Discuss: Should Will Smith be McG’s ‘Nemo’?

Posted by Adam Sweeney (adam@filmschoolrejects.com) on January 16, 2009

McG is Mad! Mad I Tell You!

McG is doing everything in his power to get crowds pumped for Terminator: Salvation. Now he wants Will Smith to go 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea with him.

In a conversation with the director of the highly anticipated fourth Terminator installment, Latino Review’s Kellvin Chavez grilled McG for answers about his next project, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. The flashy director stated, “The character Nemo in this film is more about obsession, he is obsessed and people tend to forget that when you become so obsessed you end up being the villain.”

I could definitely be down with a darker version of Jules Verne’s novel. If you’re like me then you think of Kirk Douglas in the Disney classic. Then you go on to the next thought that Douglas looks a lot like the inspiration for Where’s Waldo? But maybe it’s best not to think too much about these things.

The most interesting comment, however, came when McG told Chavez who he wanted for the film. Three words. Big Willy Style.

Man, I’m trying to get Will Smith to do it, been trying to get a hold of him. I’ve been wanting to work with him for a long time already. That guy’s great,” McG said.

McG has gone to studios saying Smith is the man he wants for the role of Captain Nemo. He also told Chavez that “Nemo’s antagonist is himself, a dark side that he battles with.” So does that mean Smith will play Nemo, the sailor Ned Land or both? Would Smith risk getting his hands dirty on another novel after tackling source material from I, Robot and I am Legend? Doesn’t it bother McG that Smith isn’t Indian, as is revealed of Nemo’s character in the sequel to 20,000 Leagues, “The Mysterious Island”? So many question, so little time.

I’m as conflicted as McG’s would-be Nemo on this. Part of me says that Smith is not the man for this part. The other side would love to see him venture into darker waters, as I stated he should do in my feature studying his dramatic efforts. Maybe McG can just film me wrestling with this idea and call it 20,000 Opinions about Big Willy.

Would you go see 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea if Will Smith is in it? Is McG the right director for this film?


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  • You know it's funny because I got into an argument a while back with a friend who said that he wouldn't ever cast a black man as Hamlet because there are no black Danes - it wouldn't be realistic. He also said he'd never cast a white man as Othello.

    At the time, my group of friends was split on whether it was racialist or not. Now it seems like we're arguing that the opposite is racialist - that if you don't cast an Indian in an Indian role or a black man in a black role (like, say, Othello) you're being racist.

    I understand the context, but it's fairly fascinating to see that switch. When will non-traditional casting just be seen as an artistic choice instead of something exclusionary?
  • nicky_cavella
    QFT same thing with the prince of persia film. i mean johnny depp is going to play an indian in LONE RANGER, i mean they casted a SPANISH person in DESPERADO instead of a REAL MEXICAN. same goes for the SELENA film. casting a PUERTO RICAN instead of a REAL MEXICAN.
  • But it seems like a damned if you do situation. Traditional casting is racist because it's narrow minded. Non-traditional is racist because minority characters don't get minority actor counterparts. I'm not sure what the solution is.
  • I remember an acting teacher telling us about her work with a production of Othello featuring Patrick Stewart that was exceptional. So there are times that it can work. I just don't like to see actors chosen strictly for their name, especially if it disregards the heart of the material.
  • watchdog
    "When will non-traditional casting just be seen as an artistic choice instead of something exclusionary?" A: Probably when there is more balanced and inclusive casting overall; when you start to see not just whites and blacks in major leading roles but more of everyone of every kind on TV and in film.

    Back in the day, if the character was ethnic, the actor playing the role was white. Nowadays, if the character is ethnic, the actor playing the role is black. Black has become the catch-all "ethnic" in films especially. If a production doesn't want to seem exlusionary, they throw a token black character into the ensemble. It's even starting to get ridiculous. Now they'll have a cast that's almost 50% black (the other half being white, of course). TV seems to be changing to a more diverse palette with things like Heroes and Lost but overall, there's a long way to go.
  • I think that's a great point, watchdog. It seems like we are literally seeing our casting choices literally in black and white. It's no coincidence that Lost and Heroes are two of the most entertaining/popular shows on television. Diversity is a good thing. Now, if only Hollywood would paint the canvas with all sorts of colors. It's time to give larger roles to people of all ethnicities. Look at Slumdog Millionaire. It was fantastic.
  • Nevernude
    Aw Hell Naw!
  • I think Will should take a break for a while.
  • I mean...if his spawn can be the new Karate Kid...anything is possible, I guess...meh...
  • Ok, dump the Racist theme, this is Will Smith. The man who rewrote "I Am Legend" to make himself the good guy when the main character is technically the bad guy. If they cast him as Nemo, which I will not pay to see, he will alter the script to make himself be the savior of the world.......again. It's really getting old.
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