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'Gemini Man' could be the dawn of a new Willennium for Will Smith

Is a comeback on the cards for Will Smith? (credit: Getty Images)
Is a comeback on the cards for Will Smith? (credit: Getty Images)

Who am I? I’m a Will Smith fan. And the past five years or so have been pretty frustrating.

Concussion, Suicide Squad, Collateral Beauty, Bright. Smith did his best in all of them, but none were worthy of his considerable talents. And the vast majority were essentially unwatchable.

If you’re being harsh, you’d need to go all the way back to 2012’s Men In Black 3 for the last decent film Smith headlined. And you’d have to time-travel to 2007 to find his last actual good film (I Am Legend). Uuhhh.

Read more: Will Smith won’t be returning as Deadshot in ‘Suicide Squad 2’

The days of Bad Boys, Independence Day and Ali are no more. But that could be about to change, if the CinemaCon reactions to his first sci-fi blockbuster since After Earth are to be believed.

Gemini Man sounds like it could launch the dawn a brand-new Willennium for the actor – Will 2K, if you will – taking him back to his ‘90s peak.

Literally, actually, as the plot sees Smith star as an ageing assassin who is pursued by a younger clone of himself. The clone is a 23-year-old Smith, played by the actor using de-aging visual effects. Sounds like a next-level Looper, basically.

Ang Lee, director of the upcoming film “Gemini Man,” addresses the audience during the Paramount Pictures presentation at CinemaCon 2019, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) at Caesars Palace, Thursday, April 4, 2019, in Las Vegas. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Ang Lee, director of the upcoming film “Gemini Man,” addresses the audience during the Paramount Pictures presentation at CinemaCon 2019, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) at Caesars Palace, Thursday, April 4, 2019, in Las Vegas. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

“There’s so much Will Smith in this movie. I’m almost close to figuring out the mystery of Will Smith,” director Ang Lee has said about the film.

Let’s hope he solves the puzzle – Smith’s due his own version of Matthew McConaughey’s McConaissance, and if it happens of the back of Gemini Man, we’ll be freakin it.

Read more: Will Smith reveals why he didn’t play Neo in ‘The Matrix’

The reactions to the Gemini Man CinemaCon footage were overwhelmingly positive.

Combined with the success of Smith’s YouTube channel (214,030,807 views and counting), and the fact that we’ll get new music from the star this year, and there’s plenty to be excited about.

Read more: Will Smith’s ‘nightmare fuel’ blue genie in ‘Aladdin’ splits critics

Sure, those new songs will exclusively be his contributions to the Aladdin soundtrack, and we know that looks like a horror show, but fresh tunes from the Fresh Prince will always be something to celebrate.

With 2020’s Bad Boys For Life also taking Smith back to the ‘90s, let’s hope Gemini Man really will be a fresh start for the Fresh Prince.