Well ol' Father Geek doesn't really know how to take this bit of movie news. You see as I was coming of age Clay-Ali was kicking ass all over the world of boxing, he was a huge, much bigger than life personality that became the hero to a couple of generations of boys about to become men. I just can't see Smith as this icon of the 60's and 70's. It just doesn't work for me right now. I mean Ali was the HEAVY WEIGHT champion of the world, not a lanky, tall, wirey homeboy. I don't know, his attitude is close, it might work, I guest I'll just have to wait and see...
Greetings Father Geek,
Well it is official, the Fresh Prince is going to play the "Thrilla in Manila" for Michael Mann. The project will be very exciting to follow:
Will Smith has finally signed on the dotted line to star for director Michael Mann in the Columbia Pictures biopic of Muhammad Ali, to be produced by Jon Peters, says Variety. Smith will be paid an advance of $20 million against 20% of gross to play the greatest.
While he's preparing to promote the Robert Redford-directed "The Legend of Bagger Vance," in which he starred with Matt Damon, Smith has already begun training in earnest to portray the charismatic boxer.
The Ali film became one of the highest profile projects in Hollywood when Mann agreed to helm, but Smith took some time to sign, leading to talk that he'd be inking a two-picture deal under which he'd put the Ray Bans back on for "Men in Black 2".
Well we now know for sure that this biopic is a go ahead.
Signing off,
Arteewon
