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==Release== |
==Release== |
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Director [[Peter Berg]] and writer-producer [[Akiva Goldsman]] have been perceived to push creative boundaries with their work in cinema, the latest instance being ''Hancock''. ''[[The New York Times]]'' reported, "By their own account they keep pushing an increasingly corporate entertainment industry to do what scares it a little — and not just stick to a summerful of sequels and animated sure shots." ''Hancock'' had been reviewed by the [[Motion Picture Association of America]] twice and has both times received an [[Motion Picture Association of America film rating system#Ratings|R rating]] instead of the 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."<ref name=clay>{{cite news | first = Michael | last = Cieply | title = A Man of Steel With Feet of Clay | work = [[The New York Times]] | publisher=[[The New York Times Company]] | date = [[2008-05-04]] | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/04/movies/moviesspecial/04ciep.html?_r=3&ref=movies&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin | accessdate=2008-05-07}}</ref> |
Director [[Peter Berg]] and writer-producer [[Akiva Goldsman]] have been perceived to push creative boundaries with their work in cinema, the latest instance being ''Hancock''. ''[[The New York Times]]'' reported, "By their own account they keep pushing an increasingly corporate entertainment industry to do what scares it a little — and not just stick to a summerful of sequels and animated sure shots." ''Hancock'' had been reviewed by the [[Motion Picture Association of America]] twice and has both times received an [[Motion Picture Association of America film rating system#Ratings|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."<ref name=clay>{{cite news | first = Michael | last = Cieply | title = A Man of Steel With Feet of Clay | work = [[The New York Times]] | publisher=[[The New York Times Company]] | date = [[2008-05-04]] | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/04/movies/moviesspecial/04ciep.html?_r=3&ref=movies&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin | accessdate=2008-05-07}}</ref> |
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''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 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 strength of the film's star, Will Smith.<ref>{{cite news | first=Josh | last=Friedman | url=http://www.latimes.com/business/custom/admark/la-fi-titles12-2008may12,0,1867330.story | title=Some movies are entitled to do well | work=[[Los Angeles Times]] | publisher=[[Tribune Company]] | date=[[2008-05-12]] | accessdate=2008-05-24 }}</ref> |
''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 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 strength of the film's star, Will Smith.<ref>{{cite news | first=Josh | last=Friedman | url=http://www.latimes.com/business/custom/admark/la-fi-titles12-2008may12,0,1867330.story | title=Some movies are entitled to do well | work=[[Los Angeles Times]] | publisher=[[Tribune Company]] | date=[[2008-05-12]] | accessdate=2008-05-24 }}</ref> |
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Revision as of 13:35, 29 May 2008
| Hancock | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster | |
| Directed by | Peter Berg |
| Written by | Vince Gilligan Vincent Ngo |
| Produced by | Akiva Goldsman James Lassiter Michael Mann Will Smith |
| Starring | Will Smith Charlize Theron Jason Bateman |
| Edited by | Paul Rubell |
| Music by | John Powell |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release date | July 2 2008 |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $150 million |
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 slated for release on July 2 2008.
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]
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 take 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 Happyness 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]
Cast
- Will Smith as John Hancock, a down-and-out superhero.[10] He is invulnerable, possesses superhuman strength, and the power of super-sonic flight. He is also very sarcastic.[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]
Release
Director Peter Berg and writer-producer Akiva Goldsman have been perceived to push creative boundaries with their work in cinema, the latest instance being Hancock. The New York Times reported, "By their own account they keep pushing an increasingly corporate entertainment industry to do what scares it a little — and not just stick to a summerful of sequels and animated sure shots." 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 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 strength 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]
References
- ^ Swanson, Tim. "Will Smith Extra". Premiere. Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
- ^ a b Fleming, Michael (2002-07-17). "Artisan 'Comes' to deal with Goldsman". Variety. Reed Business Information. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c Fleming, Michael (2005-11-30). "Col has plans for 'Tonight'". Variety. Reed Business Information. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b Fleming, Michael (2005-02-16). "Col, Smith get hitched to hero pic". Variety. Reed Business Information. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b c Cieply, Michael (2008-05-04). "A Man of Steel With Feet of Clay". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2008-05-07.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Fleming, Michael (2006-04-25). "'Legend' reborn again at Warners". Variety. Reed Business Information. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b Fleming, Michael (2006-05-17). "'Tonight' helmer ankles". Variety. Reed Business Information. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Fleming, Michael (2006-05-03). "Inside Move: 'Legend' of Smith an early tale for WB". Variety. Reed Business Information. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Fleming, Michael (2006-10-15). "'Tonight' he shoots". Variety. Reed Business Information. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ a b c Stax (2007-06-20). "Tonight, He Gets Retitled". IGN. News Corporation. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Will Smith hits new heights for 'Hancock'". MSNBC. NBC Universal, Microsoft. 2007-07-24. Retrieved 2007-08-13.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Domestic film: In production". The Hollywood Reporter. Nielsen Company. Retrieved 2007-09-26.
- ^ a b Bowles, Scott (2008-04-09). "Sneak peek: 'Hancock' — Another superhero with issues?". USA Today. Gannett Company. Retrieved 2008-05-24.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Horn, John (2008-05-04). "Will Smith's familiar signature is on 'Hancock'". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. Retrieved 2008-05-24.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Lindgren, Hugo (2007-09-30). "Hollywood Heavy: Peter Berg". New York. New York Media, LLC. Retrieved 2007-11-22.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Topel, Fred (2007-12-28). "Will Smith and Jason Bateman Talk Hancock". Rotten Tomatoes. IGN Entertainment, Inc. Retrieved 2007-12-31.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Dodd, Stacy (2007-08-26). "Johnny Galecki". Variety. Reed Business Information. Retrieved 2007-09-13.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Friedman, Josh (2008-05-12). "Some movies are entitled to do well". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. Retrieved 2008-05-24.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Hancock". ComingSoon.net. Coming Soon Media, L.P. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "Sony announce `Quantum of Solace` mobile game". MI6.co.uk. 2008-04-01. Retrieved 2008-04-01.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)
