upon residents of the American Can apartment complex when the levees broke.
Smith is keen for Washington to play real-life character and ex-marine John Keller, who, trapped by eleven feet of fetid water for two days, stayed behind to ward off looters and help the dozens of residents who couldn’t evacuate.
Smith has been trying to bring the project to the big screen for at least two years. Originally signing on to produce and star in the film, he now intends to stay strictly behind the camera, offering up the role to Washington.
Smith's recent decision to star in M. Night Shyamalan’s One Thousand A.E., has now been pushed back to January 2012, forcing Smith to bring forward The American Can.
The Hurricane Katrina story follows the harrowing events impacted upon residents of the American Can apartment complex when the levees broke.
Smith is keen for Washington to play real-life character and ex-marine John Keller, who, trapped by eleven feet of fetid water for two days, stayed behind to ward off looters and help the dozens of residents who couldn’t evacuate.
- 6/29/2011
- by claire.lester@lovefilm.com (Claire Lester)
- LOVEFiLM
When you think about, it's pretty amazing that no one has paired up Will Smith and Denzel Washington. Certainly you would think that two of the biggest stars in Hollywood would have been brought together in something by now, and while they are being tossed around as the possible leads for a remake of Sidney Poitier's comedy "Uptown Saturday Night" another project may pair them up sooner, but with only one of the stars in front of the camera. Vulture reports that Will Smith is still trying to get his Hurricane Katrina drama "The American Can" and though he was…...
- 6/29/2011
- The Playlist
From time to time, we get the chance to talk about some interesting projects that will follow some real-life stories, and that will have some great team on board.
Well, guess what, today is that day, and the perfect time for us to start our little chat about the upcoming Will Smith-produced Hurricane Katrina drama titled The American Can.
So, check this out. The Blind Side helmer John Lee Hancock will be in charge for this project, and according to the latest reports, producer Will Smith wants Denzel Washington to play the lead! Isn’t that great?
Smith had been planning on starring as Keller himself but a schedule conflict with filming M. Night Shyalmalan’s One Thousand A.E. has forced him to change his mind.
Thanks to Vulture, we know that The American Can will follow “…the real-life harrowing ordeal suffered by the residents of the American Can...
Well, guess what, today is that day, and the perfect time for us to start our little chat about the upcoming Will Smith-produced Hurricane Katrina drama titled The American Can.
So, check this out. The Blind Side helmer John Lee Hancock will be in charge for this project, and according to the latest reports, producer Will Smith wants Denzel Washington to play the lead! Isn’t that great?
Smith had been planning on starring as Keller himself but a schedule conflict with filming M. Night Shyalmalan’s One Thousand A.E. has forced him to change his mind.
Thanks to Vulture, we know that The American Can will follow “…the real-life harrowing ordeal suffered by the residents of the American Can...
- 6/29/2011
- by Fiona
- Filmofilia
Will Smith has been working on the Hurricane Katrina drama "The American Can" for two years. He was planning to star, but has now decided to take a more behind-the-scenes role and is talking to Denzel Washington to take the lead role, a 6'7 ex-Marine named John Keller. The film follows the real-life harrowing ordeal suffered by the residents of the American Can apartment complex when the levees broke. Trapped by eleven feet of fetid water for two days, Keller stayed behind to ward off looters and help care for the dozens of aged or infirm residents who couldn't evacuate. After spending two futile days trying to flag down help, Keller ultimately succeeded in getting desperately needed food, water and medical supplies air-dropped onto the complex only after finally moving dozens of aged and infirm -- and notably, white -- residents onto the rooftop of American Can to catch rescuers attention.
- 6/29/2011
- WorstPreviews.com
Will Smith planned to produce as well as headline the Hurricane Katrina drama The American Can, about ex-marine John Keller and his fight to save the elderly residents of the American Can apartment complex trapped without food, water and medical supplies. According to the Vulture blog at New York Magazine, Smith bowed out of starring in the film due to his commitment to the M. Night Shyamalan sci-fi drama One Thousand A.E. with his son Jaden Smith. Committed to bringing the project to the big screen with The Blind Side writer/director John Lee Hancock in charge, Smith began campaigning Denzel Washington to play the lead role of Keller.
- 6/28/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Will Smith planned to produce as well as headline the Hurricane Katrina drama The American Can, about ex-marine John Keller and his fight to save the elderly residents of the American Can apartment complex trapped without food, water and medical supplies. According to the Vulture blog at New York Magazine, Smith bowed out of starring in the film due to his commitment to the M. Night Shyamalan sci-fi drama One Thousand A.E. with his son Jaden Smith. Committed to bringing the project to the big screen with The Blind Side writer/director John Lee Hancock in charge, Smith began campaigning Denzel Washington to play the lead role of Keller.
- 6/28/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Will Smith planned to produce as well as headline the Hurricane Katrina drama The American Can, about ex-marine John Keller and his fight to save the elderly residents of the American Can apartment complex trapped without food, water and medical supplies. According to the Vulture blog at New York Magazine, Smith bowed out of starring in the film due to his commitment to the M. Night Shyamalan sci-fi drama One Thousand A.E. with his son Jaden Smith. Committed to bringing the project to the big screen with The Blind Side writer/director John Lee Hancock in charge, Smith began campaigning Denzel Washington to play the lead role of Keller.
- 6/28/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Will Smith, his production company Overbrook Entertainment, and Sony have bought the rights to the life story of Hurricane Katrina hero, John "The Can Man" Keller. While John Lee Hancock will be writing the script and directing The American Can, Sony has also bought a spec script about Keller from writer and producer Adetoro Makinde. Keller himself is also one of the associate producers.
Keller, who was a resident of the American Can Company at the time of the storm, helped the other residents of the building -- many elderly and/or handicapped -- and a few refugees stay safe while the flood waters raged outside. Keller also documented his story with photos and videotape. He told The Times-Picayune in 2007, "There were other people rescuing people. But they didn't hot-wire boats, hot-wire cars, swim to the grocery store, come back with food, cook for all those people, organize them, get the thugs off them.
Keller, who was a resident of the American Can Company at the time of the storm, helped the other residents of the building -- many elderly and/or handicapped -- and a few refugees stay safe while the flood waters raged outside. Keller also documented his story with photos and videotape. He told The Times-Picayune in 2007, "There were other people rescuing people. But they didn't hot-wire boats, hot-wire cars, swim to the grocery store, come back with food, cook for all those people, organize them, get the thugs off them.
- 5/24/2009
- by Jenni Miller
- Cinematical
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