Viviva A. Fox Says Will Smith Helped Her Prepare As Frankie In ‘Set It Off’, Rosie Perez Was Originally Offered Role

Viviva A. Fox Says Will Smith Helped Her Prepare As Frankie In ‘Set It Off’, Rosie Perez Was Originally Offered Role

The 1996 movie Set It Off will forever be amongst the top mentioned classics for many people.  The box office hit, directed by Gary F. Gray, starred Vivica A. Fox, Jada Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah, and Kimberly Elise and centered around four friends who strategized and executed a plan to commit several bank robberies to financially improve their lives.

Nearly 25 years later, Vivica A. Fox opened up about her role and became emotional as she reflected on the times.

She began,

“I am so proud of the director, F. Gary Gray, who over 20 years ago when we made that film, he really was a stickler for making the storyline believable. He was so professional, he was just… we were throwing out pages, and rewriting it and making things work because he didn’t want us to be laughed at.”

She continued on about the preparation for her role as Frankie in the film.

“Will coached me for Set It Off in my trailer… He was dating Jada at the time. Guess he was trying to score some points and it worked, Will!”

Vivica A. Fox and Will Smith were no strangers at the time of filming.  They had previously worked together on season 1 of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as well as Smith’s box office smash, Independence Day.

Reportedly, actress Rosie Perez, famously known for movie roles in Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing and White Men Can’t Jump, turned down the role of Frankie in Set It Off when she was originally offered the role.

What do you think about Will Smith helping Vivica A. Fox with the iconic role? Comment and let us know.