Cinematical is reporting that Will Smith’s production company, Overbrook Entertaiment, and Sony have bought the rights to the life sory of Hurricane Karina hero John “The Can Man” Keller. The film, The American Can is being helmed by John Lee Hancock.
Keller, who was a resident of the American Can Company at the time of the storm, helped the other residents of the building — many elderly and/or handicapped — and a few refugees stay safe while the flood waters raged outside. Keller also documented his story with photos and videotape. He told The Times-Picayune in 2007, “There were other people rescuing people. But they didn’t hot-wire boats, hot-wire cars, swim to the grocery store, come back with food, cook for all those people, organize them, get the thugs off them.” In the end, 244 people were evacuated safely with help from Keller.
So far no one has been cast as Keller, but it sounds like Smith is gunning for the role. We’ll be sure to keep an ear out on more developments but it sounds like Will is trying to find project to get him back on the big box office track.
