The sub zero temperatures did nothing to quell the hordes of fans lining up to see the King of Hollywood- Will Smith. With his name spelled out in 10 foot high letters across Leicester Square – Will later told us, “I said I wanted my name forty meters high- but they only made it four meters…!”- no-one could forget that it was time to get jiggy with Big Willy. And he pulled out all the stops to give the fans plenty of his time, with photos and autographs all round.
Seven Pounds is a turn away from Mr Smith’s usual big blockbuster comedy fodder, and sees him reunited with the team that brought us his Academy Award nominated role in 2007’s The Pursuit Of Happyness. In order to avoid spoilers, the synopsis of the movie must be kept to a scant minimum, but the film follows a depressed IRS agent (otherwise known as the tax man) who seeks to repent for his misdeeds by helping seven disparate people. This is topped off with a “fantastic, crazy Sixth Sense kinda ending that you just gotta go see”- according to its star.
Director Gabriele Muccino, talked to us about the relationship he and Smith have developed across the two films and the prospect of another film uniting the pair: “My relationship with him has been so easy, so productive that it is hard to think of anyone else. There is the idea, the wish, to work together again - that is the plan.”
Although he committed himself to Will, Muccino also expressed an interest in working with the “fantastic” Leonardo di Caprio, although he will take a break from Hollywood to return to a smaller Italian project – most likely a follow up to one of his most popular films, One Last Kiss, called Kiss Me Again.
Smith on the other hand, is off to Bollywood, saying: “We made a couple of deals over there, so we’re looking to create something.” This probably has something to do with the fact that he has also been chatting with friend of Empire, Mumbai lover and Golden Globe golden-boy Danny Boyle about working together. “I just talked to him a couple of weeks ago, so if we can find something it would be fantastic.” And it seems the thing they are most likely to be working on will be the remake of the manga inspired Korean **Vengeance **Trilogy. Boyle told Empire last week that he is looking at directing the third installment Sympathy For Lady Vengeance, and Will Smith is currently developing the first part, Oldboy, with Steven Spielberg.
He was also excited about the prospects following next week’s US Presidential inauguration, saying: “That’s going to be fantastic- a huge historical moment. It will be emotional, it will be groundbreaking – all of those things twisted up inside of me.”
And with that, The Fresh Prince of Leicester Square hopped off to get his seven pounds worth in the cinema- promising fans “If y’all support me on Seven Pounds- I’m gonna make a comedy next, I swear!”