Will Smith almost turned down the opportunity to play Agent J in the popular sci-fi comedy “Men in Black,” but his decision changed when executive producer Steven Spielberg personally intervened. During an appearance on Kevin Hart’s “Hart to Heart” talk show, Smith, now 54 years old, reflected on his initial plan to reject the role due to not wanting to appear in another alien-themed movie after his success in “Independence Day.” However, his former manager, James Lassiter, who had significant influence over his career choices at the time, strongly urged him to take the part.
“In the height of my career, James was the one choosing the films for me,” explained the Academy Award winner. Despite his reservations, Smith trusted Lassiter’s judgment and ultimately accepted the role in “Men in Black.”
Smith explained, “I didn’t have a desire to make ‘Pursuit of Happyness’ or ‘Ali,’ but [James] chose ‘Men in Black’.”
Although Smith understood the concept of “Men in Black” to some extent, he did not want to make two consecutive alien-themed movies after “Independence Day.” However, Spielberg, whose company Amblin Entertainment was producing the film, took it upon himself to convince Smith otherwise. Upon learning about Smith’s reluctance, Spielberg even sent a helicopter to bring him to a meeting.
“Steven Spielberg sent a helicopter for me,” shared Smith. “I was in New York, and it landed at his house. And, like, he had me at hello.”
Smith humorously added, “And it was the first time I ever had lemonade with carbonated water. You can’t say no to that.”
Reflecting on their conversation, Smith recalled Spielberg’s straightforward approach. “He said the coldest s–t,” Smith remembered. “He said, ‘Tell me why you don’t want to make my movie…’ And he was the producer.”
After Spielberg’s convincing explanation, Smith agreed to take on the role, which turned out to be a global success and the start of a major movie franchise.
Following the original “Men in Black,” Smith reprised his role as Agent J in the sequels “Men in Black 2” in 2002 and “Men in Black 3” in 2012, alongside co-star Tommy Lee Jones as Agent K.
By reconsidering his decision and trusting Spielberg’s insight, Smith’s career took a significant turn, leading to his iconic portrayal of Agent J in the beloved “Men in Black” series.
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