Back in Black
Exclusive interview with Will Smith
The Men in Black are back. Five years after the alien-busting comedy took over $600m in cinemas throughout the world, Messrs Smith and Jones have returned to conquer the scum of the universe once again. And judging by his behaviour on the press junket to publicise the movie in the UK, Will Smith couldn't be happier. He has consolidated his singing and acting career with hit after hit and received high praise, not to mention an Academy Award nomination, for his work in the title role of Michael Mann's Ali at the end of last year.
So what made him sign up for this sequel? " I was always optimistic about the prospect of making this film - I'm even optimistic about making Men in Black III! As long as people laugh in the theatre I think there's always the possibility of doing another one and even more than box office I think if there are enough laughs it leaves us room to do that."
This might seem easy to say for Smith, who reportedly received $20m to star in the sequel, plus a percentage of the box office. But despite all the trappings that his fortunes inevitably bring he still appears to have his feet on the ground. He certainly thought a lot about doing the film for his kids. "My kids are all fans of the film," he explains." My ten-year-old loves it more than almost anyone. His Dad is a Man in Black and that is the best thing for him!"
Sequels seem to be very much in vogue at the moment and Smith himself will be seen teaming up with Martin Lawrence for the second time later this summer in Bad Boys II. Asked if there are any of his other films he would like to make a sequel to, he delivers an answer which may not be strictly serious. "I would like to do a sequel to The Wild Wild West (the 2000 flop western which teamed Smith with MIB director Barry Sonnenfeld). There's a lot of greatness to that movie that people missed and I would like to do a sequel so that I could at least laugh at people!"
Smith retains his tongue firmly in his cheek on the subject of the film's main gizmo - the neurolyser. What would he do if he had possession of one of the gadgets? "I'd use it for sex! It would be really great - when you were done you could use it and then say 'Hey - I was the best you ever had!'
So what of the future for this hugely versatile performer? His only firm commitment is vocal work for Dreamworks' 2004 animation Sharkslayer but The Fresh Prince dreams of a way to combine his two talents. "I've thought about doing a rap musical. I was really inspired by Moulin Rouge but I've gotten nothing decent as far as a script is concerned. I'm very curious to see how rap music could work in that genre." If it were to happen, odds are that it would go straight to the top of the music and film charts.
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