10 Things You Didnt Know About Will Smiths Movie Career

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Will Smith’s Movie Career

With a decorated movie career stretching back decades, Will Smith remains a beloved screen star and one of the most successful in film history.

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The early ’90s saw one of the freshest rappers in music transition to the small screen. After a few sips from a champagne glass filled with orange juice, Will Smith became a megastar. Films like Bad Boys, Men in Black, and Enemy of the State quickly established Smith as a leading man capable of filling movie theaters across the globe.

Will Smith’s career has seen highs and lows, with the former taking up the majority of Smith’s newsworthy moments. Though his headline-grabbing acts admittedly aren’t what they once were, Will remains a beloved screen star and one of the most successful actors in film history. With such a decorated career comes many fascinating stories and what-ifs.

10 He Based ID4’s Steven Hiller on Harrison Ford

One of Smith’s most famous characters took inspiration from one of the all-time greats. For his role of Captain Steven Hiller in 1996’s Independence Day, Will Smith chose to study and incorporate traits of his ultimate movie hero, Harrison Ford — focusing on Han Solo specifically.

The slick-talking Star Wars smuggler served as a perfect role model for Smith’s pilot attempting to save the world from an alien invasion. Smith’s decision seemingly worked as Independence Day became an out-of-this-world hit and helped cement the Fresh Prince star as a genuine Hollywood talent.

9 Smith Took Catchphrase Cues From Arnold Schwarzenegger

Another box office behemoth Smith took cues from was none other than The Terminator himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Arnie’s “I’ll be back” catchphrase is as recognizable as any in Hollywood, and the Austrian actor has often incorporated the line into his other movies.

Smith took a similar route with his “Aw, hell no!” quip. While him blurting the line out in I, Robot may be the most beloved example of its use, this Will Smith quote has popped up time and again throughout the star’s illustrious career.

8 The Fresh Prince Was The First Hip Hop Artist To Be Nominated For An Oscar

While The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air made Will Smith a household name, Smith was living it up as a successful hip-hop artist long before the sitcom. The whole concept of The Fresh Prince was born from Will’s tenure as a rapper. As Smith took over TV and then the movies, he continued picking up the mic on both his films’ soundtracks and new albums of his own. Perhaps unsurprising, given Smith’s tremendous talent as a thespian, the Bad Boys star became the first hip hop artist to be nominated for an Academy Award in 2002 thanks to his role in Ali.

7 He Met Jada On The Set Of The Fresh Prince

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air changed Will Smith’s TV and film career forever, but what many don’t know, is that the sitcom inadvertently changed his life. Will Smith actually met his future wife Jada Pinkett on the set of Fresh Prince. The pair has been married since 1997 and have had 3 children since. Even though the couple has been shrouded in controversy as of late, there’s no denying their impact on Hollywood or their standing in the industry as a true Tinseltown power couple.

6 Smith Is Second All-Time In Kid’s Choice Award Wins

Will Smith’s trophy cabinet has few rivals in show business. Not only has the former rapper carved out himself a career for himself as a leading man in blockbuster action movies and hard-hitting dramas, but he’s also a firm favorite when it comes to family films.

His 10 Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice Award wins are proof of Smith’s versatility with different demographics. Will Smith currently shares second place with funnyman Adam Sandler. The duo is only beaten by Selena Gomez, who leads the way with 11 wins.

5 Agent J In Men In Black Wasn’t Originally Intended For Will Smith

The Men in Black franchise is home to one of Smith’s most iconic characters Agent J. Even though Will Smith seemed perfectly suited to making the black suit and Ray-Bans look cool, the part wasn’t written for him and was actually offered to multiple stars being before passed to Will.

Notable names include Friends star David Schwimmer and late ’90s Robin himself Chris O’Donnell. It’s certainly hard to imagine either of those names having the same charisma and sharing the same level of electric chemistry with co-star Tommy Lee Jones.

4 The Matrix Is The Movie That Got Away

Will Smith’s filmography is jam-packed with critically acclaimed hits and big moneymakers, but the King Richard star does harbor a few regrets when it comes to his role choices. When asked about the movie he most regrets turning down, Smith cites The Matrix as the one that got away. Smith did add that while he would’ve loved to have been part of The Wachowskis’ game-changing sci-fi, he admits it’s a good thing he said no, as Keanu Reeves did such a phenomenal job portraying Neo.

3 Wild Wild West Is One Film He Wishes He’d Stayed Away From

When it comes to movies Will Smith wishes he steered clear of, it may not be surprising for fans to learn the Academy Award winner wishes he’d have turned down the role of Jim West in 1999’s Wild Wild West. The goofy sci-fi became a magnet for Razzie wins and nominations and is frequently listed as one of Will Smith’s worst-ever movies

On the bright side, however, fans did get the wonderful and suitably wild tie-in single “Wild Wild West” from The Fresh Prince. It was released on the movie’s soundtrack and as part of Smith’s solo album “Willenium”.

2 Will Smith Almost Started His Film Career As Part Of Boys N The Hood

Before Will Smith became a box office king thanks to movies like Michael Bay’s Bad Boys and Independence Day, he almost had a brush with brilliance after being considered for the role of Tre Styles in John Singleton’s sensational drama Boyz N The Hood. The 1990 crime film reinvented the genre and birthed the hood movie with one swift move. Rather than send Smith into the stratosphere, Boys N The Hood launched the movie career of another rapper, Ice Cube. The NWA star would have plenty of success in Hollywood, but he’d never come close to matching Will Smith’s accolades.

1 In 2022, He Became The First Rapper To Win Best Actor

Not only was Smith the first rapper to be nominated for an Oscar, but in 2022 he became the first rapper to win an Academy Award for Best Actor. The King Richard star’s controversial actions may have overshadowed his achievements on the night, but as history looks back upon Smith’s acting career, this statue win will place him among the very best in his profession.

33 years prior to his Oscar win, Smith became the first rapper to take home a Grammy. Although his actions at the 2022 Oscars will keep him from collecting another trophy in the near future, it’s unlikely Will is done adding to his accolades.

Link Source : https://www.cbr.com/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-will-smiths-movie-career/

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