Back when Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained was in pre productions there were numerous reports that Will Smith was in talks to take the lead role and was ready to kick some ass with Tarantino, Leo DiCpario and Christoph Waltz. So what happened, Big Will?

“I came really close, it was one of the most amazing screenplays I had ever ever seen. I was in the middle of ‘Men In Black 3‘ and [Tarantino] was ready to go, and I just couldn’t sit with him and get through the issues, so I didn’t want to hold him up. That thing’s going to be ridiculous. It is a genius screenplay.”

Smith told this to Empire recently. He also mentioned that he probably won’t be involved in I Am Legend, which is probably a good thing because it would make no sense at all. Anyway, there were reports that Smith dropped out because the content was too heavy for Smith, who normally lines himself up with wholesome entertainment.

Either Smith is being a politician and calling the questionable content “concerns” or he really just couldn’t get around to sitting down with Tarantino. He also had M Night Shyamalan’s After Earth to get rolling with his son Jaden Smith. Either way, Django Unchained with Smith would be a totally different beast than the Jamie Foxx version we’ll get. [Empire via Playlist]

django unchained, will smith