GERMANY: Will Smith at Germany premiere of "Seven Pounds"

Record ID: 385499

  • Title: GERMANY: Will Smith at Germany premiere of "Seven Pounds"
  • Date: 8th January 2009
  • Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (JANUARY 6, 2008) (REUTERS) RED CARPET FOR SEVEN POUNDS GERMANY PREMIERE FANS BRANDISHING PHOTOGRAPHS OF WILL SMITH VARIOUS OF WILL SMITH SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS (SOUNDBITE) (English) WILL SMITH WHO PLAYS BEN THOMAS IN "SEVEN POUNDS", TELLING REPORTER WHAT HE WILL BE DOING ON PRESIDENT ELECT BARACK OBAMA'S INAUGURATION, SAYING "I will be there. I am going to t
  • Embargoed: 23rd January 2009 12:00
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  • Location: Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Reuters ID: LVADJK70Y8EKYE6BOB8QNER9C2NL
  • Story Text: Will Smith, recently voted 2008's top money-making star wowed German fans in Berlin on Tuesday (January 06) together with his co-star Rosario Dawson, introducing his latest movie "Seven Pounds".

    "Seven Pounds" is Smith's second collaboration with Italian director Gabriele Muccino whom he worked with in the hit movie "The Pursuit of Happyness", which earned Smith an Oscar nomination.
    In "Seven Pounds", Smith plays Ben Thomas, a supposed IRS agent who, seemingly at random, spies on various people to find out about the utmost intimate circumstances of life. It turns out that Thomas, who has actually assumed his brothers identity, harbours a dark secret, something he feels so guilty for the he goes to absolute extremes to atone for his actions.

    "This is a very different type of film for me and the first time that I have played a character that I did not agree with, which was whole new experience" Smith told Reuters of his role. "I loved Hancock: Everything that Hancock did, I was cool with that. Or Chris Gardner in "Pursuit of Happyness", all of that. But this is really the first time where I was struggling with comprehending and accepting the choices of a character."
    Smith also readily spoke of future projects, confirming that his son, Jaden, was set to play in remake of the 80s classic "Karate Kid". On rumours that Smith was preparing to play US president elect Barack Obama, the star jokingly replied: "It's the ears. When people see the ears they see that Barack and I, we have the same ears. That tends to make people see a potential for playing the role", Smith said smilingly. "But if there were a great script, I'd love to. He's written the fantastic ending to the first part of the story, so we'll see what happens", he said.
    Smith also told reporters that he was preparing to attend Obama's actual inauguration on January 20. "I will be there. I am going to the inauguration. As soon as I am leaving Europe I am going right into DC", Smith said.
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