Hancock (film)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 This article or section contains information about one or more scheduled or expected films.
The content will change as the film's release approaches and more information becomes available.
Hancock

Promotional poster
Directed by Peter Berg
Produced by Akiva Goldsman
James Lassiter
Michael Mann
Will Smith
Written by Vince Gilligan
Vincent Ngo
Starring Will Smith
Charlize Theron
Jason Bateman
Music by John Powell
Editing by Paul Rubell
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Release date(s) July 2, 2008
Country United States
Language English
Budget $150 million
Allmovie profile
IMDb profile

Hancock is an upcoming comedy superhero film directed by Peter Berg and starring Will Smith, Jason Bateman and Charlize Theron. The story was originally written by Vincent Ngo in 1996 and had languished in Hollywood for some time. The project has had various directors attached, including Tony Scott, Michael Mann, Jonathan Mostow, and Gabriele Muccino. Hancock was originally intended to be filmed before I Am Legend, also starring Will Smith. Under Berg, Hancock was filmed in Los Angeles. The film is scheduled for release on July 2, 2008.

Contents

[edit] Premise

Will Smith portrays an alcoholic superhero despised by everyone. A publicist (Jason Bateman) helps rehabilitate him, and the superhero eventually begins an affair with the publicist's wife (Charlize Theron).[1]

[edit] Production

Screenwriter Vincent Ngo wrote the spec script Tonight, He Comes in 1996. The draft, about a troubled 12-year-old and a fallen superhero, was initially picked up by director Tony Scott as a potential project.[2] Producer Akiva Goldsman came across the script, which he had considered a favorite,[3] and encouraged Richard Saperstein, then president of development and production at Artisan Entertainment, to acquire it.[2] Director Michael Mann was initially attached to direct Tonight, He Comes, but he instead opted to direct Miami Vice (2006).[3] Eventually, Artisan placed the project in turnaround, and it was acquired by Goldsman.[4] Screenwriters Vince Gilligan and John August performed rewrites of Ngo's script,[5] and Jonathan Mostow was attached to direct the film. Under Mostow's supervision, a 10-page treatment was written to be pitched to actor Will Smith to portray the lead role in the film, since both had worked together on Hitch (2005). Both Mostow and Smith were not yet committed to make the project an active priority at the time. Several studios pursued the opportunity to finance the film, and Columbia Pictures succeeded in acquiring the prospect in February 2005. A second draft was scripted by Gilligan following the finalization of the deal with Columbia. The film was initially slated for a holiday 2006 release.[4]

In November 2005, Mostow and Smith committed to Tonight, He Comes, with production slated to begin in Los Angeles in summer 2006.[3] Smith had set up a pay or play contract to film I Am Legend (2007) under Warner Bros. after completion of Tonight, He Comes.[6] Mostow eventually departed from the project due to creative differences.[7] Director Gabriele Muccino filled Mostow's vacancy in May 2006. Since Muccino was busy editing The Pursuit of Happiness starring Smith, which Muccino had directed, Smith switched projects to film I Am Legend first for its December 2007 release, and then film Tonight, He Comes afterward.[8] Later in the month, Muccino left the project because of an incompatibility with filming the story. Since Muccino was preparing The Pursuit of Happyness, the studio had delayed the production start for Tonight, He Comes to summer 2007, enabling Warner Bros. to begin production of I Am Legend with Smith.[7]

In October 2006, Peter Berg was attached to direct Tonight, He Comes with production slated to begin in May 2007 in Los Angeles, the story's setting.[9] Before filming began, Tonight, He Comes was retitled John Hancock.[10] The film title was eventually shortened to Hancock.[11] Filming began on John Hancock on July 3, 2007 in Los Angeles,[12] having a production budget of $150 million.[5] Locations like Hollywood Boulevard were designed to look damaged, having rubble, overturned vehicles, and fires.[13] Smith's character is also an alcoholic, so for scenes in liquor stores, the art department designed fake labels such as Pap Smear Vodka for the bottles because "brown-bag brands" like Thunderbird and Night Train refused to lend their names.[14]

[edit] Cast

  • Will Smith as John Hancock, a down-and-out, incredibly sarcastic superhero.[10] He is invulnerable, possesses superhuman strength, and the power of super-sonic flight. [15] To give a realistic appearance of superhero flight, Smith was often suspended by wire 200 feet above the ground and was propelled at 50 miles per hour.[13]
  • Jason Bateman as a corporate public relations consultant whose life is saved by Hancock. Bateman said, "[It] was a fun thing to play, a very idealistic guy that's trying to build up this suicidal, homeless alcoholic that then ends up hitting on my wife. It was a fun thing. To play the victim is funny."[16]
  • Charlize Theron as the consultant's wife.[10]
  • Johnny Galecki as the consultant's co-worker.[17]

[edit] Release

The New York Times noted that Hancock's original story and controversial subject matter present a stark contrast to "a summerful of sequels and animated sure shots" and represent a gamble for "an increasingly corporate entertainment industry." Hancock had been reviewed by the Motion Picture Association of America twice and has both times received an R rating instead of the makers' preferred PG-13 rating to target broader audiences. Questionable elements included Smith's character drinking in front of a 17-year-old and the character flying under the influence of alcohol. One element that has been removed from the film to appeal to the MPAA was statutory rape. With such elements, studio executives only became comfortable with Hancock when the marketing approach focused on action and humor. Berg noted, "The ad campaign for this movie is much friendlier than the film."[5]

Hancock was originally titled Tonight, He Comes and later changed to John Hancock before settling on its current title. Marketing consultants attempted to persuade Sony Pictures to change the title Hancock because it was too vague for audiences, suggesting alternatives like Heroes Never Die, Unlikely Hero, and Less Than Hero. Despite the advice, Sony stayed with Hancock and anticipated marketing on the popularity of the film's star, Will Smith.[18]

Hancock is slated to be released on July 2, 2008.[19] Sony Pictures Television has announced a mobile game based on the film.[20]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Swanson, Tim. "Will Smith Extra", Premiere, Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S.. Retrieved on 2007-07-08. 
  2. ^ a b Fleming, Michael (2002-07-17). "Artisan 'Comes' to deal with Goldsman". Variety. Reed Business Information. 
  3. ^ a b c Fleming, Michael (2005-11-30). "Col has plans for 'Tonight'". Variety. Reed Business Information. 
  4. ^ a b Fleming, Michael (2005-02-16). "Col, Smith get hitched to hero pic". Variety. Reed Business Information. 
  5. ^ a b c Cieply, Michael. "A Man of Steel With Feet of Clay", The New York Times, The New York Times Company, 2008-05-04. Retrieved on 2008-05-07. 
  6. ^ Fleming, Michael (2006-04-25). "'Legend' reborn again at Warners". Variety. Reed Business Information. 
  7. ^ a b Fleming, Michael (2006-05-17). "'Tonight' helmer ankles". Variety. Reed Business Information. 
  8. ^ Fleming, Michael (2006-05-03). "Inside Move: 'Legend' of Smith an early tale for WB". Variety. Reed Business Information. 
  9. ^ Fleming, Michael; Nicole Laporte (2006-10-15). "'Tonight' he shoots". Variety. Reed Business Information. 
  10. ^ a b c Stax. "Tonight, He Gets Retitled", IGN, News Corporation, 2007-06-20. Retrieved on 2007-07-08. 
  11. ^ "Will Smith hits new heights for ‘Hancock’", MSNBC, NBC Universal, Microsoft, 2007-07-24. Retrieved on 2007-08-13. 
  12. ^ Domestic film: In production. The Hollywood Reporter. Nielsen Company. Retrieved on 2007-09-26.
  13. ^ a b Bowles, Scott. "Sneak peek: 'Hancock' — Another superhero with issues?", USA Today, Gannett Company, 2008-04-09. Retrieved on 2008-05-24. 
  14. ^ Horn, John. "Will Smith's familiar signature is on 'Hancock'", Los Angeles Times, Tribune Company, 2008-05-04. Retrieved on 2008-05-24. 
  15. ^ Lindgren, Hugo. "Hollywood Heavy: Peter Berg", New York, New York Media, LLC, 2007-09-30. Retrieved on 2007-11-22. 
  16. ^ Topel, Fred. "Will Smith and Jason Bateman Talk Hancock", Rotten Tomatoes, IGN Entertainment, Inc, 2007-12-28. Retrieved on 2007-12-31. 
  17. ^ Dodd, Stacy (2007-08-26). "Johnny Galecki". Variety. Reed Business Information. 
  18. ^ Friedman, Josh. "Some movies are entitled to do well", Los Angeles Times, Tribune Company, 2008-05-12. Retrieved on 2008-05-24. 
  19. ^ Hancock. ComingSoon.net. Coming Soon Media, L.P. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  20. ^ "Sony announce `Quantum of Solace` mobile game", MI6.co.uk, 2008-04-01. Retrieved on 2008-04-01. 

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Films directed by Peter Berg
Very Bad Things (1998) • The Rundown (2003) • Friday Night Lights (2004) • The Kingdom (2007) • Hancock (2008)