Steven Spielberg and Will Smith are moving forward with plans for a remake of “Old Boy” despite a complex, behind-the-scenes rights wrangle involving the Japanese publishers of the original manga and the Korean producers of Park Chan-Wook’s 2003 cult hit.

Futabasha, publisher of the manga by Nobuaki Minegishi and Garon Tsuchiya, has filed a case against Show East in Seoul, alleging the Korean company never had the right to negotiate a remake.

The issue is further complicated by the fact that Show East has shut down and its CEO, Kim Dong-Ju, has disappeared. Big Egg, a co-producer of the ultra-violent revenge flick, has also closed up shop, and its former staffers are unreachable. (more…)

Will Smith is no stranger to playing heroes. With the exception of “Ali” however, they’ve all been fictional do-gooders who save the world from CGI hordes. Well Smith is heading back into the real world with his latest project, as Variety reports that Smith is set to tell the story of a Hurricane Katrina hero.

Sony, with Smith’s Overbrook Entertainment, have obtained the rights to the life story of John Keller, an ex-Marine who was nicknamed “The Can Man” by New Orleans press. Keller resided in the American Can Company apartments; when the hurricane hit and flooded the building beneath 11 feet of water, he stood guard against looters and troublemakers. Keller also hot-wired cars and boats in order to get to the grocery store so he could provide neighbors with food. (more…)

Will Smith is teaming up with the Sci Fi Channel for some “Unfinished Business.” The “Han” star is set to executive produce a new series for Sci Fi called “Unfinished Business,” about a man who an ex-cop who sees flashes of memories from the recently deceased and helps them resolve their unfinished business.

“Unfinished Business” is currently being produced as a two-hour movie with the possibility of serving as a pilot for a series. Sally Robinson (”Iron Jawed Angels”) will write, while “Band of Brothers” Emmy-winning director Mikael Salomon is attached to direct.

“Sci Fi is excited to begin development on ‘Unfinished Business’ with Overbrook Entertainment and Will Smith,” said Mark Stern, Executive VP of original programming at the Sci Fi network. “It is a compelling and thrilling drama that is perfect for our audience.”

The Sci Fi channel will soon become the SyFy channel. The network will change its name in July along with the premieres of new original programming.
Source: The Insider

Actor Will Smith is dishing to “Extra” about who he thinks should play the first black James Bond on the big screen.

“Extra” caught up with the megastar last night, as he was presented with the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Humanitarian Award. When an “Extra” friend asked Will who would make a better black James Bond — himself, P. Diddy, or Jamie Foxx — Smith responded, “Puff probably lives the most like James Bond… Jamie Foxx got the swag for James Bond. He can sing too, so he can add a new element to Bond. Wooing the ladies… and I think I can guarantee the box office!” (more…)

When Will Smith announced that his production company would be remaking “The Karate Kid,” he set off waves of speculation about how drastically he would break from Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita’s original story.

Macchio went on record, saying that recreating the figure of Mr. Miyagi with Jackie Chan, let alone the rest of the story, would be a challenge. Smith assured everyone from the beginning that his new film would have “a Chinese adaptation to it,” though, and new details about the script seem to confirm that it will head in a very new direction. (more…)

Actor Will Smith accepts the Humanitarian Award at The Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Annual National Tribute Dinner.

GALLERY LINKS:
• Appearances from 2009 – The Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Annual National Tribute Dinner [HQ]

Still not much in Will news, so I updated the gallery with a photoshoot that Will did for Men’s Vogue in 2007. He looks incredible! I also have a couple magazine scans to add to the gallery thanks to Josan and some movie stills will be added later.

GALLERY LINKS:
• Photoshoots – #013

Sci Fi Channel is teaming with Will Smith’s production company for a new crime drama.

The network has ordered “Unfinished Business,” a series about an ex-cop who starts seeing flashes of memories from the recently deceased. The visions compel him to help wronged souls resolve their unfinished business.

The network, which changes its name to Syfy on July 7, plans to air “Unfinished Business” as a two-hour movie that will also serve as a potential series pilot. (more…)

Seems we are not done with getting sequels to series we thought were done, but at least this one is less than 20 years old. The money machine known as Men in Black is planning its return with a third chapter.

Cinematical shares:

there were no further announcements as far as cast and release date, however Sony probably wouldn’t launch another Men in Black film without at least Will Smith’s participation. Will Tommy Lee Jones reprise his role, too, or will Smith get himself a new partner in crime?

I always liked the clever casting of agents who are supposed to be unmemorable having generic names like Smith and Jones. (more…)

90 million votes were cast (that’s a new record) for the Nickelodeon’s 22nd Annual Kids’ Choice Awards which featured first-time host Dwayne Johnson and The Jonas Brothers getting slimed big time, and Leonardo DiCaprio picking up the very first Big Green Help Award at the 2009 event held on March 28th. Also taking home ‘Blimp’ trophies were Vanessa Hudgens (High School Musical 3) as Favorite Movie Actress, Will Smith (Hancock) as Favorite Movie Actor, (more…)