Will Smith purchases the rights to American hero

Will Smith teams up with James Lassiter's Overbrook Entertainment in the purchase of the life rights to the story of John Keller, a hero in the Hurricane Katrina disaster that struck New Orleans in 2005.

John Keller, a ex-marine who kept around 150 residents and neighbors safe in his building during the state altering disaster for 5 days. John Keller risked his life to rescue the elderly and the disabled as the water level went down affecting areas everywhere.

"I could have got in that boat and paddled my ass out of here, what made me stay was the old people. I just realized that nobody else in here could have gotten those people out. They would have sat in here for five more days. And they didn't have five more days."

John Keller said at the time. Currently Will Smith is set to Produce (possibly providing himself with a role as well) with John Lee Hancock as Director working from the script provided by writer Adetoro Makinde. To learn more about the story behind John Keller, you can visit here.