The bad boys are back, Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, for the third installment of the popular franchise that was a hit in 1995 and 2003. The movies have grossed over $400 million worldwide and have included Gabrielle Union and Theresa Randle.  According to The Hollywood Reporter:

Columbia Pictures is developing a third installment of the high-octane “Bad Boys” franchise, tapping Peter Craig to pen the screenplay.

The hope is to have a script that would reunite director Michael Bay, producer Jerry Bruckheimer and stars Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. At this point, with the project in the early stages, none has a deal to return.

As of now, there is just a “hope,” but I can’t imagine Bad Boys without Will Smith or Martin Lawrence.  I am sure those will be some harder salaries to match.  I just hope Martin doesn’t forget the Wanda and Sheneneh movie!

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A new article by The Los Angeles Times explains how even A-list actors are taking a deep pay cut from their ritzy salaries.  Once upon a time, Denzel Washington was paid $20 million per flick, but after re-signing up for Unstoppable, those digits were slashed to an undisclosed number.  Oscar winner Julia Roberts refused to take a paycut for The Proposal so the studio hired Sandra Bullock.  However, Will Smith’s paycheck isn’t suffering.

For basically everyone except Will Smith, salary quotes have evaporated, simply vanishing into thin air, as have the much-coveted first-dollar gross deals that top actors and filmmakers used to get. As one successful producer put it: “Quotes and first-dollar gross have just flown out the window — the studios simply won’t make those deals anymore,” he explained. “It’s all about what the role is worth in that particular movie. The studio pays for the lead actor or actress, but after that, well, the talent is just getting grinded. Everyone else is lucky to be working.”

Well, if actors are going from 20 to 10 million or 10 to 5 million — that doesn’t sound like too much suffering to me.

Do you think Hollywood should take a pay cut or are the actors already getting paid too much?

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Remember almost twenty years ago when Will Smith was just a television star?  You know, on that show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.  Well, his television mom, actress Janet Hubert who played Aunt Vivian, is releasing a book and is blasting the Oscar nominee.  She frames him as selfish, afraid of competition and part of the reason why she was replaced — the running story had always been she left the show due to pregnancy. The memoir, Perfection Is Not A Sitcom Mom, is to be released in early 2010 and Black Voices received an excerpt.

“Smith had people around him who made sure no one outshone him. I was happy to see Don Cheadle become the quality actor that he is, and often wondered how he made it past one episode, as Hilary’s boyfriend, being such a fierce actor. No one could be on ‘The Tonight Show,’ that first season, except Will. And I mean no one.”

“I recall the lovely and incredibly talented Countess Vaughn coming to guest star. Oh my God! The day of table read, she was pee-in-your-pants funny. The writers were howling, we were howling, so I knew she was history – banished into the cornfield. Many years later, after she had her own show, I had to tell her when she asked me why. ‘Miss Janet why did I get cut from the episode,’ she asked? Simply, my darling, you were too good.”

She also goes into detail how they fired her and how it nearly ruined  her career and life.

Well, I’m not doubting Hubert’s story, the entertainment industry is vicious. However, I do recall when Aunt Viv was replaced that fans were disappointed and wanted the original Viv back.  Why would they fire her if she was so popular?  So is she saying the reason why she was fired is because she was too talented?  It should be noted, she doesn’t directly say Smith was responsible for her being fired.

I guess we will have to wait until 2010 for the answer…

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Last week Denzel Washington told MTV that he is working alongside Will Smith to star in a comedy. Apparently, the two will be the lead, which 100% equals box office mega-billions. Washington, who is a two-time Oscar winner has done very little comedy in his epic career. Washington revealed that he tried some improvisation in London and it was successful — now that I would’ve loved to have seen!

Times they are changing – I can remember just a few years ago Black actors saying it’s rare you will have two lead Black actors in one movie — the belief is they will need one White actor for the movie to sell (think John Travolta in Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, Dakota Fanning in The Secret Life of Bees, etc.). Ever wondered why you’ve never seen Halle and Denzel in a movie? Will Smith and Queen Latifah? So, to hear about this coming up is huge progress for Hollywood. Watch the video below to see what Washington said to MTV’s Josh Horowitz.

You may have heard rumblings of Will Smith doing a remake of the ’80’s classic The Karate Kid. Well, now it’s official – Taraji P. Henson told MTV that she is starring in the remake, along with Jaden Smith — Henson will play his mother. The original 1984 Karate Kid was a media sensation, making Ralph Macchio a star and grossing over 90 million at the box office.

Published reports claim the movie will be renamed The Kung Fu Kid. Here is what Henson told MTV:

A new actor has signed on to star alongside Smith’s son and she’s a red-hot Oscar nominee coming off “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.”

“I’m off to Beijing [soon] to work on a film,” actress Taraji P. Henson revealed to us Sunday afternoon on the red carpet of the MTV Movie Awards. “They’re remaking ‘The Karate Kid.’”

Jackie Chan is also in talks to be part of the project.

Gotta love Taraji, she is steadily working. According to IMDB.com, she has several films in the works: Hurricane Season (Forest Whitaker, Lil’ Wayne), I Can Do Bad All by Myself (Tyler Perry, Mary J. Blige), Peep World (Sarah Silverman) and now The Karate Kid.

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When Big Willie says he wants a role — Hollywood better pause. The Black James Bond role has been floating around for the past few months with Diddy and Jamie Foxx’s name in the mix. Now, the #1 man in Hollywood says he wants the role.

In a recent interview Jada’s old man said, “Puff probably lives the most like James Bond and Jamie Foxx got the swagger for James Bond. He can sing too, so he can add a new element to Bond, wooing the ladies. But I think I can guarantee the box office!”

Without a doubt, Smith can guarantee the box office. However, Idris Elba recently said he thought he should have the role because Bond is British. Honestly, I would rather see an actor on the up and coming land the Bond character versus someone who is already a massive moviestar. Traditionally, playing James Bond made someone a superstar. You gotta love Will Smith — but give the up and coming folks a chance!

Do you see Will Smith as James Bond?

The MTV Movie Awards is doing their first round of voting over at MTV.com for potential nominees. Out of thirty potentials, you vote for your fave to be the actual nominees, which will be announced on May 4th.

Taraji P. Henson is up for best actress in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Will Smith for Hancock and Vin Diesel for Fast & Furious are potentials for best actor.  Notorious is still getting love, Anthony Mackie and Jamal Woolard are both possibilities in the breakthrough performance male category — along with Brandon T. Jackson in Tropic Thunder. Plus, you can’t forget about Samuel L. Jackson, who is a three time MTV Movie Award nominee, can be voted for twice in the category of best villain for either Lakeview Terrace or The Spirit.

Click here to cast your vote!

The MTV Movie Awards airs Sunday, May 31st live at 9pm.

In an interview with NPR, Jada Pinkett Smith opened up about the rumors that have surrounded her nearly 12 year marriage with Will Smith. One, is that her and Will Smith have an “open” marriage and that they are secretly gay. Jada says as clear as humanly possible, “I don’t have an open marriage, No, we’re not gay — and you don’t trust that? Well then there’s nothing that I really have to say to anybody about anything, because at the end of the day, I’m living my life, and I’m happy.”

Then, to add even more clarity she axes out that she practices Scientology, the religion that is widely popularized by Tom Cruise.  She says she is not teaching Scientology in her new school even though the school practices the L. Ron Hubbard method, who is the founder of Scientology.  Jada said many schools in Los Angeles teach this method.  She stresses Scientology is not taught in the school, and she or Will have no desire to teach Scientology. Just to make things crystal clear, the Matrix diva reiterated, “Our school is not and I repeat – NOT – a Scientology school.”

Jada Pinkett Smith is returning to television for the TNT drama Hawthorne, in which she is the star and Executive Producer.

Click here to listen to the full interview from NPR.

Well, the year is officially over.  2008 has been a quiet year for African-Americans in film.  Last year we had The Great Debaters, American Gangster, Talk to Me — however, this year there were very films telling stories about African-American life.  Still, you can’t ignore the performances, whether heavy and emotional or fun and fashionable.  Here are the best performances from African-American actors in 2008:

10. Will Smith in Seven Pounds

While not the best film, Smith still gave a great performance.  If anything was right about Seven Pounds, it was Will Smith.

9. Jada Pinkett Smith in The Women

Okay, I know The Women was an awful movie.  Nonetheless, it was Jada’s character that gave the film some life.  She played a lesbian, which was not in the original movie and managed to add some soul to a drab cast and trite script.  Jada makes anything look good.

8. Jennifer Hudson in Sex and the City

J-Hud beat out Kelly Rowland for this role and while some criticized her for taking a supporting role after winning an Oscar, this was a good look.  She played the role of Louise, who was Carrie Bradshaw’s assistant.

7.  Brandon T. Jackson in Tropic Thunder

Jackson held his own with comedic legends like Ben Stiller and Robert Downey, Jr. Tropic Thunder wasn’t without its controversy (Downey playing a white guy who is playing black), Jackson’s character said everything black audiences were thinking.  Hopefully we will see more from Jackson in the not so distant future.

6. Douglas Silva in City of Men

Douglas Silva is a Brazilian actor who starred in the critically acclaimed City of God and the television series City of Men.  City of Men the film was released in the U.S. this year, which tells the story of Acerola (Silva) and his best friend turning eighteen.  A drug war breaks out and the two friends are tested beyond their limits.

5. Thandie Newton in Rocknrolla

The always stunning Newton gave a sizzling performance as the sassy and edgy Stella in Guy Ritchie’s Rocknrolla.  The Brit action-comedy revolves around clumsy criminals trying to get rich quick.

4. Sophie Okonedo in Secret Life of Bees

Okonedo is another underrated actress and her brilliance is hard to deny in any film.  She was the standout in Secret Life of Bees, holding her own among Grammy and Oscar winners.

3. Viola Davis in Doubt

Davis has been in film and television for over ten years and is just getting the attention she deserves.  Her performance in Doubt has already earned her a Golden Globe nomination and an Oscar nod is a strong possibility.

2. Taraji P. Henson in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Taraji P. Henson might possibly be the next Halle Berry. She has grown from her days in 2001’s Baby Boy.  Now, she is getting recognition across the world for her performance as Queenie in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Henson received a SAG nomination and might battle out the Oscar with Viola Davis.

1. Jeffrey Wright in Cadillac Records

Littered with mixed reviews, Cadillac Records wasn’t the smash hit everyone hoped for. Whatever the case, you can’t ignore Wright’s performance as the legendary Muddy Waters.  Nearly every review praised his skills and he definitely has a bright future in Hollywood. If Cadillac Records would’ve been better written and executed, Wright would’ve had the year Jamie Foxx had with 2005’s Ray.

See you in the ‘09!

Summary: An emotionally distraught man tries to redeem his life by doing extreme good deeds for strangers.

Review: The good, Will Smith is a brilliant actor.  The bad, Seven Pounds isn’t nearly as brilliant as Will Smith.  Seven Pounds is one of those oddball movies that have all of the elements of a stellar film — high budget, amazing cast, and a talented director (Gabriele Muccino who directed Smith’s Oscar-nominated role in Pursuit of Happyness).  However, even with its lofty symbolism of jellyfish, health issues, and sibling drama — the pounds just don’t quite add up.

Currently, Seven Pounds is thriving off its mystery, which might be the biggest flaw.  Marketing the “mystery” of Seven Pounds sets the viewer up for a completely different experience and will leave some disappointed.  Imagine going to see Soul Plane and you thought it was a story about the Tuskegee Airmen! Read the rest of this entry »