Hancock Film 2008 Trailers and Review

Posted in Films and Movies on Feb 3rd, 2008 | Comments Off

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 another Smith starrer, I Am Legend. Under Berg, Hancock was filmed in Los Angeles. The film is slated for release on July 2, 2008.

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).

Cast:

  • Will Smith as John Hancock, a down-and-out superhero. He is bulletproof, possesses superhuman strength and the power of super-sonic flight. He is also very sarcastic.
  • 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.”
  • Charlize Theron as the consultant’s wife.
  • Johnny Galecki as the consultant’s co-worker.

Trailer: 

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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. Producer Akiva Goldsman came across the script, which he had considered a favorite, and encouraged Richard Saperstein, then president of development and production at Artisan Entertainment, to acquire it.

Director Michael Mann was initially attached to direct Tonight, He Comes, but he instead opted to direct Miami Vice (2006). Eventually, Artisan placed the project in turnaround and was acquired by Goldsman. Screenwriter Vince Gilligan performed a rewrite of Ngo’s script, 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.

In November 2005, Mostow and Smith committed to Tonight, He Comes, with production slated to begin in Los Angeles in summer 2006. Smith had set up a pay or play contract to film I Am Legend (2007) under Warner Bros. after completion of Tonight, He Comes.

Mostow eventually departed from the project due to creative differences. Director Gabriele Muccino filled Mostow’s vacancy in May 2006. Since Muccino was busy editing the Smith starrer The Pursuit of Happyness, which Muccino had directed, for its December 2006 release, Smith switched projects to film I Am Legend first, and then film Tonight, He Comes afterward.

Later in the month, Muccino left the project due to 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.

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. Before filming began, Tonight, He Comes was retitled John Hancock. Filming began on John Hancock on July 3, 2007 in Los Angeles. The film title was eventually shortened to Hancock.

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