Will Smith is in very, very early discussions to headline 20th Century Fox’s Fantastic Voyage, says a story at The Hollywood Reporter. If he or another A-lister doesn’t sign on, though, director Shawn Levy may depart the long-gestating sci-fi project.
Set to be produced by James Cameron and to make use of the same 3D technology he used for Avatar, Fantastic Voyage is about a scientist who is dying of a blood clot. His only chance for survival is for five scientist colleagues to be miniaturized in a ship, and injected into his bloodstream.
The film is a remake of the 1966 original, directed by Richard Fleischer and starring Raquel Welch and Donald Pleasence. Shane Salerno wrote the script for the new version, which is being polished by Laeta Kalogridis.
Levy’s continued involvement in the project is said to hinge on whether he can secure the star power he’s after. It is currently unclear whether the attempt to court Smith means that the previously rumored Hugh Jackman (who Levy teams with for his next, Real Steel) is no longer planning to star.
At the moment, Smith’s connection to the project appears to be nascent at best and only time will tell if he’s interested. Next summer marks his return to the big screen in Men in Black III, which is his first acting project since 2008’s Seven Pounds.
(Photo Credit: WENN.com)
