Gemini Man (film)

{{short description|2019 American science fiction action thriller film by Ang Lee}}

{{Infobox film

| name = Gemini Man

| image = GeminiManPoster.jpeg

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| director = Ang Lee

| screenplay = {{Plainlist|

}}

| story = {{Plainlist|

Darren Lemke
David Benioff

}}

| producer = {{Plainlist|

}}

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| cinematography = Dion Beebe

| editing = Tim Squyres

| music = Lorne Balfe

| studio = {{Plainlist|

}}

| distributor = Paramount Pictures

| released = {{film date|2019|10|1|ZFF|2019|10|11|United States}}

| runtime = 117 minutes{{cite web|url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/gemini-man-film-qxnzzxq6vlgtote3ntm0|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221123112014/https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/gemini-man-film-qxnzzxq6vlgtote3ntm0|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 23, 2022|title=Gemini Man (12A)|work=Paramount Pictures UK|publisher=BBFC|access-date=October 7, 2019}}

| country = United States

| language = English

| budget = $138 million

| gross = $173.5 million{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=geminiman.htm|title=Gemini Man (2019)|website=Box Office Mojo|publisher=IMDb|access-date=December 11, 2019}}

}}

Gemini Man is a 2019 American science fiction action thriller film directed by Ang Lee. It stars Will Smith in the main dual role, alongside Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Clive Owen and Benedict Wong. The film follows a retiring Force Recon Marine scout sniper who is targeted by a much younger clone of himself while on the run from a corrupt private military company.

Originally conceived in 1997 by screenwriter Darren Lemke, the film spent nearly twenty years in development hell. Several directors, including Tony Scott, Curtis Hanson, and Joe Carnahan, were attached at some point and numerous actors, including Harrison Ford, Mel Gibson and Sean Connery, were set to star. In 2016, Skydance Media purchased the rights to the screenplay (which had been through several rewrites) from Walt Disney Pictures and, in October 2017, Ang Lee signed on to direct for Skydance with Paramount Pictures handling distribution. Filming took place from February through May 2018 using a high frame rate of 120 frames per second.

Gemini Man was released on October 1, 2019, and was theatrically released in the United States by Paramount Pictures on October 11, 2019. The film received generally negative reviews from critics for its plot and screenwriting, although the performances and action sequences were praised. The de-aging of Smith and the high frame rate drew mixed responses.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/gemini-man-review-roundup-what-critics-are-saying-1243319|title='Gemini Man': What the Critics are Saying|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=October 11, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/gemini-man-reviews-critics-will-smith-movie-806257|title=Gemini Man review round-up - what critics are saying about the movie|website=inews.co.uk|date=October 11, 2019}} It was also a box-office bomb, grossing only $174 million against its $138 million budget, with Paramount losing an estimated $111 million. Nevertheless, the film was nominated for Best Science Fiction Film at the Saturn Awards.

Plot

Henry Brogan, a 51-year-old former Force Recon Marine Scout Sniper working as an operative of the Defense Clandestine Service of the Defense Intelligence Agency, is sent to assassinate a bioterrorist aboard a train in Belgium. Henry's spotter warns him of a young girl approaching the target, causing him to delay his shot until the last second, shooting the man in the neck despite aiming for his head. Disillusioned with killing, Henry retires.

In Buttermilk Sound, Georgia, Henry meets boat rental manager Danny and reconnects with his old friend Jack, who tells Henry that his informant Yuri claims that the target on the train was innocent. Demanding proof, Henry has Jack arrange a meeting with him. In retaliation, agency director Lassiter plans to kill Henry; Clay Verris, director of a rogue private military company codenamed "GEMINI", is denied permission to eliminate him.

Deducing that Danny is a fellow agent sent to monitor him, Henry befriends her. After his home is broken into by government agents, he calls his spotter, who is killed along with Jack and his mistress. Henry warns Danny, and they kill the assassins sent after them, realizing the agency wants them both dead. They escape to Colombia with Baron, Henry's former colleague, hiding at his home and planning to meet with Yuri.

Clay dispatches his top assassin to kill Henry. Fighting him off, Henry realizes the assassin bears an uncanny resemblance to himself as a young man. Arriving at a safe house, the assassin is revealed to be Clay's adopted "son" Junior. Curious about his similarities to Henry, Junior is ordered to finish the job. Danny suggests the assassin might be Henry's child, despite his denials.

Desperate for answers, Henry has Baron obtain a Gulfstream and transport them to Hungary. Testing DNA recovered from Junior, Danny discovers that his and Henry's DNA are identical – Junior is Henry's clone. Henry meets Yuri and learns of GEMINI's cloning project; the man he killed on the train was a scientist who tried to leave the project, having designed a method to produce clones devoid of pain or emotion. Henry calls Lassiter, who agrees to send Junior to bring Danny safely back to the United States.

Collecting Danny, Junior sets up a trap for Henry, who is warned via a covert listening device hidden in Danny's mouth. Ambushing the younger assassin, Henry explains to Junior that he is a clone, revealing their similar traits that no one else could know. Escaping to GEMINI, a heartbroken Junior confronts Clay, who insists he must defeat Henry in order to surpass him. Finding Henry, Junior allies with him to bring down Clay, and Henry urges Junior to quit in order to become someone better.

Baron is killed in an ambush ordered by Clay, with Junior knocking Clay unconscious after a brief hand-to-hand fight. After defeating a wave of GEMINI operatives, Henry, Danny, and Junior face another seemingly unstoppable operative with special body armor. They manage to mortally wound him, and he is discovered to be another youthful clone of Henry, lacking all emotion and ability to feel pain.

Defeated, Clay tries to justify his actions to Junior: clones with Henry's skills would spare the lives of soldiers while making operations incredibly successful. Disgusted, Junior prepares to shoot Clay, but Henry persuades him otherwise and does it himself.

Assured that no more clones were produced and they are finally free, Henry later meets with Junior, who has enrolled in college under the assumed identity of "Jackson Brogan" after Henry's mother's surname. Together, Henry and Danny plan Jackson's future.

Cast

Will Smith in a dual role as
Henry Brogan (codenamed "Henry"): a former Marine Scout Sniper who now works as an operative of Defense Clandestine Service, regarded as the best killer of his generation. Smith was one of many actors considered for the role through the lengthy development process.
Jackson Brogan (codenamed "Junior"/"Clone"; raised as Clay Verris Jr.): a cloned assassin of Henry sent after him, and "Senior", another cloned assassin sent after him. Smith was "digitally de-aged" through the use of motion capture and computer generated imagery.{{Cite web |url=https://www.newsweek.com/gemini-man-movie-2019-will-smith-deaging-cgi-1464592 |title='Gemini Man': How They Made Will Smith Fight Himself in New Movie |website=Newsweek|language=en-US|access-date=October 16, 2019|first=Samuel|last=Spencer|date=October 12, 2019}} Actor Victor Hugo served as the on-set reference for Junior.
Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Danielle "Danny" Zakarewski: a Navy veteran and DIA OIG{{cite web | url=https://oig.dia.mil/About-Us/Our-Organization/ | title=DIA OIG Organization }} agent who helps Henry after the latter saves her from being assassinated. Winstead won the role over Tatiana Maslany.{{Cite news |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/clive-owenwill-smith-ang-lees-gemini-man-exclusive-1202663393/ |title=Clive Owen Joins Will Smith in Ang Lee's 'Gemini Man' (EXCLUSIVE) |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=January 12, 2018 |work=Variety|access-date=March 1, 2018 |language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180301225820/https://variety.com/2018/film/news/clive-owenwill-smith-ang-lees-gemini-man-exclusive-1202663393/|archive-date=March 1, 2018|url-status=live}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/mary-elizabeth-winstead-star-opposite-will-smith-gemini-man-1075215 |title=Mary Elizabeth Winstead to Star Opposite Will Smith in 'Gemini Man' (Exclusive) |work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=March 1, 2018 |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127110805/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/mary-elizabeth-winstead-star-opposite-will-smith-gemini-man-1075215|archive-date=January 27, 2018|url-status=live}}
Clive Owen as Clayton "Clay" Verris, the ruthless director of GEMINI and former Force Recon Marine and who creates Clone (acting as his adoptive father) to "retire" Henry and Junior take his place.
Benedict Wong as Baron: a former Marine colleague of Henry's and skilled pilot who works as a tour operator.

Other cast members include Ralph Brown as Del Patterson: Henry's handler at the DIA; Linda Emond as Janet Lassiter, the director of the DIA; Douglas Hodge as Jack Willis, a former Marine colleague of Henry's; Ilia Volok as Yuri Kovács, a Russian operative who has been secretly monitoring GEMINI's history; E. J. Bonilla as Marino, a DIA agent killed for his association with Henry; Igor Szász as Dr. Valery Dormov, one of the doctors who cloned Henry; Björn Freiberg as Keller, a GEMINI operative; and Justin James Boykin as Connor.

Production

=Development and pre-production=

In 1997, Darren Lemke sold his pitch for Gemini Man after impressing Don Murphy with an unproduced spec script. Warner Bros. Pictures pursued the project, but Walt Disney Pictures ultimately won out and Tony Scott would become attached to direct.{{cite web|last=Kit|first=Borys|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/gemini-man-meet-credited-writer-who-didnt-actually-write-gemini-man-1246953/|title=Meet the Writer of Gemini Man (Who Didn't Actually Write Gemini Man)|date=October 11, 2019|website=The Hollywood Reporter|accessdate=December 28, 2022}}{{cite web |last=Kit |first=Borys |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/ang-lee-talks-direct-clone-assassin-movie-gemini-man-skydance-996366 |title=Ang Lee in Talks to Direct Clone Assassin Movie Gemini Man |work=Hollywood Reporter |date=April 21, 2017 |access-date=April 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322160920/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/ang-lee-talks-direct-clone-assassin-movie-gemini-man-skydance-996366|archive-date=March 22, 2019|url-status=live}} Complications soon arose when the studio were planning how to make the film. Harrison Ford and Chris O'Donnell were considered for the lead roles.{{cite web|last=Mooney|first=Darren|url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/gemini-man-depicts-the-war-between-hollywoods-past-and-future/|title=Gemini Man Depicts the War Between Hollywood's Past and Future|date=October 18, 2019|website=Escapist Magazine|accessdate=December 28, 2022}} The producers toyed with the idea of an actor play both roles through the use of visual effects, but Scott moved on from the film before any progress could be made. Mel Gibson briefly boarded the project and shot test footage before departing.{{cite web|last=Kit|first=Borys|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/gemini-man-meet-credited-writer-who-didnt-actually-write-gemini-man-1246953/|title=Meet the Writer of Gemini Man (Who Didn't Actually Write Gemini Man)|date=October 11, 2019|website=The Hollywood Reporter|accessdate=December 28, 2022}} At the time, Disney's now-defunct animation/visual effects department The Secret Lab developed a test short, known as Human Face Project, to create visual effects for the film, which would involve creating a younger CG clone of the main actor.{{cite web |url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/vfx/secret-history-disneys-gemini-man-quest-make-convincing-cg-human-152149.html |title=The Secret History Of Disney's 'Gemini Man' And The Quest To Make A Convincing CG Human |last1=Failes |first1=Ian |date=September 5, 2017 |access-date=December 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180301164506/https://www.cartoonbrew.com/vfx/secret-history-disneys-gemini-man-quest-make-convincing-cg-human-152149.html|archive-date=March 1, 2018|url-status=live}} Ali screenwriters Stephen J. Rivele & Christopher Wilkinson were hired to polish Lemke's script in July 2000.{{cite web|last=Fleming|first=Michael|url=https://variety.com/2001/film/news/ali-team-punches-up-gaelic-mob-1117792665/|title=Ali Team Punches Up Gaelic Mob|date=January 24, 2001|website=Variety|accessdate=December 28, 2022}} The following month, Nicolas Cage and Sean Connery were in the running for the dual role.{{cite web|url=http://legacy.aintitcool.com/node/6596|title=Nick Cage In Gemini Man|date=August 3, 2000|website=Ain't It Cool News|accessdate=December 28, 2022}} In November 2000, the film was retitled to Gemini and was reportedly slotted for a summer 2002 release with Murphy, Jerry Bruckheimer and Jane Hamsher producing.{{cite web |author=Stax |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/11/02/the-stax-report-script-review-of-gemini |title=The Stax Report: Script Review of Gemini |date=November 2, 2000 |work=IGN |access-date=April 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423000651/https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/11/02/the-stax-report-script-review-of-gemini|archive-date=April 23, 2019|url-status=live}} In April 2001, Jonathan Hensleigh was selected to reconfigure the script while maintaining Lemke's concept.{{cite web|last=Lyons|first=Charles|url=https://variety.com/2001/film/news/mouse-nabs-scribe-to-fix-man-script-1117797742/|title=Mouse Nabs Scribe to Fix Man Script|date=April 24, 2001|website=Variety|accessdate=December 28, 2022}}{{cite web|last=Vejvoda|first=Jim|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/04/25/hensleighs-sign-is-gemini|title=Hensleigh's Sign is Gemini|date=April 25, 2001|website=IGN|accessdate=December 28, 2022}} By February 2009, Curtis Hanson entered talks to direct the film while David Benioff had penned the latest draft of the script.{{cite magazine|last=Sperling|first=Nicole|url=https://ew.com/article/2009/02/13/curtis-hanson-i/|title=Curtis Hanson in Negotiations to Direct Gemini Man|date=February 13, 2009|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|accessdate=December 28, 2022}} Joe Carnahan had previously pitched for the film, and developed test footage with Clint Eastwood as the assassin.{{cite web |last=Fischer |first=Russ |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/joe-carnahans-gemini-man-sizzle-reel/ |title=Watch Joe Carnahan's Gemini Man Sizzle Reel, Which Pits Clint Eastwood Against Clint Eastwood |date=October 10, 2012 |work=/Film |access-date=April 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423000648/https://www.slashfilm.com/joe-carnahans-gemini-man-sizzle-reel/|archive-date=April 23, 2019|url-status=live}} The film never progressed at Disney, though, as the technology was not developed enough at that time for the film to be produced. Carnahan also envisioned Jon Voight in the role as well.{{cite web|last=Anderton|first=Ethan|url=https://www.firstshowing.net/2012/sizzle-reel-of-what-joe-carnahans-gemini-man-could-have-been/|title=Sizzle Reel of What Joe Carnahan's 'Gemini Man' Could Have Been|date=October 10, 2012|website=First Showing|accessdate=December 28, 2022}} Later script revisions were done by Billy Ray, Andrew Niccol, and Brian Helgeland.

File:Gemini Man Ang Lee creative team.jpg, Director of photography Dion Beebe and Production Designer Guy Hendrix Dyas on set in Cartagena, Colombia]]

In 2016, Skydance Media acquired the film from Disney, with Jerry Bruckheimer producing, along with Skydance's David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Don Granger. Murphy, Mike Stenson, Chad Oman and Brian Bell would serve as executive producers. Ang Lee was hired to direct the film for Paramount Pictures and Skydance in April 2017{{cite news |last1=Kit |first1=Borys |title=Ang Lee in Talks to Direct Clone Assassin Movie Gemini Man (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/ang-lee-talks-direct-clone-assassin-movie-gemini-man-skydance-996366 |access-date=April 22, 2017 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=April 21, 2017 |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180302163835/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/ang-lee-talks-direct-clone-assassin-movie-gemini-man-skydance-996366|archive-date=March 2, 2018|url-status=live}} and Fosun Pictures came on board to finance soon after with Guo Guangchang also on board as executive producer.{{cite web |last=Brzeski |first=Patrick |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/fosun-produce-ang-lees-gemini-man-paramount-skydance-1199131 |title=China's Fosun to Co-Produce Ang Lee's 'Gemini Man' With Paramount, Skydance |date=April 2, 2019 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=April 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423000648/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/fosun-produce-ang-lees-gemini-man-paramount-skydance-1199131|archive-date=April 23, 2019|url-status=live}}

That same month, Will Smith was cast in the lead role, and a release date set for October 11, 2019.{{cite web |url=https://screenrant.com/are-you-afraid-dark-movie-gemini-man-release-dates |title=Are You Afraid of the Dark? & Gemini Man Swap Release Dates|website=Screen Rant|date=February 2019|access-date=March 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190204032939/https://screenrant.com/are-you-afraid-dark-movie-gemini-man-release-dates/|archive-date=February 4, 2019|url-status=live}} In January 2018, Clive Owen and Mary Elizabeth Winstead were cast in the film, with Winstead winning the role over Tatiana Maslany. In January 2018, Benedict Wong and Ralph Brown joined the cast and filming began in February.{{Cite news |url=https://deadline.com/2018/02/paramount-gemini-man-doctor-strange-benedict-wong-1202305233/ |title=Paramount's 'Gemini Man' Adds 'Doctor Strange' Actor Benedict Wong |last=N'Duka |first=Amanda |date=February 28, 2018 |work=Deadline|access-date=March 1, 2018 |language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180301195210/http://deadline.com/2018/02/paramount-gemini-man-doctor-strange-benedict-wong-1202305233/|archive-date=March 1, 2018|url-status=live}}

=Filming=

Principal production commenced on February 27, 2018, in Glennville, Georgia,{{Cite news |url=http://wsav.com/2018/02/28/actor-will-smith-filming-movie-near-savannah-says-georgia-gotta-do-something-about-these-bugs/ |title=Actor Will Smith filming movie near Savannah; says Georgia 'gotta do something about these bugs' |date=February 28, 2018 |work=WSAV-TV|access-date=March 1, 2018 |language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180301044612/http://wsav.com/2018/02/28/actor-will-smith-filming-movie-near-savannah-says-georgia-gotta-do-something-about-these-bugs/|archive-date=March 1, 2018|url-status=live}} and included locations in Cartagena, Colombia.{{Cite news |url=https://www.elheraldo.co/entretenimiento/otorgan-permiso-para-pelicula-que-will-smith-filmara-en-cartagena-471488 |title=Otorgan permiso para película que Will Smith filmará en Cartagena |date=March 16, 2018 |work=El Heraldo|access-date=March 17, 2018 |language=es-CO|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321122605/https://www.elheraldo.co/entretenimiento/otorgan-permiso-para-pelicula-que-will-smith-filmara-en-cartagena-471488|archive-date=March 21, 2018|url-status=live}}{{Cite news |url=http://www.eluniversal.com.co/cultural/autorizan-permiso-para-rodaje-de-pelicula-de-will-smith-en-cartagena-274223 |title=Autorizan permiso para rodaje de película de Will Smith en Cartagena |date=March 16, 2018 |work=El Universal|access-date=March 17, 2018 |language=es-CO|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316234509/http://www.eluniversal.com.co/cultural/autorizan-permiso-para-rodaje-de-pelicula-de-will-smith-en-cartagena-274223|archive-date=March 16, 2018|url-status=live}} Filming continued in May 2018 at Széchenyi Thermal Bath in Budapest, Hungary. Like Lee's previous film Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk, the film was shot digitally at an extra-high frame rate of 120 frames per second (fps), modified for 3D, this time on modified ARRI Alexa cameras{{Cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/behind-screen/gemini-man-trailer-offers-first-look-at-cg-will-smith-ang-lees-ambitious-filmmaking-1204057 |title='Gemini Man' Trailer: How Ang Lee Is Crafting a CG Will Smith and Immersive Feel |website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=April 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423223525/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/behind-screen/gemini-man-trailer-offers-first-look-at-cg-will-smith-ang-lees-ambitious-filmmaking-1204057|archive-date=April 23, 2019|url-status=live}} mounted on STEREOTEC 3D Rigs.{{Cite news |last=Pennington |first=Adrian |date=December 21, 2018 |title=Ang Lee's High Frame Rate Gemini Man 'The Future of Cinema' |url=https://www.ibc.org/production/ang-lees-high-frame-rate-gemini-man-the-future-of-cinema/3505.article |publisher=IBC |access-date=May 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530005732/https://www.ibc.org/production/ang-lees-high-frame-rate-gemini-man-the-future-of-cinema/3505.article |archive-date=May 30, 2019 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url=http://stereotec.com/wordpress2/ |title=STEREOTEC |access-date=May 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702014434/http://stereotec.com/wordpress2/ |archive-date=July 2, 2019 |url-status=live}}

=Visual effects=

The visual effects are provided by Weta Digital and supervised by Bill Westenhofer and Guy Williams,{{cite web |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2018/04/martin-scorsese-ang-lee-digital-aging-the-irishman-gemini-man-1201952224/ |title=Martin Scorsese's 'The Irishman' and Ang Lee's 'Gemini Man' - IndieWire |first=Bill |last=Desowitz |work=IndieWire |date=April 13, 2018 |access-date=January 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180415055821/https://www.indiewire.com/2018/04/martin-scorsese-ang-lee-digital-aging-the-irishman-gemini-man-1201952224/|archive-date=April 15, 2018|url-status=live}} with support from Park Road Post, Universal Production Partners (UPP), Scanline VFX, Legend3D, Inc., The Third Floor, Inc., East Side Effects, Clear Angle Studios and Stereo D.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}

=Music=

Release

Gemini Man was released in the United States on October 11, 2019, by Paramount Pictures. It was originally scheduled to be released on October 4, but Paramount pushed the film back for release a week later. It premiered at the Zurich Film Festival on October 1, 2019.{{cite web|url= https://variety.com/2019/film/spotlight/ford-zurich-film-festival-screens-joker-judy-honors-stewart-blanchett-1203349887/ |title= Zurich Film Festival Screens 'Joker,' 'Judy,' Honors Stewart, Blanchett |author=Ed Meza|work=Variety|date=September 26, 2019|access-date=September 30, 2019}} It was released in 120 fps HFR (High frame rate) on select screens.{{cite web |last1=Har-Even |first1=Benny |title=Gemini Man And High Frame Rate (HFR)--Is It The New Face Of Cinema? |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/bennyhareven/2019/10/10/gemini-man-and-high-frame-rate-hfr-is-it-the-new-face-of-cinema/#50878aa82d07 |website=Forbes |access-date=14 October 2019 |language=en}}

=Home media=

Gemini Man was released on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, Blu-ray and DVD on January 14, 2020.{{cite web|title=Gemini Man Blu-ray|url=https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Gemini-Man-Blu-ray/254736/|publisher=Blu-ray.com|access-date=July 17, 2020}} The film used 60 fps presentation in Dolby Vision.

Reception

=Box office=

Gemini Man grossed $48.6 million in the United States and Canada, and $124.9 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $173.5 million. It was estimated the film needed to gross around $275 million worldwide in order to break even; Deadline Hollywood calculated its net loss to be $111.1{{nbsp}}million, when factoring together all expenses and revenues.{{cite web|url= https://deadline.com/2020/04/box-office-bombs-2019-list-1202918753/ |title= The Biggest Box Office Bombs Of 2019: Deadline's Most Valuable Blockbuster Tournament |first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=April 27, 2020|access-date=April 27, 2020}}

In the United States and Canada, Gemini Man was released alongside The Addams Family and Jexi, and was originally projected to gross $24–29 million from 3,642 theaters in its opening weekend.{{cite web |url= https://deadline.com/2019/10/joker-october-tuesday-box-office-record-weekend-forecast-addams-family-will-smith-gemini-man-1202756065/ |title= 'Joker' Breaks Tuesday October Record With $13.9M, Will Continue To Make Serious B.O. This Weekend With $42M+ |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=October 9, 2019 |access-date=October 9, 2019}} The film made $7.5 million on its first day, including $1.6 million from Thursday night previews, lowering weekend estimates to $20 million. It went on to debut to $20.6 million, finishing third at the box office behind The Addams Family and Joker. The low opening was blamed on poor critical response, the familiar premise and the over-performance of Joker.{{cite web |url= https://deadline.com/2019/10/gemini-man-will-smith-joker-addams-family-jexi-weekend-box-office-1202757855/ |title= 'Joker' $55M+ Scores 2nd Weekend October Record, 'Addams Family' Rich $30M+, 'Gemini Man' Still Not Dazzling $20M – Sunday B.O. Update |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=October 13, 2019 |access-date=October 13, 2019}} In its second weekend, Gemini Man fell 59.6% to $8.3 million, finishing fifth.{{cite web |url= https://deadline.com/2019/10/maleficent-mistress-of-evil-zombieland-double-tap-weekend-box-office-1202763525/ |title= 'Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil' No Magic With $36M+, 'Joker' Still Stealing 2nd Place From 'Zombieland 2' With $28M+ |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=October 20, 2019 |access-date=October 20, 2019}}

The film opened in five countries the week prior to its U.S. release and made $7 million, finishing first in each market: France ($3 million), Germany ($3 million), Switzerland ($434,000), Austria ($262,000) and Israel ($259,000, Lee's best opener in the country).{{Cite web |url= https://deadline.com/2019/10/joker-opening-weekend-warner-bros-joaquin-phoenix-global-international-box-office-1202751310/ |title='Joker' Jolts October With $141M Overseas & $234M Global Bows, Thrashes 'Venom' Records – International Box Office |last=Tartaglione |first=Nancy|date=October 6, 2019 |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=October 11, 2019 }} In China, Gemini Man debuted to $21 million, less than expected, getting upset by fellow new release Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. After two weeks the film had a worldwide total of $118 million, including an "underwhelming" $82 million overseas.{{cite web |url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-bust-gemini-man-faces-75-million-loss-1247292 |title= Box Office Bust: 'Gemini Man' Faces $75 Million Loss |last=McClintock |first=Pamela |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=October 20, 2019 |access-date=October 21, 2019}}

=Critical response=

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 27% and an average rating of {{RT data|average}}, based on 329 reviews. The website's critics consensus reads: "Gemini Man{{'}}s impressive visuals are supported by some strong performances, but this sci-fi thriller is fatally undermined by a frustratingly subpar story."{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/gemini_man_2019|title=Gemini Man (2019)|website=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=Fandango|access-date={{RT data|access date}}}} On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 38 out of 100, based on 49 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable" reviews.{{cite web|url= https://www.metacritic.com/movie/gemini-man |title=Gemini Man Reviews|website=Metacritic|access-date=December 7, 2019}} Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave Gemini Man an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale, while those at PostTrak gave it 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Variety{{'}}s Peter DeBruge called the film "a high-concept misfire" and wrote: "In practice, it's been a nearly impossible project to get made, passing through the hands of countless actors and falling through multiple times because the technology wasn't there yet. At least, that's been the excuse, although judging by the finished product, it was the script that never lived up to the promise of its premise."{{cite web |date= September 26, 2019 |last= DeBruge |first= Peter |title= Film Review: Will Smith in 'Gemini Man'|url= https://variety.com/2019/film/reviews/gemini-man-review-will-smith-1203349531/|website= Variety|access-date=October 9, 2019}} Ella Kemp of IndieWire gave Gemini Man a "C+", writing that "For Lee, it seems to make sense – the film welds concerns that have colored a number of his projects: the debate of Nature v Nurture; the alienation of a fraying man; the challenge of what digital filmmaking can do. On paper, Gemini Man tends to all three concerns, but in practice the film is impenetrable beyond its technological clout."{{cite web |date=September 26, 2019 |author=Ella Kemp |title='Gemini Man' Review: Will Smith Goes to War With Himself — and With Ang Lee's Technology |url= https://www.indiewire.com/2019/09/gemini-man-review-will-smith-ang-lee-1202176543/ |publisher=Penske Business Media |work=IndieWire |access-date=October 9, 2019}}

Giving the film one star, Kevin Maher of The Times was unimpressed with the script and the 120 fps shooting, writing "It keeps every detail in the frame (background and foreground) in vivid, garish focus at all times. Besides being aesthetically repellent (it's like 1980s children's telly or the worst wedding video yet)" and called the de-aging "alarmingly unconvincing".{{Cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/gemini-man-review-someone-order-a-hit-on-the-shaky-cameras-and-bad-script-c2cf9ndjk|title=Gemini Man review — someone order a hit on the shaky cameras and bad script|last=Maher|first=Kevin|date=2019-10-11|work=The Times|access-date=2019-10-11|language=en|issn=0140-0460}}

=Science & Influence=

Gemini Man has been criticized for its unrealistic level of genetic determinism, and its failure to explicitly distinguish between cloning and cloning combined with genetic engineering.{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/how-gemini-man-gets-human-cloning-wrong-1247236 |title='Gemini Man,' Human Cloning and Actual Science |date=12 October 2019 |last=Wardlow |first=Ciara |website=Hollywood Reporter}} The film relies on the conceit that human cloning is inherently menacing, ignoring the fact that a clone would simply be a younger monozygotic ("identical") twin—with the many possible differences that exist between conventionally born identical twins.{{cite magazine |last=Ings |first=Simons |editor-last=Wilson |editor-first=Emily |date=2 November 2019 |title=Will Smith's action thriller Gemini Man falls into major logic holes |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24432540-400-will-smiths-action-thriller-gemini-man-falls-into-major-logic-holes/ |magazine=New Scientist |issue=3254 |page=30 |issn=0262-4079}} The film influenced Thalapathy Vijay's science-fiction action film The Greatest of All Time in its development and production with a slightly similar plot and also its de-aging technology was used.{{cite web | title= #TheGOAT film of the Thalapathy Vijay starrer to be a remake of 'Gemini Man' | website=The Times of India | date=January 2, 2024 | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/venkat-prabhu-reacts-to-the-goat-might-be-a-remake-of-gemini-man-comment/articleshow/106480096.cms?from=mdr | access-date=January 29, 2024}}

=Accolades=

Smith received a nomination for Best Motion Capture/Special Effects Performance at the Austin Film Critics Association Awards 2019.{{Cite web |last=Whittaker |first=Richard |date=January 3, 2020 |title=Austin Film Critics Association Announces 2019 Award Finalists |url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/screens/2020-01-03/austin-film-critics-association-announces-2019-award-finalists/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408003231/https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/screens/2020-01-03/austin-film-critics-association-announces-2019-award-finalists/ |archive-date=April 8, 2022 |access-date=January 25, 2025 |website=The Austin Chronicle}}{{Cite web |last=Whittaker |first=Richard |date=January 7, 2020 |title=Austin Film Critics Association Announces 2019 Awards |url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/screens/2020-01-07/austin-film-critics-association-announces-2019-awards/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408003245/https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/screens/2020-01-07/austin-film-critics-association-announces-2019-awards/ |archive-date=April 8, 2022 |access-date=January 25, 2025 |website=The Austin Chronicle}} Gemini Man was nominated for Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature and Outstanding Animated Character in a Photoreal Feature at the 18th Visual Effects Society Awards.{{Cite web |last=Giardina |first=Carolyn |date=January 29, 2020 |title=The Lion King Wins Top Honor at Visual Effects Society Awards |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2020-visual-effects-society-awards-winners-full-list-1270527/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130115517/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2020-visual-effects-society-awards-winners-full-list-1270527/ |archive-date=January 30, 2020 |access-date=January 24, 2025 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}} At the 46th Saturn Awards, the film was nominated for Best Science Fiction Film.{{Cite web |last=Hipes |first=Patrick |date=March 4, 2021 |title=Saturn Awards Nominations: Star Wars: Rise Of Skywalker, Tenet, Walking Dead, Outlander Lead List |url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/saturn-awards-nominations-2021-nominees-list-1234706492/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307215716/https://deadline.com/2021/03/saturn-awards-nominations-2021-nominees-list-1234706492/ |archive-date=March 7, 2021 |access-date=January 25, 2025 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}{{Cite web |last=Tartaglione |first=Nancy |date=October 27, 2021 |title=Saturn Awards Winners: Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker Leads With Five Prizes – Full List |url=https://deadline.com/2021/10/saturn-awards-winners-2021-full-list-star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood-knives-out-star-trek-1234863222/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20211027082215/https://deadline.com/2021/10/saturn-awards-winners-2021-full-list-star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood-knives-out-star-trek-1234863222/ |archive-date=October 27, 2021 |access-date=January 25, 2025 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}

Literature

{{Cite book |last=Singer |first=Michael |title=Gemini Man: The Art and Making of the Movie |publisher=Titan Books |year=2019 |isbn=978-1-78909-223-3 |edition=1st |location=London |oclc=1101026951 |ref=none}}
{{Cite book |title=Gemini Man: The Official Movie Novelization |publisher=Titan Books |year=2019 |isbn=978-1-78909-301-8 |edition=1st |location=London |oclc=1107446436 |ref=none}}