Cairo: Zezi Abdel Ghaffar
Barry Sonnenfeld, the director of the famous “Men in Black” films, shared a humorous incident that occurred during the filming of the first movie, released in 1997. According to Sonnenfeld, the filming had to be halted for three hours due to a funny mishap involving Will Smith.
The incident took place while shooting a scene where Smith and his co-star, Tommy Lee Jones, were in a fast-moving car that eventually flips over. To capture the scene, both actors were enclosed in a sealed capsule inside the car. As Sonnenfeld called action, an unexpected situation unfolded.
“I gave the signal to start, and suddenly I heard Will shouting, ‘Oh my God, Tommy, forgive me! Baz, bring the ladder!’ To which Tommy calmly replied, ‘It’s okay, Will. Don’t worry,'” Sonnenfeld recounted.
When the ladder was brought to the actors, Tommy Lee Jones hurried down, clearly eager to escape the capsule. It was then revealed that Will Smith had passed gas inside the small, confined space. Sonnenfeld decided to delay the filming for three hours, humorously explaining, “No one wanted to stay in a small airtight space with a gassy Will Smith.”
While the incident was somewhat embarrassing, it added a lighthearted atmosphere on set, especially with the close collaboration between Smith and Jones, who delivered standout performances in the film that went on to become a box office hit.
In a related story, in August 2023, Will Smith shared another memorable moment involving legendary director Steven Spielberg. Smith revealed that Spielberg sent a private helicopter to persuade him to join the cast of “Men in Black.” This extraordinary gesture showed just how determined Spielberg was to have Smith onboard for what would become one of his most iconic roles.
The “Men in Black” series was not just a typical action franchise. It brilliantly blended comedy with science fiction, telling the story of secret agents tasked with protecting Earth from extraterrestrial threats. The series gained a massive fanbase worldwide.
