- Will Smith has been talking about possibly reprising his role
- Hancock was a superhero film with a difference released in 2008
- Smith has talked about Zendaya being approached for a role
In keeping with the trend of films getting a sequel many years after the first, Will Smith has spoken about making Hancock 2 – the superhero last seen in 2008.
Smith appeared on xQc’s live stream on Twitch, and took some fan questions, including about Hancock, and revealed the possibility of a sequel.
This isn’t the first time a sequel has been mentioned. It was first talked about in 2009, and again in 2012 when director Peter Berg said that it was a question of timing to get the movie under way.
However, since then, the trail has gone largely cold on a sequel. Smith has been busy making other movies – including reinvigorating the Bad Boys franchise, with a fifth instalment already being discussed – and other things such as pandemics and strikes have got in the way of many projects.
What was Hancock about?
Hancock was released in 2008 but was not your average superhero movie. John Hancock was an amnesiac, alcoholic, reckless superhero trying to remember his past. His powers included flight, super-strength and invulnerability. However, due to his recklessness, drunkenness and general rudeness, he is shunned and ridiculed by the public as his attempts at heroism often go awry.
However, when he rescues a PR specialist, Ray Embrey, the latter comes up with a plan to improve Hancock’s public image. This proves difficult – not helped by the appearance of another superhero nor a group of criminals looking for revenge – but not impossible.
The movie was successful too, grossing $629.4 million at the global box office, making it the fourth highest grossing film of the year.
What has Will Smith said?
“There’s a really cool Hancock 2 idea,” Smith said. “We haven’t even talked about it.”
So while it sounds like Hancock 2 is in the very early stages of development – if that – there are already moves to bring one of Hollywood’s hottest properties on board. “Zendaya [is] being approached for a role in Hancock 2,” Smith added.
Who could be in Hancock 2
While Smith is on board, and Zendaya is a possibility, it isn’t known if any other stars from the first film may reprise their roles.
Back in 2020, Charlize Theron said that she would be open to reprising her role in a sequel. Talking to ComicBook, she said there had been talks – although nothing recently – but if the opportunity came up, she would “do it in a heartbeat.”
It isn’t known if other stars from the original movie, such as Eddie Marsan and Jason Bateman would be up for returning.
Currently it seems that the project is at an early stage, but where there’s a Will, there’s a way.
