Long in development – and we do mean long, this one has been in the works for more than two decades – high concept action thriller Gemini Man is finally headed to screens with Ang Lee in the director's seat and Will Smith pulling double duty as the lead(s). Check out a trailer we'd begun to wonder would ever appear below.
Smith here plays Henry Brogan, 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. If you've watched the trailer, you'll already know why – this new hitman is a clone of Brogan, 25 years his junior. The scene is set for a match-up only one of them can surely survive...
"This story is not one that could have been told with cinema as we know it. 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," says Lee. "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."
Smith is similarly effusive: "The emotional and physical challenges of making this film have been the most demanding of my career. Ang is pushing the limits to give people an experience in the movie theatre that you can’t get anywhere else. 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."
Clive Owen, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Benedict Wong also appear, and the film is aiming for UK cinemas this October.
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