Hancock (film) Hancock (film) Hancock is a 2008 American superhero comedy film directed by Peter Berg and starring Will Smith, Charlize Theron, and Jason Bateman. It tells the story of a vigilante superhero, John Hancock (Smith) from Los Angeles whose reckless actions routinely cost the city millions of dollars. Eventually one person he saves, Ray Embrey (Bateman), makes it his mission to change Hancock's public image for the better. The story was originally written by Vincent Ngo in 1996. It languished in "development hell" for years and had various directors attached, including Tony Scott, Michael Mann, Jonathan Mostow, and Gabriele Muccino before
Hancock (film) him and incite a violent battle across the city. Ray witnesses the fight, later confronting the duo. Mary admits Hancock used to be her husband in another life. That night, Hancock stops a liquor store robbery, only to be shot multiple times, and is hospitalized. Mary appears, explaining that when the immortals paired up, they would slowly lose their powers, becoming mortals. The last time Hancock and Mary were together was eighty years before, when Hancock was attacked; his amnesia is a result of the attack. Parker, who escaped prison with several other criminals, attacks the hospital to get revenge.