Hancock: Peter Berg directs a new kind of superhero film

Fresh from the critical and box-office triumphs of action thrillers “The Kingdom” (starring Jamie Foxx and Jennifer Garner) and “The Rundown” (starring The Rock and Seann William Scott), actor-director Peter Berg now helms Columbia Pictures’ new action adventure “Hancock” starring Will Smith and Charlize Theron.

Every superhero has a weakness. Hancock (Will Smith) just happens to be flush with them.

Fresh from the critical and box-office triumphs of action thrillers “The Kingdom” (starring Jamie Foxx and Jennifer Garner) and “The Rundown” (starring The Rock and Seann William Scott), actor-director Peter Berg now helms Columbia Pictures’ new action adventure “Hancock” starring Will Smith and Charlize Theron.

In the film, Hancock hates his job, loves his booze and would be pulled over for flying under the influence — if anyone could catch him after he has plowed through a building or traffic sign. Edgy, conflicted, sarcastic, and misunderstood, Hancock’s well-intentioned heroics might get the job done and save countless lives, but always seem to leave jaw-dropping damage in their wake.

Hancock isn’t the kind of man who cares what other people think — until the day that he saves the life of PR executive Ray Embrey (Jason Bateman), and the sardonic superhero begins to realize that he may have a vulnerable side after all. Facing that will be Hancock’s greatest challenge yet — and a task that may prove impossible as Ray’s wife, Mary (Theron) insists that he’s a lost cause.

“Hancock does as much damage as good,” director Peter Berg says from the set on Hollywood Boulevard, where he and crews have turned over trucks, set fires and scattered plastic rubble to turn Los Angeles into a city of ruin.  “There are a lot of fun things to making a movie, but the best is creating an entire world that feels real.”

Part of getting real: using a harness and wires, not a green screen, to make Smith’s superhero fly. The actor was suspended 200 feet above the ground and propelled at 50 mph, and he’s more than fine with it. “The computer effects look great,” Will Smith says after being unhooked from his ride down the famed street. “But it’s more fun to get your hands dirty.”

Peter Berg made his writing and directing debut with TV’s acclaimed “Chicago Hope,” then wrote and directed the feature film “Very Bad Things” (1998), starring Cameron Diaz.. His next feature film, the smash hit “The Rundown” (2003), gave Berg the opportunity to direct someone else’s screenplay. He then directed the sports drama “Friday Night Lights” starring Billy Bob Thornton, which was such a big hit that it spawned a TV series of the same name, for which Berg directed the pilot. More recently, he helmed the critically applauded Iraq War thriller “The Kingdom” (2007) for the big screen.

Berg’s acting career is also going strong, having played a recurring role on ABC’s hit series “Alias” and roles in films such as “Collateral” (2004) and “Smokin’ Aces” (2007).

Opening across the Philippines this July, “Hancock” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.