All Hail Pharoah Will

Will Smith (”I Am Legend,” “I, Robot,” “Independence Day”) will next star in a role he has been wanting to grasp for years. He will be Columbia Pictures next big Egyptian Pharoah, according to Variety.

“The Last Pharoah” will capture some of the thunder achieved from such landmark epic historial films as “Gladiator” and “300.”

Written by “Braveheart” scribe Randall Wallace, the film has Smith starring as Taharqa, the pharaoh who battled Assyrian invaders in ancient Egypt. The film will center specifically on the great Pharoah’s battles with Assyrian leader Esarhaddon from around 677 B.C.E. In fact, it was Smith himself who thought up the premise from real history and then brought it to Columbia and Wallace. Smith will also co-produce the project along with James Lassiter and Ken Stovitz from Overbrook Entertainment.

Stay tuned to Slice of SciFi for updates.

[Will Smith drawing by Darren Frodsham]