Why can’t Will Smith comprehend smart sci-fi?
While nobody thinks of him as a ‘sci-fi’ actor, Will Smith has certainly made a splash in the genre. He starred in both Independence Day and Men in Black in back-to-back years in the 1990s, reprising his role as Agent J twice more. I Am Legend might be presented as more of an apocalyptic horror, but it has sci-fi elements at its core. Then there’s the case of After Earth, which…you know what, nobody wants to hear about that, so let’s just move on.
However, for every major science fiction role Smith has accepted, there is seemingly another one that he turned down. He famously rejected the part of Neo in The Matrix, instead opting for another sci-fi project, Wild Wild West. Considering that The Wachowskis’ film made millions of dollars and spawned a successful franchise, and Wild Wild West’s only achievement is a giant robot spider, Will probably had a few sleepless nights over that one.
More recently, the former rapper revealed that he was offered the role of Cobb in Christopher Nolan’s dream-based adventure, Inception. Why would anyone reject the chance to work with Nolan, one of the most acclaimed and accomplished directors of all time? Well, according to Smith, it’s because he “didn’t get” what Inception was about. He told radio station Kiss FM that movies about alternative realities “don’t pitch well”, but that he did have some remorse about not agreeing to either film.
Science fiction isn’t for everyone, actors and audiences alike, but Smith clearly isn’t adverse to stepping into a world of aliens, gadgets, and made-up words. Considering that some of his biggest hits have come from the genre, why on Earth would he turn his nose up at two films that were destined to be successes? Why ‘no’ to The Matrix and Inception, but ‘yes’ to Gemini Man? There are a few theories.
First of all, Smith has spoken at length about his love for all things Star Wars. He once said that watching George Lucas’ boundary-busting epic changed the way he saw the world and is what set him on the path to becoming the superstar he is today. If this is his frame of reference, then of course he’s going to want to keep things simple. Star Wars is the go-to example of a typical ‘good vs evil’/’hero’s journey’ storyline. There’s nothing complicated about it, especially not in its early days. Smith saw the Star Wars movies as a kid and decided that’s what all sci-fi should be. It really could be as straightforward as that.
Of course, there is the age-old answer to every question – money. As Smith himself stated, over-complex movies don’t pitch well, which usually means they won’t make money if they even get made at all. While he has made the odd foray into passion projects (Ali, King Richard, etc.), Smith is first and foremost a movie star. He’s a businessman, and a very good one at that, who has made an absolute fortune marketing himself. His modus operandi seems to be ‘stick with what sells’, which means nothing too out there.
The Matrix and Inception ended up being the exception to this rule, as they both raked in the cash, but for the most part, ‘smart’ sci-fi doesn’t pay the bills. Maybe Smith will change his mind on the subject one day, but if revolving corridors and leather coats couldn’t convince him, then maybe nothing will.
