Big Willy is 'The Last Pharoah'

Now Filming - Monday September 8, 2008

Will Smith will stretch himself by starring in a historical action movie/drama about Taharqa, an Egypitian pharoah who fought Assyrian invaders.

We've seen him fight off alien invaders (several times), save a fledgling America, defeat robot hordes, become the Greatest and living as the last man on Earth, but now the Fresh Prince of Bel Air is set to play an Egyptian god-king.

Yes, Will Smith will star as Taharqa, an Egyptian pharoah who was revered as a hero after his armies fought and defeated the Assyrian forces of Esarhaddon from 677 B.C. onwards. He was a member of the Nubian dynasty, but his popularity waned after this great victory, and following several revolts, his forces were defeated by Assurbanipal, son of his previous nemesis, forcing him to flee for his life.

'Braveheart' writer Randall Wallace has been charged with the task of writing the script, adding to his ever-increasing workload that also includes the Jerry Bruckheimer-produced 'Killing Rommell'. To be honest, he seems to be a sensible choice for writing this film after his somewhat loose handling of historical accuracy in the Gibbo-directed William Wallace "biopic", as we are really having trouble getting our heads around the idea of Big Willy as a Pharoah. Will he go down the usual Americans-in-sword'n'sandal-flicks and affect a British accent? Can he affect a British accent? Who knows?

But after he tried (and made money, if not a great film) something different with 'Hancock', we will have to give Will the benefit of the doubt with this one.

Robin Harrison-Millan with Variety

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