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Being an actor is not just about making sure your character comes across as convincing and authentic as possible, it is also about choosing the right role. Moreover, an actor must know the roles that they will fit into instead of trying to push boundaries. While pushing boundaries is a good thing, not every time leads to success and an actor must know when and when not to take the leap of faith.
However, sometimes this fear holds actors back from taking roles that eventually go on to become one of their most famous ones. This is what happened with Will Smith when he was first contacted forMen in Black. However, the Oscar-winner wasn’t alone in thinking so, for there is another actor who had to be convinced by Steven Spielberg to take the chance.
Steven Spielberg had to convince this Oscar-winner to take a leap of faith
Steven Spielbergis one of the most prolific filmmakers in the entertainment industry today and so when he advises you to do something, you have to say yes for it might potentially end up being the best for your career. This is what Will Smith discovered after he said yes toMen in Black.
But Spielberg didn’t only convince Smith for one of his most famous roles but also another Oscar-winner for a role that might end up opening new doors for him: Ke Huy Quan for the action-fuelled comedyLove Hurts.
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After starring inEverything Everywhere All At Once, Quan was worried that he might disappoint fans and critics with his future roles. However, Spielberg convinced him to take on the project (viaEmpire Online).
I was at an event with Steven Spielberg and he was asking me, ‘Ke, how are you doing?’ I said, ‘Steven, I’m not doing so well.’ Because of all the love and support that I had gotten during that whole award season, I was so worried that whatever I was going to do next, I would disappoint.
Quan then added that his former director was very generous and took him on lunch where they discussed the details of the film. Eventually, Quan understood thatLove Hurtsdid not fit in theconventional action hero typefilm but rather was an action film that was different from anything audiences have ever seen. Hence, after rejectingLove Hurtsthree times, he ultimately said yes, all thanks to Spielberg.
The unusual way Steven Spielberg convinced Will Smith forMen in Black
Will Smith, last year on Kevin Hart’sHart to Heart Showrevealed several shocking things including how he was reluctant to do some of his most famous roles. Crediting his former manager James Lassiter for taking films likeThe Pursuit of HappynessandAli, Smith revealed that he did not want to doMen in Blackeither.
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Having just made Independence Day, the actor was reluctant to make another alien movie. So while Lassiter picked the film, it was Steven Spielberg (executive producer onMen in Black) who personally contacted him and convinced him.
Steven Spielberg sent a helicopter for me. I was in New York. To talk to me…. It landed at his house. And he had me at hello…. And it was the first time I ever had lemonade with carbonated water. You can’t say no to that.
The actor then quipped how eloquent Spielberg was in his pitch.
He said the coldest shit. He said, ‘Tell me, tell me why you don’t want to make my movie. And he was the producer…. And he put the ellipsis at the end, it was the dot, dot, dot…. If he had continued, he would have said, ‘Joker, you know I made Jaws, right? You know I made E.T.’
Well, that was enough for Smith to agree to star as Agent J in the threeMen in Blackfilms alongside Tommy Lee Jones. Today, while Smith has had some of the finest and broad-range filmography, his role in the franchise remains a favorite of millions of fans across the world.
Love Hurtswill hit the theatres on July 30, 2025, while Will Smith’sMen in Blackfilms can be streamed on Amazon Prime.
Maria Sultan
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2703
Maria Sultan is a dedicated News Content Writer at FandomWire. With over five years of professional experience and hundreds of published articles, she brings a wealth of expertise to her coverage of Marvel, K-dramas, and the latest on streaming platforms.Her work is not just about reporting news; it’s about providing insightful perspectives on the entertainment trends that matter most.
