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Will Smith Producing John Keller BiopicBy Thera Pitts: 2009-05-24 10:40:40
Will Smith and Overbrook entertainment have recently purchased the rights to the life story of Hurricane Katrina Hero John Keller. Empire Online reported on Thursday that the film, set to be directed by John Lee Hancock (The Rookie), will focus on the ex-Marine's five day plight to protect the some 150 residents of his building during the 2005 Hurricane. Empire suggests the movie will possibly star Smith himself as Keller (OK, this is off the record, but you know damn well that possibly means definitely).As CB's own Mack Rawden wrote earlier this week, biopics can be just an easy way for filmmakers to masquerade as supernaturally good people while making a quick buck off of someone else's legacy. Even though John Keller isn't the type of household name Rawden is against directors uselessly capturing in biopic form, this is probably no exception. Just producing the movie is one thing, but if Smith stars as Keller, it won't be about Keller, it will be about Will Smith's brilliant performance as Keller. But in spite of that, everything about this story seems worth telling. It has drama, action, and an inspirational central figure that possesses the added quality of being a pretty entertaining character in his own right. Regarding the motive behind his brave actions, Keller told Elizabeth Mullener of New Orleans paper The Times-Picayune (via NOLA.com), "It sure wasn't for money, it wasn't for recognition. It wasn't to be no damn hero. What made me stay was the old people. I just realized that nobody else in here could have gotten those people out. They would have sat in here for five more days. And they didn't have five more days." If that's not a movie ready quote right there, I don't know what is. One other possible drawback to this impending picture is the fact that, in the past, the population as a whole have been either indifferent or entirely averse to Katrina based entertainments (remember K-Town? I don't and I'm writing about it). The thought of 2,000 people dying less than five years ago just doesn't scream "popcorn time," but in the right hands (Adetoro Makinde's script based on Keller was also purchased for the project) this could be just the kind of uplifting tale we need right now. And even I'll admit that Smith's name will fill seats and bring needed attention to this story. But nobody tell Will Smith I wrote that.
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