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Remember Will Smith and M. Night Shyamalan’s setback with After Earth? Set in a post-apocalyptic backdrop, the movie received a flood of negative reviews from critics with some even calling it the ‘worst movie ever made.’ However, apart from the sci-elements, the movie largely featured a heartwarming father-son relationship where Will Smith’s son Jaden Smith assumed the role of his on-screen son.
When looked at closely, it appears thatAfter Earthwas a considerable shift from Shyamlan’s usual mind-bending thrillers. Straying away from his signature style, the movie was set in a futuristic landscape.
READ MORE:“I’m going to do it better than my father did”: Will Smith Promised He’d Not Let His Family Fall Apart Until Jaden Smith Demanded Emancipation
M. Night Shyamalan revealed that Will Smith pitched the idea for his son Jaden Smith
During his interview withTelegraph,M. Night Shyamalanrevealed that the idea for the 2013 movieAfter Earthemerged during a birthday call fromWill Smith. He revealed that thePursuit of Happynessactor was concerned about his son Jaden Smith’s acting career and decided to share his idea with him.Jaden Smith, who previously worked in the underwhelming 2010 remake ofThe Karate Kidwas in the early stages of his acting career.
During their conversation, Smith presented a concise overview of the story, asking Shyamalan to direct it. And intrigued by the role reversals – where a son is burdened with the responsibility to save his father, the filmmaker agreed to take on the project.
“He called me for my birthday and we talked about his son Jaden’s acting career and then he said, ‘I have this idea. And he pitched me a 45-second version of a story that just clicked with me.I loved the idea of the traditional roles flipping and the boy having to save his father, and I just said, ‘I’ll make the movie. I committed there and then. Will thought I was joking but then he said he had originally intended it as a project just for Jaden but if I directed it he would play the father. ”
However, unfortunately,After Earthfailed to match Shyamalan and Smith’s hopes, garnering around $244 million against a $130 million budget. Deterred by the movie’s underwhelming performance, Smith began to employ a shift in his artistic choices, exploring more roles that he found to be challenging. But the failure of the film had a deep impact on the actor.
READ MORE:“It makes you miserable”: Despite Having the Best Year of his Life, Will Smith Regretted Pushing Son, Jaden Smith into Movies
Will Smith consideredAfter Earthto be the greatest failure of his life
After Earthis not the first Will Smith movie to witness a setback. Prior to this, Smith’sWild Wild Westwas also unsuccessful at the box office. However, Smith considersAfter Earthto be his biggest failure, considering it was his idea to involve his son Jaden Smith in it.
“Wild Wild West was less painful than After Earth because my son was involved in After Earth, and I led him into it. That was excruciating.”
Furthermore, while talking about how his grandmother used to tell him that one should never let success get into the head and failure into the heart, Will Smith revealed that it was this lesson that helped him through the tough time.
“That was a valuable lesson for me a few years ago with After Earth. That was the most painful failure in my career.”
READ MORE:“I think we’ve lost ourselves”: Jaden Smith, Avid User of Psychedelics, Doesn’t Believe in Education System
Apart from this, Smith revealed how painful it was for him to witness the backlash received by his son after the release of the film. During the conversation, he also reflected on Jaden’s ‘public mauling’ and his fallout with his son who even considered emancipation due to the scrutiny. The actor acknowledged how his teenage son might have felt a sense of betrayal and lack of trust in his father’s leadership.
Source:Esquire
Devyani Sharma
Articles Published :288
With a portfolio of over 600 articles, Devyani Sharma is a freelance writer working in the Entertainment and Sports niche. With a Master’s Degree in English literature, Devyani places great importance on the power of words and their ability to connect with readers. When not busy watching sci-fi movies, action thrillers and comedies, Devyani indulges in her love for fiction novels and writing about NASCAR races.
