The character was reportedly supposed to be played by Chris O’Donnell.

Will Smith is one of the biggest stars in the world and gained worldwide fame as he starred in multiple blockbusters in the late ‘90s. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star had his breakthrough with the films Six Degrees of Separation and Independence Day. However, he became a worldwide star when he starred as Agent J in the Men in Black franchise.

Smith starred along with Tommy Lee Jones in the films which were produced by Steven Spielberg and were based on the popular comic book series. Despite the original comic books showing Smith’s Agent J as a White, blonde man, filmmaker Barry Sonnenfeld was convinced by his wife to race-swap and cast Will Smith in the film.

Will Smith Was Director Barry Sonnenfeld’s Wife’s Choice For Men in Black

Will Smith in Men in Black

When actor Will Smith was tapped to play Agent J in producer Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of Men in Black, he had just finished filming Independence Day which would go on to be a huge blockbuster. Smith was offered the role of Agent J, who was reportedly a White man with blonde hair. Despite differing from the original comics, director Barry Sonnenfeld was convinced by his wife to race-swap the character.

Sonnenfeld mentioned in an interview with CBS that he and his wife, Susan (nicknamed Sweetie) were reading the script for Men in Black when she suggested Will Smith for the role. He said,

“She looked at me and I looked at her and I said, true story, Tommy Lee Jones. And she said, Will Smith. And this is the point…(was) way before ‘Independence Day.’ The movie was not written for a black man but Sweetie said, Will Smith. I then had to get the studio convinced to hire Will because Sweetie told me that’s what I had to do.”

Agent J in Men in Black comics | Credits: Aircel Malibu/Sandy Carruthers

However, Barry Sonnenfeld had to reportedly fight Steven Spielberg for Smith as the Indiana Jones filmmaker wanted Chris O’Donnell for the part. Sonnenfeld mentioned in an interview with Huffington Post that he somehow convinced O’Donnell to reject the part so he could get Will Smith on board. Sonnenfeld mentioned,

“[Spielberg] told me I had to go to dinner with Chris and convince Chris to be in the movie. But I knew I wanted Will Smith, so I told Chris that I wasn’t a very good director and I didn’t think the script was very good, and if he had any other options he shouldn’t do ‘Men in Black.’ He let it be known the next day that he was not interested.”

The filmmaker also mentioned that the studio wanted Clint Eastwood for the lead role opposite Smith but he somehow convinced them to go for Tommy Lee Jones.

Will Smith Was Initially Uninterested in Men In Black

A still from Men in Black

Though Will Smith headlined a blockbuster franchise with Men in Black, the actor was reportedly not interested in playing yet another alien fighter when the studio was pursuing him. According to Smith, who revealed this in Kevin Hart’s Hart to Heart show, the actor was skeptical of doing another alien film after shooting Independence Day.

However, the actor was reportedly convinced by Steven Spielberg, who picked him up in a helicopter from a wedding in Philadelphia to New York. Smith revealed,

“He said, ‘Tell me, tell me why you don’t want to make my movie. And he was the producer…. And he put the ellipsis at the end, it was the dot, dot, dot…. If he had continued, he would have said, ‘Joker, you know I made Jaws, right? You know I made E.T.’”

Director Barry Sonnenfeld mentioned that after the helicopter ride, even Spielberg was convinced with Smith as the two hit it off. Then the filmmaker finally got his dream cast of Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith (via Huffington Post).

Men in Black is available for rent on Apple TV.