Ale Posted November 9, 2009 Report Share Posted November 9, 2009 Two-time Academy Award nominee, Will Smith, may have found the project that will finally win him that elusive Oscar. According to our inside source, The Hollywood Cog, Smith is set to produce and star in Flowers for Algernon, a modern-day adaptation of the Daniel Keyes’ novel. The movie is being set up at Sony Pictures and Smith’s production company, Overbrook Entertainment, along with Polksy Films. Tracy Nyberg, an associate producer on Hancock and an assistant to Will Smith on I Am Legend, is also set to produce. Flowers for Algernon has been adapted several times since it was originally published in 1959, most famously Ralph Nelson’s Charly, which won Cliff Robertson an Academy Award in 1969. The short story (and the subsequent novel) is about Charlie, a mentally retarded man who is the first human test subject for an experimental surgery that artificially increases intelligence. The experiment had already been performed successfully on Algernon, a lab mouse. Charlie’s newfound intelligence (his IQ skyrockets from 68 to 185), however, comes at the cost of his ability to socialize normally, as he becomes increasingly alienated from those around him. Emotional consequences are involved when Charlie learns the truth of the experiment. The project seems ideal for Smith, who was nominated for an Oscar for his performances in Ali and Pursuit of Happyness. Smith will bring his populist appeal to yet another Oscar contender. Smith has several other projects currently in development, including an American remake of Oldboy, potential sequels to Hancock and I, Robot, in addition to a prequel to I Am Legend. No word on where Flowers for Algernon will fall into Smith’s filming schedule, but I’d expect the project to be fast-tracked, once a director comes aboard. And though no director has been announced, Smith’s Happyness and Seven Pounds collaborator, Gabriele Muccino, seems a likely candidate. http://www.pajiba.com/trade_news/will-smith-signs-onto-flowers-for-algernon.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radewart Posted November 9, 2009 Report Share Posted November 9, 2009 That's a bad idea, the role was done to perfection by Cliff Robertson already. You're not gonna win an oscar in a role that sombody already won an oscar for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyrano Posted November 11, 2009 Report Share Posted November 11, 2009 I`m agree with you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaxFly Posted November 13, 2009 Report Share Posted November 13, 2009 Flowers for Algernon is an excellent story, and it's a great idea for Will to do a film adaptation. Cliff Robertson won his Oscar in 1969... it is now 2009. That's 40 years, and 2 generations that likely aren't familiar with Robertson's depiction, which, unfortunately, is rather obscure anyway. I see no problem with Will making this film and I trust that he's not doing it, as the article suggests, to chase an Oscar, but rather because he loves the story and believes it can use a modern take. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bart5 Posted November 13, 2009 Report Share Posted November 13, 2009 Looks like FP will have his hands full for a good minute... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VIsqo Posted November 16, 2009 Report Share Posted November 16, 2009 Yes, but I dont see him doing anything yet.. I dont think all those projects are gonna come trhu.. For example, old boy is already old news... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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