Casting Will Smith

You can now only imagine Will Smith playing Detective Mike Lowrey, but the actor wasn’t even in the frame when it came to the part originally.

As the story was being written, comedian Arsenio Hall was kept in mind for the lead, though Columbia Pictures - a Sony company - and Michael Bay were open to the idea of shopping around to see who else might fit the role.

Eventually, 'The Fresh Prince of Bell Air' star was brought in and charmed his way into the movie.