Chris O'Donnell seems to have been fooled into taking over the lead role in "Men in Black".
Director Barry Sonnenfeld admitted that he had pulled some strings to land Will Smith as the protagonist of the hit 1997 science fiction movie.
The film eventually starred Smith and Tommy Lee Jones as Agents J and K, two civil servants who oversee the activities of aliens on Earth. Speaking to
Insider, Sonnenfeld said the producer initially wanted O'Donnell and Clint Eastwood as the leading actors.
"I suggested Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith," Sonnenfeld told the outlet. "It was actually my wife's idea."
The director said that executives needed little persuasiveness to accept Jones, but frowned upon Smith as the protagonist. rice field.
At the time, Smith was known for starring in "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and starring in a rap album rather than a blockbuster movie.
He is his first major movie on "Independence Day" I have just finished shooting the protagonist of. However, the movie had not yet been released at that time.
Meanwhile, O'Donnell "School Ties", "The Three Musketeers", , "Scent of a woman."
O'Donnell will play that role. In a desperate bid to discourage, Sonnenfeld revealed to him that he downplayed the movie.
"I met Chris. He was worried about the script. And another movie offer, "he said. "So I told him," Yeah, we might never fix this script, and I don't think I know how to direct this movie. "So he the next day I handed over the movie.
O'Donnell's refusal opened the door for Smith to participate in the conversation.
Sonnenfeld recalled having a meeting with film producers Walter F. Parks, Lauri McDonald, Steven Spielberg and Smith in the Hamptons.
"And that's how Will played that role," he recalled.
"I think [O'Donnell] is a good actor, but I've been really thinking about Will since his wife suggested it," he said in wisdom.
And about disregarding the script to O'Donnell, Sonnenfeld said, "Well, what do you know, you always neglect your promises and want to overdeliver."
"Men in Black" became a big hit in box office revenue
Smith has been banned from participating in theAcademy Awards for the last 10 years after hitting host Chris Rock on this year's Oscar stage.
