Will Smith
has learned from his past mistakes.
According to
The Hollywood Reporter, the actor spoke candidly during a Cannes Lions panel on
Tuesday and admitted he may have chosen to star in 1999’s infamous “Wild
Wild West” for the wrong reasons.
“I had so much success that I started to taste global
blood and my focus shifted from my artistry to winning,” Will said,
referring to his streak of bankable hits like “Independence Day” and
“Men in Black.”
The superstar went on to explain that prioritizing the
spotlight over projects he felt passionate about is something he now realizes
could have compromised his artistic integrity.
“I wanted to win and be the biggest movie star, and what
happened was there was a lag —around ‘Wild Wild West’
time — I found myself promoting something because I wanted
to win versus promoting something because I believed in it,” he said.
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The 1999 sci-fi Western drew more than $200 million at the
global box office, but received nearly universal critical disdain – including
eight Razzie nominations. Will said that his efforts to promote the film
ultimately convinced audiences into watching something they normally might not
have – and he’s since dismissed such tactics.
“I consider myself a marketer. My career has been
strictly being able to sell my products globally, and it’s now in the hands of
fans,” Will said. “I have to be in tune with their needs and not
trick them into going to see ‘Wild Wild West.'”
Will also explained why the changing landscape, particularly
social media, has made it harder to mask a film’s lack of substance.
“Back in the 80s and 90s you had a piece of
crap movie, you put a trailer with a lot of explosions and it was Wednesday
before people knew your movie was s***,” he said. “But now what
happens is 10 minutes into the movie, people are tweeting, ‘This is s***, go
see Vin Diesel.'”
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Following “Wild Wild West,” Will went on to portray
Muhammad Ali in the 2001 biopic “Ali” – a role that nabbed him his
first Oscar nomination. Will said the experience inspired him to mirror how the
late boxing legend approached life in the spotlight, and he’s chosen his roles
more carefully as a result.
“He was unwilling to compromise for money, accolades —
he was living his values rich or poor,” Will said of Ali, adding,
“Improving lives is how I want to move forward.”
— Erin Biglow
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