Will Smith was once approached to do an action flick with Gene Hackman for a budget rate which he accepted to work with the veteran.

Will Smith Joined This 1998 Classic Only to Work With Gene Hackman Who Rejected the Movie Initially

Will Smith Joined This 1998 Classic Only to Work With Gene Hackman Who Rejected the Movie Initially - Netflix Junkie

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Ibadat Kaur is an entertainment writer at Netflix Junkie. Her love for Narcos &amp; Pedro Pascal is what brought her to the world of entertainment news. She has immense love for historical and investigative documentaries on people and cultural practices. If this was not enough, she was a blogger prior to keeping her step in the glitz and glamor of the entertainment world and covered culture and heritage while traveling across Central and South America. For Ibadat, writing has been her safe space, and she aims to pick up reviewing anthology formats like Black Mirror &amp; Criminal at Netflix Junkie. If you want an expert on comedy (dark and satire) psychology or travel, then Ibadat is your person. While you will mostly find her covering everything and anything from the world of entertainment, about her favorite celebrities, shows, and movies, Ibadat is an avid Schitt's Creek fan and loves the novel George Orwell’s 1984. And if not this, she will be seen actively backpacking for her next trip, petting her dog Raven, or studying the human condition (side-eye).

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Will Smith Joined This 1998 Classic Only to Work With Gene Hackman Who Rejected the Movie Initially - netflix-junkie

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In 1995, <a href="https://www.netflixjunkie.com/tag/will-smith/">Will Smith</a> burst onto the Hollywood scene as the endearing goofball through Bad Boys. The following year, he continued to captivate audiences with yet another blockbuster action comedy, Independence Day, and solidified his status as a Tinseltown favorite. Now, he harbored aspirations of embracing more profound roles alongside seasoned legends like Gene Hackman. At that point, Hackman, renowned for his portrayal of Lex Luthor in Superman, was a legendary veteran.
When destiny presented Smith with an opportunity to take on a leading role alongside him a couple of years later, the actor eagerly seized the moment and gifted the world this thriller. 
<h2>The captivating collaboration of Will Smith and Gene Hackman</h2>
The father of action flicks like Top Gun and Déjà Vu, Tony Scott, took on a rare political thriller, Enemy of the State in 1998. <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120660/trivia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">According to IMDB, he was set on casting</a> Gene Hackman in the flick alongside Smith. However, Hackman was reluctant to take on the project until Scott personally convinced him over a phone call. This, in turn, motivated Smith to accept it, despite certain reservations.
<figure id="attachment_100177" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-100177" style="width: 2560px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-100177 size-full lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" data-src="https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/imago0154369437h-scaled-e1680162265681.jpg" alt="Will Smith at Oscars" width="2560" height="1299" data-sizes="auto" data-srcset="https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/imago0154369437h-scaled-e1680162265681.jpg 2560w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/imago0154369437h-scaled-e1680162265681-300x152.jpg 300w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/imago0154369437h-scaled-e1680162265681-1024x520.jpg 1024w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/imago0154369437h-scaled-e1680162265681-768x390.jpg 768w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/imago0154369437h-scaled-e1680162265681-1536x779.jpg 1536w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/imago0154369437h-scaled-e1680162265681-2048x1039.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-100177" class="wp-caption-text">Credits: Imago</figcaption></figure>
Since the 55-year-old was high off of the success of Independence Day, he could have asked for a paycheck that made it worth his time. But he chose to do it at a bargain price just for the chance to work with the esteemed 2-time Academy Award winner, Hackman. Besides these two accolades, Hackman also had two BAFTA and Golden Globe awards to his name by then, which speak for his acting prowess. 
ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.netflixjunkie.com/hollywood-news-did-will-smith-ever-do-a-fish-tale-movie-here-is-the-lowdown-on-the-perfect-christmas-movie/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Did Will Smith Ever Do a Fish Tale Movie? Here Is the Lowdown on the Perfect Christmas Movie</a>
By landing Smith at a nominal amount, the flick was able to rake in large profits while leaving audiences impressed. 
<h2>How did Enemy of the State fare at the box office? </h2>
With a medium-sized budget of $90 million, Enemy of the State managed to pull in an impressive $250.8 million worth of worldwide sales. In the critics department, it was received mostly positively. It also carries a 71% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and 7.5 stars on IMDb, which was quite a feat considering the politically sensitive nature of the film. 
<div class="flex-video widescreen youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Enemy of the State (1998) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic Trailers" width="1170" height="658" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZjogdKObxrI?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<a href="https://www.netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-netflix-brings-the-most-famous-and-celebrated-movie-of-will-smith-for-worldwide-fans-of-the-oscar-winner/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The film was added to Netflix&#8217;s platform last year alongside other</a> popular works of Smith&#8217;s. Its narrative unfolds as a high-stakes mystery when a lawyer (Smith) unwittingly receives evidence of a political assassination and then becomes a target himself. It follows themes of privacy and power through government conspiracies about unethical surveillance. For those who love a Big Brother-esque dystopian thriller, this classic tale is a must-watch. 
ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.netflixjunkie.com/hollywood-news-throwback-to-will-smith-in-a-dress-how-the-aladdin-actor-took-marketing-to-a-whole-new-extent/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Throwback to Will Smith in a Dress: How the ‘Aladdin’ Actor Took Marketing to a Whole New Extent </a>
What do you think would have happened if Hackman hadn&#8217;t said yes to Enemy of the State? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA &#8211; MARCH 27: Will Smith attends the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on March 27, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images)

94th Annual Academy Awards &#8211; Red Carpet

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Ibadat Kaur, a Hollywood News writer at Netflix Junkie, has writ over 500+ copies on the latest updates of celebrities like Ryan Reynolds and Henry Cavill. Kaur also delves into sling form copies around the nuances of series. One example of this is her piece on Sex Education Season 4 where she talked about how the show turned a hated character like Aimee into one loved by many. Away from work, her time spent training her dog, Raven, keeps her going.

Ibadat Kaur

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Will Smith Joined This 1998 Classic Only to Work With Gene Hackman Who Rejected the Movie Initially

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