Will Smith is one of the most famous, talented, and high-grossing actors of our generation. Almost everything he acts in, or at least produces, apparently turns to gold. Latest news/reports have him setting up to save Earth once again, in Men In Black III, and possibly, some Independence Day sequels. Today, we get the report that Smith wants to make a re-telling of the Biblical tale of Cain and Able, but with a dark twist.
Will Smith has attached himself to star in and produce The Legend Of Cain, an epic re-telling of the Biblical sibling tale, this time with a vampiric twist. Smith will play Cain, the original Bad Boy, and he will produce with Overbrook Entertainment partners Jada Pinkett Smith (his wife), James Lassiter, and Ken Stovitz. The script was written by Caleeb Pinkett and Dan Knauf, with Andrea Berloff revising. No studio or director yet for the Overbrook project. The production company is coming off The Karate Kid, which has so far grossed more that. $210 million worldwide. Smith is currently promoting that film internationally and in August he begins filming Men In Black 3.
I’m really surprised about this news. It’s so weird, that the idea is intriguing. Why would Smith go back to vampires after I Am Legend? Didn’t he want to make a prequel to that one? Why would he go back to that time period, and try to re-tell a story about the “first murderer” in human history? Smith always plays the good guy that saves the day, so this would be interesting to see. Are they going to make us root for him (bad guy)? And what do vampires have to do with this tale? How are they going to incorporate vampires into this Biblical sibling tale? I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
What do you guys think?
I couldn’t believe when I first heard it… I am just finishing a second draft of a screenplay called “Children of Cain”, based on the very same ‘dark twist’… I feel like being ripped of the creative part of my soul… I mean – it’s my movie!
I Wonder if Abel will be 50 Cent or Snoop Dogg.
Well, the title and character remind me of old playstation game :)
Perhaps, indeed there is a twist, maybe after what he did to Abel, God punished Cain to be the oldest immortal vampire in the world, the grandfather of all living vampire. Some punishment….
There are three vampire legends dealing with the bible so this is not that far of a reach. The is the story of Lilith, Adams first wife. Lilith would not be submissive to Adam and was cast out of the garden. She is said to be the mother of all demons. Cain was cast out of the garden for killing Able and lying to god about it. Some story says that Cain was cursed to forever wander the earth, soulless. Some stories say Cain found Lilith and had children and those children were the demons. The poem Beowulf even mentions Cain as an ancestor of the demon Grendel. The third legend is that Judas was cursed to be the first vampire for betraying Jesus. This story makes a lot of sense because it explains the reasoning behind some of the legendary vampire weaknesses. Silver, because Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver and the cross, because it reminded Judas of his betrayal.
I think I’d prefer a movie based to the Judas story, but like someone already said, until we know more about the story or see set pieces or trailers it’s hard to form an opinion. The story itself isn’t a new one though.
Hah, Joe L: Was just gonna say “Someone’s been digging out their old White Wolf/ Vampire: the Masquerade” game books.
In the old V:tM game universe, all Vampires (referred to as ‘the Kindred’) were allegedly derived from Caine, cursed to an undead life by God for the murder of his sibling.
And I’m fairly positive that the White Wolf guys got THAT idea off of a previous story as well, though what it might have been eludes me.
Actually, I rather think that doing a new TV series or movies based on Vampire: The Masquerade would work well. The Fox series from years ago was hokey, and botched up the Vampire clans something awful. Done right, there’s potential in that there franchise.
Yeah, I think you’re right but I cant remember what the origin of the story is. I just remember it from V:tm game and book series.
If it was done right I think that V:tm would make a great tv series but I fear twilight has forever killed the chances of a decent vampire series.
i love will smith but this just sounds ridiculous…ill watch it anyway cause he is just that amazing.
sounds to me like they are taking a little bit of the story from
Vampire: The Masquerade
I thought this was Legacy of Kain for a second.
Me too for a moment there I was about to be “SAY WHAAT?!”. But it might another ploy to cash in the current Vampire fad in Hollywood right now. And I believe there is speculation out there and theories that not neccesarly Cain but Judas was the first vampire. I’m not sure how Cain will be about to be the first vampire/ murderer. But who knows, I think I will sit on the fence on this one for right now.
I totally thought that said Legacy of Kain as well and I had a total nerd gasm because that is hands down my favorite game story line of all time.
I could totally see someone making a cinematic Nosgoth and running with it. That story begs to be retold!
HA me too. I would love to see Raziel and Kain on the big screen.
Sounds to me like one of his in-laws wrote a script and Will feels he must help.
jaja that was funny Dave, made me laugh…
but it’s probably like Danny commented, right now Vampires = $$$$$$
lets wait a see what comes out of this…
cheers!
“How are they going to incorporate vampires into this Biblical sibling tale?”
Well depending on the fiction in question God turned Cain into the first vampire as punishment for killing Abel.
I get the feeling that this is a mix of wanting to cash in on the current vampire hype, wanting to get over I Am Legend (I never saw it myself but I’ve yet to hear a good thing about it), and show that he can play the enemy (because now that I think about it when has he every played the villain?).
I’d have to learn more before thinking if I would watch but I would like to learn more about it.
Really weird concept. I dont know what to think about this idea, I am intrigued but not sure I would see it at theater. I would see it as a home rental for sure.
The thing is, you do not know, nor could u ever know if you would ever know if you wanted to see a movie until the previews start comin out… at least. maybe some reviews, word of mouth etc. But just the concept? and a very vague concept at that? yea..ummm not enough.