Will Smith and Men in Black screenwriter will reunite on Colossus

Universal Pictures has given its movie Colossus -- in the works since since 2007 -- a real boost by picking Will Smith to play the lead.

Universal Pictures has given its movie Colossus -- in the works since since 2007 -- a real boost by picking Will Smith to play the lead.

Actor-Will-Smith-AFP-Photo

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the remake of Colossus: The Forbin Project will be (re)written by Ed Solomon who was responsible for the first Men in Black (1997).

Colossus will be based on the D.F. Jones sci-fi novel that inspired director Joseph Sargent for Colossus: The Forbin Project in 1970.

Ed Solomon will transpose the plot set during the Cold War to the present day. The novel, which follows the same trajectory as Frankenstein, explains how a scientist conceived a computer that could control the entire Western block's arsenal before losing control of it.

Will Smith will play Dr. Charles Forbin. The part was originally played by Eric Braeden who has been a star on American soap The Young and the Restless since 1980. No director has yet been attached to the movie. Ron Howard's name was at one time linked to the project but it appears he will just be producing.