This 2008 Will Smith Superhero Flick Started as an R-Rated Thriller — What Happened?

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Way back before “The Boys” took over our small screens with a bang, I found myself drawn to Will Smith‘s portrayal of Hancock on the big screen in 2008. He was far from the polished superheroes we’re used to; instead, he was a sloppy, drunken, and unkempt anti-hero, making even the boorish A-Train and The Deep seem like paragons of virtue. Despite its broad appeal and PG-13 rating, “Hancock” brought an edgy, dark, and hilarious twist to mainstream cinemas that summer, much like “The Boys.” You can still catch this unique gem on SYFY and the SYFY app!

Under the guidance of director Peter Berg, the movie titled “Hancock” doesn’t follow the typical pattern where only villains commit wrongdoings; instead, its main character, who is supposed to be the good guy, engages in a significant amount of misdeeds as he reluctantly saves the day. There’s an incredibly shocking scene involving Smith’s titular superhero forcefully pushing a prisoner’s head into another inmate’s backside, which, once you understand the film’s tone, seems like a fitting and inevitable action. It appears that John Hancock can’t avoid his own mistakes… but he will ensure that no one else steps up to create additional hurdles for him.

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Why Will Smith’s Hancock traded an original R rating for PG-13

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The homeless, intoxicated superhero portrayed by Smith raises concerns for every comic book enthusiast who ponders the potential downfalls of supernatural abilities. If invincibility means bullets can’t hurt you and flight is within your reach, if you can effortlessly lift colossal objects and are practically indestructible, doesn’t this power come with a risk of succumbing to listless despair – a feeling of growing resentment towards the monotony that eternal life may bring?

As a fan, I’d rephrase it this way: For over three millennia, Hancock has been living an immortal existence, possessing immense power over mere mortals. Yet, the appeal of such a life seems to fade after so many centuries. In an intriguing turn, Hancock takes its protagonist from a seemingly endless heroic rut and plunges him into a profound introspection. This transformation is facilitated by two key elements: first, it’s disclosed that Smith’s character has lost memories of his deeper past, and second, he crosses paths with Mary Embrey (played by Charlize Theron), a mysterious, immortal ally who uncovers the one weakness that could potentially ground his invincible powers permanently.

Despite its complex and somber storylines, Hancock didn’t suffer at the box office. With a PG-13 rating and a release on the Fourth of July weekend, it managed to earn an impressive $629 million globally and ranked as the fourth highest-grossing movie of 2008. However, a more ominous and mature superhero film – one that likely wouldn’t have achieved such box office success – was relegated to the unproduced pile of R-rated screenplays meant for adult audiences.

The movie we know as Hancock initially began as Tonight He Comes, a screen idea from Vy Vincent Ngo that dates back to the 1990s. Eventually, Ngo collaborated with Vince Gilligan, creator of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, on the final script for Hancock. Originally, Ngo had envisioned Smith’s mature superhero character as a 12-year-old super child. However, over the following decade, the story went through multiple studio-approved revisions, was pitched to various directors (including eventual co-producer Michael Mann), and underwent script changes to avoid not one, but two potential R ratings that could have hindered its box office performance.

In a different version of the movie “Hancock,” R-rated scenes might have made the overall mood even gloomier, potentially diminishing the humor that was easy to find amusing. For instance, a scene showing John Hancock drinking with a minor and a controversial one depicting sexual violence were major issues. Director Berg mentioned to The New York Times before the film’s release that they had cut out statutory rape scenes just three weeks prior to achieve the more family-friendly PG-13 rating.

In summary, the film “Hancock” manages to preserve its story’s weight without giving up much, largely due to Will Smith‘s intense and uncompromising performance. His character’s motivations are clear, leaving fewer questions for the audience about hidden darkness driving him. The movie’s success with a PG-13 rating has kept hopes alive for a sequel. Charlize Theron, Will Smith, and the director, Berg, have all expressed interest over time in revisiting John Hancock’s story further if there were to be a follow-up.

Interestingly, the discussions surrounding the sequel have remained lively in recent times. Smith himself hinted at a significant casting decision during a conversation with streamer xQc in February 2025. “There’s an incredibly exciting idea for Hancock 2, let me share a small tidbit – Zendaya is being considered for a role in the sequel,” Smith revealed (via Variety)).

If you’ve seen the original movie, Smith’s hint about Hancock 2 seems to spark a lot of exciting fan theories. Catch up on Hancock and plenty more fantastic sci-fi films by tuning in to SYFY and their app right now!

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2025-03-10 22:02