ROTTEN TOMATOES: Will Smith and Michael Mann are Empire Builders

Will Smith and Michael Mann are Empire Builders

Columbia project reteams director and star of Ali.

by Jeff Giles | October 11, 2007

Will Smith and Michael Mann are reuniting to build an Empire for Columbia Pictures.

Variety reports that "a seven-figure pitch deal" netted the project for the studio. Mann, who last directed Smith in Ali, will work from a script by John Logan -- another reunion for the director, who developed The Aviator with Logan before handing it off to Martin Scorsese.

Though Mann hasn't directed Smith since they made Ali, he's co-producing Hancock, the Peter Berg-directed drama that, in Variety's words, "stars Smith as a disaffected superhero."

So what's Empire about? Nobody's telling. From the article:

Neither the studio nor the principals would elaborate on the plot, but sources said that Smith will play a contemporary global media mogul.

A global media mogul, eh? Sounds like a real stretch for Smith. We love it!

Source: Variety

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(1-12 of 12 posts) | Reply

arendr writes:
on Oct 11 2007 07:31 AM

Awesome!!! I hope this one is good.

(Reply to this)

TheBlackGuy writes:
on Oct 11 2007 08:05 AM

Sounds excellent

(Reply to this)

blank blank writes:
on Oct 11 2007 09:00 AM

i didnt really like Ali, although smith was good in it.

its a good team, but i'd like to hear what its about before i up my enthusiasm level

(Reply to this)

Bloody Mathias writes:
on Oct 11 2007 10:02 AM

Mann, along with Nolan and Fincher is one of my favourite directors.
Miami Vice was a disappointment 'cause of Mann's writing (Heat is the exception).
But when given a great script, his movies rock (and are under 2 hours long).

I'm sure Logan's script must be great to attract both Smith and Mann, and that's enough for me to get excited.

(Reply to this)

walkingdead09 writes:
on Oct 11 2007 01:15 PM

Mann rules, his movies always win stuff. Will Smith....well if there is no DJ Jazzy Jeff getting thrown out of a white mansion i'm not interested.

(Reply to this)

Albert644 writes:
on Oct 11 2007 01:43 PM

This will be greatness. There is no doubt about it.

(Reply to this)

Typhoon20 writes:
on Oct 11 2007 02:44 PM

John Logan's work: Gladiator, Last Samurai, Aviator, Sweeney Todd...quality work.
Mann, Smith & Logan...Count me impressed.

(Reply to this)

tawo writes:
on Oct 11 2007 07:11 PM

WOOOOO, HOOOOOO!!!!!

(Reply to this)

Darule17 writes:
on Oct 12 2007 01:23 AM

Sounds Good.

(Reply to this)

patchworkej writes:
on Oct 12 2007 09:58 AM

This sounds really interesting. I hope Wes Studi will be part of this project, he and Mann have worked together before.

(Reply to this)

patchworkej writes:
on Oct 12 2007 10:00 AM

This sounds really interesting. I hope Wes Studi will be part of this project, he and Mann have worked together before.

(Reply to this)

pober64 writes:
on Oct 13 2007 06:23 PM

In reply to this comment (#1185788)
Your right I think Wes Studi would be good. He's a very good actor.

(Reply to this)

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