Hancock 2008 superhero comedy Film

Hancock is an upcoming 2008 superhero-comedy 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.

Will Smith is really starting to get into the “not saving the world” business — I Am Legend positions him as the last man on Earth, and in this summer’s Hancock, he plays an alcoholic superhero.

And if you think that sounds weird, Smith’s description is even more mysterious. “If you can imagine, it’s the Michael Mann version of an alcoholic superhero,” said Smith. “It is so bizarre. Michael Mann developed a script about an alcoholic superhero.”

   

The writer/director of films like Heat and Miami Vice surely has an unusual take. Jason Bateman, who plays a publicist trying to rehabilitate the superhero Hancock (Smith), described scenes that demonstrate the Michael Mann tone. “What’s fun about that character is just that he’s so appreciative that his life was saved by this underappreciated superhero that he wants to reciprocate,” said Bateman. “He wants to kind of give back and he wants the public to see Will Smith as the hero that he really is. So that’s his mission. That 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.”

The confrontation between the publicist and the superhero perhaps sums it up best. “What Will and screenwriter Akiva Goldsman and director Pete Berg wanted to do was to play this for the real. They’re constantly bouncing tones back and forth. It’s a really ambitious thing to do in the film, but they pull it off. That’s played very much on the real, that I have an argument with a superhero about hitting on my wife and my feelings are hurt. It’s like you kind of back into the comedy there, but there’s definitely not winking.”

  

Will Smith portrays an alcoholic and lazy vagrant with no respect for authority or property. Ironically, he also possesses superpowers and the destruction he leaves in his wake makes him despised by everyone. A publicist (Jason Bateman) emerges to help rehabilitate him, and the new superhero eventually begins an affair with the publicist’s wife (Charlize Theron).

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 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. 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.

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.

Hancock is slated to be released on July 2, 2008. Sony Pictures Television have announced a mobile game based on the film. Although the filmmakers needed the film to be a PG-13 to appeal to a wide audience, the Motion Picture Association of America twice rated it an R (meaning it cannot be watched by those under the age of 17 without adult supervision) by April 2008. The filmmakers had to cut a scene with statutory rape. The director noted, “The ad campaign for this movie is much friendlier than the film.”

Cast:

• Will Smith as John Hancock, a down-and-out superhero. He is invulnerable, possesses superhuman strength, and the power of super-sonic flight. He is also very sarcastic.
• Jason Bateman as Ray Embrey, 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 Mary Embrey, the consultant’s wife.
• Johnny Galecki as the consultant’s co-worker

Links:

• Hancock 2008 superhero comedy film wallpapers and photos: http://www.snoron.com/movies-wallpapers/hancock/