Will Smith reveals how he was convinced to star in 'Men in Black': 'Steven Spielberg sent a helicopter for me'

Ayomikun Adekaiyero
·2 min read
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  • Will Smith said that he didn't initially want to star in "Men In Black."

  • He said the film's executive producer, Steven Spielberg, "sent a helicopter" to persuade Smith.

  • When the pair sat down to talk, Smith said Spielberg "had me at hello."

Will Smith said Steven Spielberg sent a helicopter for him, in order to convince Smith to star in the blockbuster movie "Men in Black."

Smith opened up about movie roles that he nearly turned down on the latest episode of Kevin Hart's "Hart to Heart" talk show Thursday.

Smith said that James Lassiter, the actor's former manager and longtime business partner, was "the arbiter of taste" and chose several roles that are now considered the highlights of the actor's career.

"In the heyday, the 10 movies I made at the top of my career, JL was choosing the films. He just had an eye," Smith said. "I didn't want to make 'Pursuit of Happyness.' I didn't want to make 'Ali.' And JL picked 'Men in Black.' I kind of understood 'Men in Black' a little bit but I didn't want to make 'Men in Black.'"

He continued: "That was the next year after 'Independence Day.' So I didn't want to make two alien movies back to back."

Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith standing across from Linda Fiorentino
(L-R) Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith, and Linda Fiorentino in "Men in Black."Columbia Pictures/Getty

Smith said that Spielberg, whose company Amblin produced the franchise, personally reached out to the actor in order to persuade him.

"Steven Spielberg sent a helicopter for me," the Oscar-winning actor said. "To talk to me. I was in New York. It landed at his house. And, like, he had me at hello."

Smith added: "And it was the first time I ever had lemonade with carbonated water. You can't say no to that."

"He said the coldest shit. He said 'Tell me why you don't want to make my movie...'" Smith recalled the conversation 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."'"

Smith went on to play the lead role of Agent J in three "Men in Black" movies.

Last year, he won the Academy Award for best actor for his role in "King Richard."

Read the original article on Insider