Will Smith made an appearance on “The Today Show” on June 23, 2008 and discussed his upcoming movie, “Hancock.”

Box office champ Will Smith has become as synonymous with the Fourth of July as fireworks and backyard barbecues — but the star says he takes nothing for granted as he opens yet another summer holiday blockbuster with his new action film, “Hancock.”

“I feel like I have a relationship with the audience,” Smith told Matt Lauer on the TODAY set, winding his way through a cheering throng of fans. “They agree they are going to go in droves, and I agree that every time they go, it’s going to be better than the last time.”

Smith, 39, has launched such all-time action hits as “Independence Day” and “Men in Black” on Fourth of July weekends past. And now he is an odds-on favorite to add another film financial bonanza to his resume with “Hancock,” in which he plays a boozy comic book-style hero who has a bad attitude and often does more harm than good.

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But launching yet another 7/4 blockbuster makes for a potentially prickly situation in the Smith household. Smith’s 7-year-daughter with wife Jada Pinkett Smith. Willow, who played Smith’s daughter in last year’s “I Am Legend,” stars in the film “Kit Kittredge: An American Girl,” which goes into general release the same weekend. Smith laughed and told Lauer he’s already laid down film law to Willow, telling her, “Daddy loves ya, baby, but I have to stomp you at the box office!”

Jada Pinkett Smith with Jaden Smith and Willow Smith at the premiere of “Kit Kittredge: An American Girl” at The Ziegfeld Theater on June 19, 2008 in New York City.  (Getty Images)

Smith, whose films have grossed more than $4 billion in his prolific career, told Lauer he plans to play the real-life role of public advocate for Barack Obama’s election this fall — saying he can already feel the mood of the world tilting toward America as a result of Obama’s campaign.

“I just came back from Moscow, Berlin, London and Paris, and I’ve been there quite a few times in the past five to 10 years,” Smith said. “It just hasn’t been a good thing to be American. And this is the first time since Barack has gotten the nomination that it was a good thing.”

Source: Will Smith: Star talks about opening ‘Hancock’ on ‘Big Willie Weekend’: the 4th of July

Top photos: Will Smith at the Moscow premiere of Hancock, Moscow Film Festival, June 19, 2008 (Reuters)

See related posts:

• Photos: “Hancock” Moscow Premiere, Will Smith, Charlize Theron 6-19-08
• Photos: “Hancock” Paris Premiere, Will Smith, Charlize Theron 6-16-08
• Photos: “Hancock” UK Premiere, Will Smith, Charlize Theron 6-18-08
• Video: Will Smith’s New “Hancock” Trailer and Behind the Scenes Interviews
• Video: Will Smith on The Ellen DeGeneres Show 5-26-08
• Video: New TV Spots and Scene from “Hancock”

“Hancock” will be released in theaters on July 2, 2008.  For more on the movie visit the official Web sites:

• Hancock Was Here
• Official Hancock Movie Web site

Video: Will Smith on “The Today Show” 6-23-08