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Francis Lawrence and Will Smith Are Teaming Up in Manhattan Again

by Alex Billington
July 8, 2009

And it's not for the I Am Legend prequel we've heard about. THR announces today that director Francis Lawrence may be teaming up with Will Smith again for an original "fantastical drama" called The City That Sailed. Lawrence has been developing the project at 20th Century Fox and is interested in directing it. The script, written by Andrew Niccol (Gattaca, The Truman Show), follows a New York street magician whose daughter lives in England. While exploring a lighthouse, the girl discovers a magic room and wishes to be reunited with her father, causing the island of Manhattan to break away and drift across the Ocean.

Fox picked up the spec script back in 2006. No deals have been made for either Lawrence or Smith, so don't take this as news that we'll be seeing The City That Sailed next year. Lawrence is simultaneously developing Water for Elephants and The World Without Us, both at Fox. As for Will Smith, it's still unknown what he'll be doing next to follow-up Seven Pounds, though he's got a lot to choose from. If I can make a suggestion, Smith should really do this. It sounds like a different role for him and I'd absolutely love to see him play a magician (Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman did it!). We'll keep you updated on the status of this project.

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