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Everyone knows Will Smith for his iconic role in theMen In Blackfranchise. The actor-rapper has also starred in the popular showFresh Prince of Bel-Air.The 1990 sitcom was a strong start to his career as an actor, and since then his career has flourished.
Recently, Will Smith has been in the eye of the storm due to his very publically turbulent marriage with his wife Jada Smith. TheBel-Airstar made headlines for slapping Chris Rock on stage when the latter made a joke about Jada Smith.
Related:Netflix Reportedly Paid Chris Rock $40M To Make Fun of Will and Jada Smith in ‘Selective Outrage’
The actor has been able to secure a global fanbase with his talent and personality. He has also received an Academy Award, Grammy, Golden Globe Award, and much more for his memorable performances.
Why Will Smith Turned DownRush HourRole
Rush Houris an exciting 1998 action-comedy directed by Brett Ratner. The daredevilJackie Chanteams up with comedic powerhouseChris Tuckerin the film.
Ratner claimsRush hourto be one of the first films where Jackie Chan acted without any dubbing. Director Brett Ratner said it added to the authenticity of his character, Lee. Originally,Will Smithwas approached for the role of detective Carter in the franchise.
Also Read:“It’s going to be on a whole other level”: Chris Tucker Teases Rush Hour 4, Says: “I love working with Jackie”
That’s right, Chris Tucker wasn’t Ratner’s first choice for the part. Other actors considered for the role included Dave Chappelle and Martin Lawrence. TheMen In Blackactor turned down the role, saying he didn’t want to be part of another buddy cop movie. And so, Chris Tucker came in and audiences missed the chance to watch what would have been hilarious chemistry between Jackie Chan and Will Smith. However, Tucker delivered an impressive performance and also improvised a good chunk of the scenes to create the masterpiece that is Rush Hour.
The movie was a huge success and a fan favorite. It made $850 million in box office collections. It went on to have a total of three installments starring the duo.
Some Major Roles Rejected by Will Smith
Apart from Rush Hour, Will Smith has rejected many roles in his career. Some of these includeSuperman Returns, Mr & Mrs. Smith, Django unchained, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.However, Smith rejected one role which he admitted to regret deeply, and that was Neo fromThe Matrix.The role that made was eventually offered to Keanu Reeves and he was the best fit for it.
Related:“I don’t want to be the alien movie guy”: Will Smith Refused the Matrix After Independence Day, Lost Out on Millions That Made Keanu Reeves Hollywood’s Heartthrob
The Matrixproved to be a revolutionary film in the action genre. When the script was presented to Smith, however, he was unimpressed and said that the narrative wasn’t strong enough. Smith had previously starred inIndependence Day, which faced losses at the box office. AlthoughThe Matrixwas well received, Smith didn’t wish to be a part of any more alien projects.
“I had done ‘Independence Day’ the year before, so I was like, ‘Eh, I’m not doing another alien movie, I don’t want to be the alien movie guy’. It’s a hard movie to pitch. You know: ‘Everybody lives inside a computer.’ It was only when I saw it that I really got it. They came in and made a pitch for ‘The Matrix’. As it turns out, they’re geniuses. But there’s a fine line in a pitch meeting between genius and what I experienced in the meeting.”
The role of Neo was later given to Keanu Reeves, who said that it impacted his life personally and creatively and that it was a wonderful, life-changing experience. TheJohn Wickstar went on to say that he was thankful to Will Smith for rejecting the role.
Source:Cinema Blend
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communications major who talks so much, that she started writing instead.
