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Ali
Ali
Ali
Snake Eyes
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Mr. and Mrs. Smith
A Few Good Men
My Cousin Vinny
Stats
- Episodes featuring their films
- 7
- Movies in this archive
- 8
Rewatchables episodes featuring Will Smith’s films
Displaying all 7 episodes
Mentioned in discussions
Apex Mountain
No affirmative selection
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:36:24Read transcript
Casting What-Ifs
Will Smith initially resisted the role until Ali personally asked; Denzel Washington is considered and rejected as too small for the heavyweight physicality.
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:31:34Read transcript
- Smith’s initial refusal and Ali’s personal appeal are discussed.
- Denzel Washington is considered but rejected, while Smith’s height is cited as a fit. — Bill Simmons
The most 2001 thing
Will Smith’s commercial peak, the ascending-and-veteran ensemble, Ron Silver, and young Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith
In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:06:50Read transcript
- Will Smith’s status as a commercial sensation is the first answer. — Van Lathan
- The cast’s mixture of ascending talent and established performers is another answer. — Van Lathan
- Ron Silver is proposed through a junket anecdote. — Van Lathan
- Young Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith are the final answer. — Bill Simmons
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:46:45Read transcript
- Mina chooses La La Land for double feature to compare the leads’ chemistry. — Bill Simmons
- Pretty Woman is another double-feature choice, with its shopping scene and a Wonder Man callback discussed. — Bill Simmons
- Focus is a double-feature choice based on the directors and chemistry; a debate considers Will Smith’s career and the film’s modest reception. — Bill Simmons
Flex pick · Mina Kimes
In the discussion (3)
Approx. transcript time · 01:15:11Read transcript
- Van’s Damn He Got It list has five ranks: Larenz Tate in Love Jones fifth, Gosling in Drive fourth, Will Smith in Hitch third, Brad Pitt in Legends of the Fall second and Billy Dee Williams in Lady Sings the Blues first. Other Pitt roles are alternatives, not his selected entry. — Bill Simmons
- Redford and Clooney are additional examples; a debate compares Clooney’s fame and film choices with Gosling’s, then discusses late-blooming actors. — Bill Simmons
- Van recalls his father admiring Billy Dee Williams; the hosts discuss men openly acknowledging other men’s attractiveness and remember Colt 45 ads. — Bill Simmons
Casting What-Ifs
Al Pacino; Will Smith; swapped Sinise and Cage.
In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:28:41Read transcript
- Al Pacino is identified as an offered alternative for Kevin Dunne, with the need for an older Rick discussed.
- Will Smith is identified as another offered alternative, and his choosing Enemy of the State is defended. — Bill Simmons
- The panel says Smith as Kevin would have let him play an unusual villain. — Bill Simmons
- Swapping Gary Sinise and Nicolas Cage remains an alternate recasting idea.
Recasting Couch
Keep the director; consider John Cazale, James Brolin, O.J. Simpson, Tom Hanks, Will Smith, Nicolas Cage, Richard Gere, Bruce Willis, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Chadwick Boseman
In the discussion (8)
Approx. transcript time · 01:34:12Read transcript
- The panel initially finds no director replacement and briefly proposes John Cazale, James Brolin, or O.J. Simpson for Larry Butler. — Bill Simmons
- Tom Hanks is proposed as Roy in a 1987 version. — Bill Simmons
- Will Smith is proposed for a 1997 version and questioned as too handsome or heroic. — Bill Simmons
- Nicolas Cage is proposed as another 1997 Roy. — Bill Simmons
- Richard Gere is considered and rejected as too attractive or too old for the 1997 role.
- Bruce Willis is considered and rejected as too old for the 1997 role. — Sean Fennessey
- Philip Seymour Hoffman is proposed for a 2007 version.
- Chadwick Boseman is proposed for a 2017 version.
Casting What-Ifs
Nicole Kidman; Johnny Depp; Will Smith; Cate Blanchett; Catherine Zeta-Jones; Gwen Stefani; Gwyneth Paltrow
In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:09:48Read transcript
- Pitt and Nicole Kidman were originally cast; after Kidman left and Pitt dropped out, Depp and Will Smith were approached. — Bill Simmons
- Reported possibilities include Depp with Cate Blanchett and Will Smith with Catherine Zeta-Jones; Gwen Stefani says she came close. — Chris Ryan
- Liman reportedly wanted Gwyneth Paltrow because she and Pitt were exes; the idea of exploiting that baggage is criticized. — Bill Simmons
- Liman ultimately described using Pitt and Paltrow’s past as too much manipulation; Blanchett was unavailable because of The Aviator. — Bill Simmons
Recasting Couch
Angela Bassett as Jo; Smith and Pitt as defendants; Downey or Damon as Kaffee
In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 00:12:16Read transcript
- Tom Hanks is rejected as a fit for Kaffee; Robert Downey Jr. is suggested, with debate about the best point in his career. — Bill Simmons
- A mid-1990s Matt Damon around Good Will Hunting or Rounders is proposed, although Kaffee’s age suggests an older actor. — Chris Ryan
- Will Smith and Brad Pitt are proposed as Dawson and Downey, with Pitt’s True Romance character providing a joking template. — Bill Simmons
- Angela Bassett is the preferred Jo, with Julianne Moore and Geena Davis as runners-up. — Bill Simmons
Casting What-Ifs
Dice Clay; Belushi, uncorroborated; Bracco; Davis; Will Smith
In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 01:01:49Read transcript
- Andrew Dice Clay was reportedly the studio’s original preference until an offensive exchange with an executive removed him from consideration; the group doubts the film would work as well with him. — Bill Simmons
- Jim Belushi reportedly regretted turning down Vinny, though the discussion questions whether anyone else corroborated an offer. — Bill Simmons
- Lorraine Bracco reportedly passed on Mona Lisa. — Bill Simmons
- Carol Davis reportedly passed on Mona Lisa; the name remains as transcribed. — Bill Simmons
- Will Smith auditioned for Stan, prompting astonishment and initial enthusiasm about improving the performance.
- A dissent argues that a Black man’s wrongful arrest in Alabama would fundamentally alter the film’s unusually gentle racial setting; colorblind casting as the Jewish character is jokingly proposed and rejected. — Wesley Morris
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:30:14Read transcript
- Both voices choose Smith and reiterate that his earlier films remain enjoyable. — Bill Simmons
Podcast choices
- Speaker not identified
- Will Smith
- Speaker not identified
- Will Smith
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 01:25:21Read transcript
- Smith is the easy actor choice, with the director an alternative; another choice goes to Sam under a proposed pet-Oscar category. — Bill Simmons
- A separate animal-awards ceremony is imagined with horses, pigs and Bart the Bear. — Bill Simmons
Displaying discussions 13 - 24 of 73 in total
Films in the archive
Ali
2001
Bad Boys
1995
Enemy of the State
1998
Focus
2015
Hitch
2005
I Am Legend
2007
Independence Day
1996
Men in Black
1997