After years in development, sci-fi thriller Gemini Man will finally reach the screen starring Will Smith and directed by Ang Lee. Here's everything you need to know.
What is Gemini Man?
Gemini Man is a film that's been floating around in Hollywood development for a long time – literally decades. Its simple but high-concept premise centres on an elite assassin looking to get out of the game, who is suddenly targeted and pursued by a mysterious young operative that seemingly can predict his every move. The reason this new hitman is so clued up is that he's a clone of Brogan, 25 years his junior. The scene is set for an older vs. younger face-off only one of them can survive.
The idea and various screenplay drafts pre-existed the ultimately similar Looper_._ But while Looper cast Bruce Willis and Joseph Gordon-Levitt as, respectively, the older and younger Joe, Gemini Man's gimmick has always been a single actor playing both ages. The issue that's kept the film in development hell has been that the technology needed to achieve it wasn't quite in place. After The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button there was increased optimism. But it's still only now, following some reasonably convincing examples of de-ageing and digital face replacement in things like Rogue One and the Marvel movies, that the tech has finally been deemed good enough for Gemini Man to happen.
Who stars in Gemini Man?
Many big names (including Harrison Ford and Mel Gibson) have been attached to Gemini Man along its 20-year journey to the screen, but it finally arrives with Will Smith in the starring roles of Henry Brogan and his clone.
"The emotional and physical challenges of making this film have been the most demanding of my career," Smith said in a statement. "This is not only an action film, but an exploration of what one’s younger self can ultimately teach one’s older self. I’m 50 years old now, and the irony of becoming 23-year-old Junior in this film is that 23-year-old me wouldn’t have been ready for this experience or to take on this role. Our hope is that this story provides something for everyone: never before seen cinematic wizardry, nuanced, relatable characters and next-level action."
Elsewhere in the cast, Clive Owen plays Clay Varris, Henry’s ruthless former boss who creates the clone in order to "retire" Brogan. Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Benedict Wong play operatives who have Brogan under surveillance.
Who directed Gemini Man?
Ang Lee is the director responsible for finally getting Gemini Man to the screen. He joined the project in April 2017. Previous directors who tried to get the film moving included Tony Scott, Curtis Hanson and Joe Carnahan (the latter, as part of his application for the gig, put together a clever "sizzle reel" using footage from Clint Eastwood films).
As with his most recent film, Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk__, Lee has shot digitally at the super-high frame rate of 120fps. Weta Digital have provided the considerable FX expertise needed for the story. The Visual Effects Supervisor is Bill Westenhofer, who previously worked with Lee on Life Of Pi__.
"This story is not one that could have been told (before) with cinema as we know it," says Lee. "However, thanks to incredible new digital technology, not only can we finally see both younger and older Will Smith embodied together on screen, but we can also experience the story in a deeply immersive way. It is my great fortune to be able to experiment and test the limits of what new digital cinema has to offer us. No less so to be able to work with two Will Smiths – one beautifully sophisticated, the other exuberantly honest. In my opinion, this is Will at his very best, and when the two come together, it is something truly magical. Further, the immense effort and technical skill of the crew in creating a new aesthetic, between the cinematography, art department, visual effects, and technical team, was both inspiring and heartwarming. I truly hope that this movie delivers a completely new theatrical cinematic experience to audiences across the world."
Who wrote Gemini Man?
The concept and first draft, dating back to 1997, belonged to Darren Lemke. In the years since, Andrew Niccol, David Benioff, Brian Helgeland, Jonathan Hensleigh, Billy Ray and the writing duo Stephen J. Rivele & Christopher Wilkinson have all had a hand in rewrites. On the finished film, Lemke and Benioff get story credit, with the final screenplay officially attributed to Lemke, Benioff and Ray.
When is Gemini Man released?
Gemini Man targets UK cinemas on 11 October 2019.
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