“Taraji P. Henson. Period. End of story,” was director Adam Shankman’s direct answer for why he wanted to helm the film.
Stars Taraji P. Henson, Tracy Morgan and Max Greenfield all walked the red carpet Monday night at the What Men Want premiere, held at the Regency Village Theater in Westwood, where Henson had the cast, crew and fans buzzing all night with her comedic performance.
The film is a take on the 2000 Mel Gibson comedy What Women Want, with Henson taking on the starring role of a woman who suddenly finds herself able to hear the inner voices of the men around her.
It was an emotionally overwhelming day for the actress, who received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame that morning, and Henson told reporters what that moment meant to her and her family.
“For me, it was just important that my grandmother was there — she’s 94 — and my son, my mom," she said. "They watched this. They saw me as a kid with these dreams, and to bring them here and see that star, like, I’m etched in history. Little girls forever can walk down that street and dream because of me. Representation is very important across the board.”
Super-producer Will Packer was the creative force that pushed the project to the big screen, and he related to The Hollywood Reporter why he felt he had to make this pic with his good friend Henson.
“I felt like if you’re going to do a version of this movie ... you do it with somebody like Taraji," Packer said. "You do it very differently then it's been done in the past. ... She is funny as hell in real life, and I also knew that she was dying to do a comedy, so that’s really the elements that came together.”
Director Adam Shankman echoed those sentiments with why he wanted to helm the pic: "Taraji P Henson. Period. End of story."
Josh Brener, who plays Henson’s assistant in the movie, said of about working with the actress: “Taraji’s a legend ... there is no censor. There’s no 'Do I look silly?,'" he said. "She is fully committed. ... We spent a day in a Porsche together, with Taraji and I just whipping around corners and in between takes telling people that she needs to be given the Porsche and I agree with her. The Porsche sort of doesn’t make sense without Taraji in it.”
What Men Want is set to hit theaters Feb. 8.
