Steven Spielberg’s Epic Move: How a Helicopter Lured Will Smith to ‘Men in Black’
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Will Smith was initially opposed to the project, and it required the assistance of veteran filmmaker Steven Spielberg to persuade him. Will Smith’s Men in Black series was one of his most successful endeavors. To begin with, Smith was adamantly opposed to making the film, and it required the assistance of seasoned filmmaker Steven Spielberg to persuade him. Smith confessed on the newest episode of Kevin Hart’s “Hart to Heart” show on Peacock that he initially didn’t want to do MIB since he had just finished filming the alien-themed film “Independence Day.” Spielberg, the film’s executive producer, eventually persuaded him to star in Men In Black.
Will Smith says he didn't want to make ‘MEN IN BLACK’ until Steven Spielberg “sent a helicopter” to bring him in for a meeting:
— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) August 4, 2023
“[Spielberg] said the coldest sh*t. He said, ‘Tell me why you don’t want to make my movie…’ If he had continued, he would have said, ‘Joker, you know… pic.twitter.com/aEVBmKbYom
“I was in New York at the time when Steven Spielberg sent me a helicopter.” [He sent it] to speak with me. “The plane landed at his home, and I saw him at the door,” Smith recalls. “Yeah, you can’t say no after you get off the helicopter,” Hart said in response to Smith’s disclosure. “When I stepped off the helicopter at his house, it was the first time I had lemonade with carbonated water.” “You can’t say no to that,” Smith continued. Smith described how Spielberg was direct in asking him why he wasn’t interested in doing the film. Smith went on to star as Agent J in Men in Black and its two sequels, Men in Black 2 (2002) & Men in Black 3 (2012), opposite Tommy Lee Jones.
Will Smith Has Revealed Steven Spielberg Dispatched A Helicopter To Convince Him To Star In ‘Men In Black’ When He Indicated Disinterest
Steven Spielberg went to enormous lengths to secure Will Smith’s participation in Men in Black. The 54-year-old King Richard actor revealed on the latest episode of Kevin Hart’s Hart to Heart show on Peacock that he didn’t want to make two alien films ‘back to back’ (since he was wrapping up filming Independence Day) yet the famous director was very convincing. “A helicopter was sent to me by Steven Spielberg,” Smith said. “I happened to be in New York at the time.” [He sent it] to speak with me. It landed at his house, and he immediately recognized me.” “Yeah, you can’t say no after you get off the helicopter,” Hart added. The first time I had lemonade with carbonated water was when I got off the helicopter at his house. “You can’t say no to something like that.” He recounted his conversation with Spielberg, who was producing the film, and how he drove a hard bargain. Smith pointed out that he said the coldest s—. “Tell me why you do not want to make my movie,’ he pleaded…
And at the conclusion, he inserted the ellipsis, which was the dot, dot, dot ‘Tell me why you don’t want to make my movie?'” “If he’d gone on, he’d have said, ‘Joker, you know I made Jaws, right?'” ” “You know I created E.T.”” He eventually agreed to co-star with Tommy Lee Jones in Men in Black and its two sequels, Men in Black 2 (2002) and Men in Black 3 (2012). Smith attributed the majority of his success to his staff, adding, “You cannot establish a career… And you definitely can’t do much in life at a high level unless you have a rock-solid team.” The interview was broadcast a week after Smith posted on Instagram about his support for the SAG-AFTRA strike. “”As some of you may have heard, my guild @SAGAFTRA, along with our writer colleagues in the WGA, is on strike,” he said, posing with children in a photo. It’s a watershed moment for our industry.” The Emancipation star hailed his acting teacher Aaron Speiser — whom he affectionately referred to as “coach” — and mentioned that he recently met Speiser’s class, which was filled with “talented next generation of actors.”
