JAPAN: Will Smith and Charlize Theron premier their latest film "Hancock" in Japan

Record ID: 465043

  • Title: JAPAN: Will Smith and Charlize Theron premier their latest film "Hancock" in Japan
  • Date: 27th August 2008
  • Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (AUGUST 21, 2008) (REUTERS) FANS CHEERING AS WILL SMITH AND CHARLIZE THERON WALKING ON A RED CARPET VARIOUS OF WILL SMITH SIGNING HIS AUTOGRAPHS FANS WAITING SMITH SHAKING HANDS WITH FANS VARIOUS OF CHARLIZE THERON SIGNING HER AUTOGRAPHS FOR FANS FAN HOLDING UP POSTER OF CHARLIZE THERON CHARLIZE THERON TAKING A PHOTOGRAPH OF HERSELF WITH FAN FANS HOLDING OUT PAPERS AND REQUESTING AUTOGRAPH OF SMITH SMITH SIGNING HIS AUTOGRAPHS SMITH AND THERON ARRIVING AT A STAGE SMITH GREETING IN JAPANESE AND SENDING OFF OTHER STAFF (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese and English) CHARLIZE THERON SAYING: "Hello, Hancock. Everyone, please watch this movie. Hancock good ! " SMITH AND THERON SLAPPING HIGH FIVE (SOUNDBITE) (English) WILL SMITH SAYING: "This film has been very successful around the world and we just wanted to come Tokyo saving the best for last." MONGOLIAN SUMO GRAND CHAMPION ASASHORYU WALKING ON A STAGE AND HUGGING WITH WILL SMITH THERON SHAKING HANDS WITH ASASHORYU (SOUNDBITE) (English) WILL SMITH SAYING: "I-- pretty much that much alcohol (indicating with hand gesture), I am done. I think I have an allergy because I should be able to drink more but I do not drink a lot cause I start acting stupid." THERON, SMITH AND ASASHORYU ON STAGE (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHARLIZE THERON SAYING: "Why don't you guys fight over me ?" (SOUNDBITE) (English) WILL SMITH SAYING: "That is not funny." (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHARLIZE THERON SAYING: "Fight, Fight, Fight." (SOUNDBITE) (English) WILL SMITH SAYING: "Get me beat up in front of world of cameras." (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHARLIZE THERON SAYING: "Yes." SMITH, THERON AND ASASHORYU POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS
  • Embargoed: 11th September 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Reuters ID: LVAE4Y1S7LDWVSWJE8MRYGUO5X93
  • Story Text: Will Smith and Charlize Theron walk on a red carpet for their latest film,
    "Hancock" in Tokyo.
    Will Smith was joined by co-star Charlize Theron Thursday evening (August 20) for the red carpet premiere of his latest film, 'Hancock,' in which he plays a "has-been" superhero despised by the public.
    Mongolian Sumo grand champion Asashoryu also participated in the premiere while thousands of Japanese fans gathered around a red carpet to get a glimpse of their favourite Hollywood stars.
    Will Smith, the closest thing to a sure bet in Hollywood these days, flew to the top of the worldwide box office with his critically mauled superhero saga 'Hancock,' which sold an estimated more than 185 million US dollars worth of tickets, according to the Sony Corp-owned studio.
    Moviegoers in the United States and Canada contributed 107.3 million USD in the six days since the film opened in July, and the film racked up an additional 78 million dollars in 50 territories. Columbia said the film opened at No. 1 in 47 of those 50 markets, including Britain, Germany, Australia, Brazil and South Korea.

    "This film has been very successful around the world and we just wanted to come Tokyo saving the best for last," Will Smith greeted Japanese fans during his speech at the premier.
    This is Smith's ninth Japan visit.

    "Hello, Hancock. Everyone, please watch this movie. Hancock good," Charlize Theron added in mix of Japanese and English.
    'Hancock' ranks as Smith's eighth-consecutive chart-topper, and his 12th overall.
    Smith, 39, a one-time rapper famed for his gung-ho performances, ventures into edgier territory with 'Hancock.' His slovenly character's messy crime-busting efforts cause more problems than they solve, and he enlists a public relations man, played by Jason Bateman of 'Arrested Development', to help restore his reputation with the displeased citizenry of Los Angeles.
    While Smith plays a drunken crime-fighter in the comedy-drama, he said , in real life, that he has a low tolerance for alcohol.

    "Pretty much that much alcohol, I am done," he said, indicating a tiny amount. "I think I have an allergy because I should be able to drink more but I do not drink a lot cause I start acting stupid."
    Charlize Theron, who plays Bateman's wife, bewildered Smith a little when she was asked about who between Smith and Asashoryu, the grand champion of Sumo, was more her type of man.

    "Why don't you guys fight over me ?" she said.

    "That is not funny, get me beat up in front of world of cameras ?," Smith joked.
    Smith has dominated box office at the July 4 holiday weekend five times, beginning with 1996's 'Independence Day,' the biggest movie of his career. Adjusted for ticket-price inflation, the 'Hancock' opening ranks at No. 3 among those offerings, according to tracking firm Box Office Mojo.
    'Hancock' opens throughout Japan on August 30.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register