Will Smith To Play Hurricane Katrina Hero

5 months ago 21st May 10:33

Will Smith is to play a real-life Hurricane Katrina hero in new film about the disaster.

Smith's Overbrook Entertainment, along with Sony Pictures Entertainment, have the rights to bring  the story of survivor ex-Marine John Keller to the big screen.

Keller helped rescue more than 200 of his New Orleans, Louisiana neighbours when they were left stranded by the devastation of Katrina in 2005.

Living in a five storey building at the time of the disaster Keller chased away looters after the building became isolated by eleven feet of water and looked after the 244 residents that were trapped there.

Five days later he directed the rescue from the roof of the building.

John Lee Hancock is to write and direct the movie, he is currently working on The Blind Side and remade The Alamo in 2004.