Uncut Diamonds

Rumors are swirling that Will Smith, seemingly on the cusp of a comeback, is mulling over a sequel to “Hancock.” Do we need it? Perhaps not, but the current film industry’s resuscitation and revitalization of old projects is hardly surprising. So, now that we are here, what do we know about this rumored sequel?

Addressing The Rumor

The idea of a sequel to “Hancock” has been floating around for decades. The first mention of a remake reportedly happened in 2012 when director Peter Berg confidently discussed the possibility of a sequel. According to EW, Berg said,

“We’ve been discussing the sequel among ourselves—Will Smith, producers Michael Mann and Akiva Goldsman, and me. We’re all interested, but coordinating our schedules has been challenging. Last year, we held several meetings and began developing a sequel idea that came from Will Smith—so I believe it will happen; it’s just a matter of timing.”

However, that timing was never finalized. And there was little news about the sequel until now. It’s 2025; the idea of the project is once again on the table. This time Smith has directly remarked on the possibility.

Charlize Theron on Hancock Sequel

For those curious about whether Smith’s co-star Charlize Theron would return if given the opportunity, the answer is yes, at least as of 2020. According to a 2020 article by Comic Book Resources, Theron remarked,

“You know, for a while we discussed making a sequel. The discussion primarily took place during the movie’s release, not in more recent times. We’ll be superheroes with our walkers, you know. And I’ll still go! I’d still make that movie; I would do it without hesitation.”

On Hancock

“Hancock” “debuted in 2008, a notable year for cinema. That year saw the release of films such as ‘The Dark Knight,” “Iron Man,” “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, “Twilight,” “The Incredible Hulk,” “Juno,” “Tropic Thunder,” “I Am Legend,” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” among others. “Hancock” achieved significant success, ranking fourth in box office earnings for the year.

“Hancock” tells the story of a man going through tough times. Yet, he wasn’t an ordinary man; he was a superhero whose hardships had made him indifferent. He was both unfortunate and careless. As the narrative progresses, he rediscovers his purpose and reverts to his predestined role as a hero, before his life spirals into chaos. A more detailed premise of the story states that Hancock, a superhero, regularly causes damage in the millions due to his ill-considered behavior. He changes when the person he saves helps him improve his public image.”

Comeback or Misstep

It’s been almost two decades since the film came out, which reduces the likelihood of success for a sequel because the younger generation probably hasn’t seen it. While Hancock performed well at the box office, it wasn’t a huge blockbuster. Newer audiences usually don’t revisit films just because they initially did well. We aren’t sure about the plot of the potential sequel, but as it’s a sequel, it would ideally continue the story from where the 2008 release concluded.

This suggests that “Hancock 2” will probably aim to attract the same core audience as the first movie. However, the original film came out so long ago that many people have forgotten its plot and lost interest. To regain their attention, it would be necessary to rekindle or recreate that interest somehow. In today’s world, where attention spans are short and commitment levels are low, achieving this is a significant challenge, especially for a movie that wasn’t a huge hit initially. Without audience investment, there is no engagement and nothing to keep fans interested. If the original fan base is not keen on seeing how the story ends, the project is likely to fail. To assess if there is still an interest, one must examine the factors that originally engaged the audience.

Aged Like Fine Wine or Stale Bread

Multiple factors contributed to the film’s success in 2008, but they might not be present in 2025. When the movie first came out, it featured very few people of color in leading superhero roles. Although diversity hasn’t skyrocketed, it has certainly increased. We’ve seen actors like Chadwick Boseman and now Anthony Mackie stepping into superhero roles. So, what fresh appeal could Will Smith offer as a superhero lead today? Since Hancock, Smith has played another superhero in “The Suicide Squad,” which didn’t particularly boost his career or make audiences eager to see him in a similar role again.

Back in 2008, Charlize Theron and Will Smith were significant box-office attractions. While they still hold some allure for studios, they no longer possess the “A” list clout they once had, where their names alone could guarantee a film’s success and encourage studios to take risks. Their star power has diminished somewhat. Considerable excitement would be needed to see them rejuvenate the story. That’s why adding Zendaya to the mix is crucial. As a current “A” list actor, her involvement brings automatic appeal, thanks to her established fan base, making the project less risky.

On the Bright Side

“Hancock” “is a superhero movie. There’s a portion of the population that loves superhero films, so there’s an audience for it. The same goes for fans who consistently support Will Smith in his endeavors. However, given the current information, it’s likely that this film won’t be financially successful.

It seems that this project is something that actor Smith is deeply committed to, as he wants to see it through to completion. This appears to be more of Smith’s personal passion than anyone else’s, which makes sense. Otherwise, he might be better off developing an entirely new concept or film with fresh characters rather than revisiting old ones. Ideally, continuing the story when it was still new would have been perfect when fans were eager for more. However, situations change, and sometimes it’s wiser to move on. As many moviegoers have observed, it seems more challenging for people to let go than to attempt to create something equally innovative and entertaining. This is truly unfortunate.

The Stale Bread Effect in Hollywood: Are We Settling

Stale bread isn’t something people typically crave. However, if it’s the only option for someone hungry, they’ll accept it and eventually learn to appreciate it. Just because something less appealing becomes familiar doesn’t mean the desire for something better vanishes. It simply indicates a certain level of acceptance. This is like remakes, adaptations, and sequels. When there isn’t much else to pique interest, people tolerate and even appreciate them, but they are rarely the first choice. When stale bread becomes too prevalent, producers and production companies misinterpret tolerance as demand. Increased tolerance and acceptance, shown by box office earnings, suggest that people want to keep seeing this kind of film. But toleration isn’t the same as desire or demand. Can you recall any point in history when people clamored for stale bread?

Does the revival of “Hancock 2” peak your interest?