Before he played Hancock in what should have been a brilliant post-superhero movie, Smith was considered (and even offered) the role of Superman. What Happened? Despite the studio's willingness to offer him the part that eventually went to Brandon Routh, Smith turned down the opportunity to play DC's most famous alien, citing the difficulties of revisionism. As The Fresh Prince himself said:
The last Superman I got offered, the script came, and I was like, There is no way Im playing Superman! Because I had already done Jim West and you cant be messing up white peoples heroes in Hollywood. You mess up white peoples heroes in Hollywood, youll never work in this town again!
Putting aside the clearly false suggestion that Wild Wild West failed because of his casting, it's not a great leap to believe that Smith might have been on to something. Or maybe he just knew that Singer's Superman train was on a quick track to apathy. Would He Have Worked? Undoubtedly. Though Smith is probably right in his assertion that "messing with" Superman's race would have caused some outrage amongst hardcore fans - and racists - he boasts the perfect blend of bravado and vulnerability that would have worked for both sides of the Superman/Clark Kent divide, and he proved in Ali and Hancock that he has the physicality to match the requirements of the role.
