Will Smith: Flip-Flop Wearing, Alcoholic, White-Woman Chasing Superhero?

by Racialicious special correspondent Latoya Peterson

A bit late on this one, but MTV news has recently reported on Will Smith’s newest project:

You might be up on the latest action-movie news regarding “Iron Man,” “Justice League of America” and “Watchmen,” but have you heard about that other superhero? The alcoholic, homeless guy in the flip-flops? If not, it might be time to put Will Smith’s postmodern comic flick on your radar, because it could be on the verge of creating another “John Hancock” revolution.

“We’re halfway through it right now,” explained director Peter Berg this week, giving us some exclusive details on the film. “Will Smith plays an alcoholic, suicidal superhero [whose actions are] destroying the city of Los Angeles, and he’s trying to rehabilitate his image.”

The article then allows Jason Bateman to explain the movie from his perspective:

“Will plays a down-and-out superhero — a drunk, homeless superhero that the [public] doesn’t like because he’s so drunk that when he solves crime, he creates a lot of collateral damage,” Bateman explained of the movie, which has been dangling Smith on wires 50 feet over L.A. streets. “Early in the film he saves my life, and I say to pay him back I’ll revamp his image for him because I’m in corporate PR. We’re well into that, and I’m buying him a cape and telling him how to do news conferences and all that crap — and then he falls for my wife, Charlize Theron.”

My eyebrow raised at that point. The fallen superhero concept is provocative in itself, outside of any other plot point. A black superhero? More interesting. An alcoholic, homeless, black superohero with a white female love interest? Oh snap…

I am really interested to see how they will pull this one off, considering Hollywood’s history with having a black male lead and a white female lead. (See Roberts, Julia and Washington, Denzel - and for a little easter egg, check out Allison Samuels’ book Off The Record. Julia Roberts’ take on Denzel and Hollywood was priceless.)

I also find the choice of this particular film interesting, as Smith (and his partner James Lassiter) have indicated that they have a very structured plan for the development and release of smart, engaging movies. In an short piece by Black Enterprise about their success in Hollywood, they openly discuss how they select and produce films. BE notes:

It’s easy to see how the two have built a multimillion-dollar enterprise — with Smith as the flagship brand. They practically finish each other’s sentences and refer to each other as business partners. Smith readily admits he wouldn’t be where he is today without Lassiter. “J.L. does everything,” he says. “My sensibilities are dead center and James’ sensibilities are much more outside the box. He’s looking to break the mold whereas I’m looking to maximize it. So our sensibilities blend into this beautiful, just slightly left of center [team]. I don’t choose my movies, so essentially J.L. goes through 50 scripts in the course of a year and says, ‘These are the three that are the best. What do you feel?’ Then we talk through my career strategy. But for the most part he does the heavy lifting.”

[...]

Their production company is currently working on at least four films for release under this arrangement: Time Share (2008), Tonight, He Comes (2008), [Note: This is the film MTV is reporting on - title is not yet firm. - LP] Sisters of Mercy (2008), and Lakeview Terrace (2007) with Samuel L. Jackson. “We plan to do at least one Will film and one non-Will film per year,” says Lassiter. “Our short-term goal is every year to make [Overbrook] grow. We have several movies in development.”

The pair also has a groundbreaking deal with UTV, India’s leading media company, to finance a slate of movies. They view the arrangement as a means to expand the international appeal for vehicles featuring diverse casts. For example, Bad Boys was only expected to gross about $5 million overseas but the film generated $75 million in international box-office receipts.

So what’s their long-term objective? To build Overbrook into a mammoth production company that will continue to develop high-quality films. Smith’s clout and Lassiter’s business acumen will be the elements that will help maintain Overbrook’s longevity.

Keeping Smith’s ideas and vision in mind, I am inclined to think there will be much more to this film than what it appears – despite the semi-stereotypical premise.

What do you think?