Will Smith Remaking An ‘80s Comedy Classic
Will Smith is going to remake one of the best comedies of the '80s.
This article is more than 2 years old
Will Smith is teaming up with Kevin Hart to remake an ’80s comedy classic, Planes, Trains & Automobiles. Hart gave a little bit of insight into the project recently during an interview with Collider.
Hart and Bryan Smiley, President of Film and TV at HartBeat Productions that is owned by Hart, were interviewed about their upcoming project, Fatherhood. During it, the comedian was asked about his collaboration with Will Smith and their remake that is still in early stages of development.
As of now, it is a possibility. Will Smith is still on board with the idea, and the two are talking about where to take the story. The opportunity is open; they are taking the time to figure out what to do with the IP.
“The world of development is a long one and we know that the IP is there,” Hart said. “Everybody was willing to let us get into it, but we got to crack the code on what story is and what the world that we’ll make it in and how we can best make it fit Will and myself. Yes, but it’s… we’re a ways away from it.”
Regarding a script, it is in the works. We did not get much on it, but Smiley did confirm that it is in “deep development.”
The initial report about the remake came from Deadline last year. Paramount Pictures struck up the idea to remake the John Hughes classic with Kevin Hart and Will Smith. Hart’s Hartbeat Productions and Smith’s Westbrook Studios will produce the film with Westbrook Studios co-president and head of motion pictures Jon Mone. Marking her debut in writing, Brookly Nine-Nine producer Aeysha Carr will pen the script. Carr also recently produced Hulu’s original series Woke.
The original Planes, Trains & Automobiles was directed and written by John Hughes, who made a name for himself writing and directing hit films throughout the 80s with Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Breakfast Club, and Uncle Buck. His 1987 comedy starred Steve Martin and John Candy as the unlikely duo must travel together to make it home in time for Thanksgiving.
Not much is known about the plot of the remake. The two actors will be a disjointed team up to get home to their families in a modern setting, but not much else is made official on what to expect.
Outside of working with Will Smith, Hart is currently promoting his latest film, Fatherhood. Directed by Paul Weitz (About a Boy) and written by Weitz and Dana Stevens (Reckless), the comedy-drama’s story follows a man (Hart) who loses his wife the day after their child is born and he must try to raise his daughter as a single father. It is based on the memoir Two Kisses for Maddy: A Memoir of Loss and Love that follows author Matt Logelin for the first year of his daughter’s life after his wife dies. Alongside Hart, the film stars Alfre Woodard (12 Years a Slave), Lil Rel Howery (Get Out), and Melody Hurd (Them).
Will Smith starred in 2020’s Bad Boys for Life. He currently has a few projects in pre-production. Another Bad Boys is in the making, despite the last movie saying “one last time” as its catchphrase, along with a sequel to his 2017 Netflix film, Bright.
While it will take a while to see the collaboration between Kevin Hart and Will Smith, Fatherhood is available now on Netflix.
