Will Smith Indicators Multi-Movie Deal With Paramount Photos

Will Smith is formally on a profession rebound with information of a multi-film deal. From Independence Day to Males in Black to Unhealthy Boys, Will Smith has headlined a number of the largest film franchises in Hollywood for many years; he’s additionally one of many few stars who can nonetheless deliver world audiences to theaters based mostly on title alone.

Smith isn’t any stranger to working with main studios, as he and Paramount have beforehand collaborated on titles like Gemini Man and Anchorman 2, whereas Sony helped launch and maintain his most iconic IPs. Now, with the trade extra centered than ever on big-budget franchises and IP-driven tasks, Smith has signed a brand new film deal.

Paramount Photos has revealed a multi-picture, first-look cope with Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s manufacturing firm Westbrook, with a deal with IP-based, franchise-starting theatrical movies. The studio will develop new high-concept, four-quadrant options, a lot of that are being set as much as star the Oscar-winning actor. Two tasks already within the pipeline underneath the brand new deal embody:

• Sugar Bandits — A Boston-set motion thriller based mostly on Chuck Hogan’s novel Devils in Exile, following a former particular forces soldier main a vigilante squad focusing on town’s drug commerce.
• Rabbit Gap — A thriller challenge penned by Dune screenwriter Jon Spaihts, with plot particulars nonetheless underneath wraps.

As a part of the settlement, Westbrook can be headquartered on the Paramount lot in Hollywood. This new transfer follows a string of high-profile expertise acquisitions by Paramount, together with a four-year cope with Stranger Issues creators the Duffer Brothers, and a function adaptation of Name of Obligation from Activision. Final month, the studio additionally landed Excessive Facet, starring Timothée Chalamet.

What Will Smith’s New Paramount Deal Means

Will Smith’s pivot towards franchise technology displays Hollywood’s present urge for food for IP-driven franchises over authentic movies. By aligning with a studio like Paramount, Smith features vital help in creating new action-forward, world hits, which may additionally doubtlessly spawn the subsequent Males in Black-level success story.

Paramount, in flip, will get a bankable star whereas additionally producing via a confirmed firm. Smith’s Westbrook has already demonstrated robust storytelling instincts and industrial sensibilities, making it an ideal match for Paramount’s aggressive development technique. Moreover, with two huge names starting a collaboration, there may be vital potential for field workplace success.

For Smith, this deal additionally indicators a brand new chapter. After collaborations with Sony and streaming experiments like Emancipation and Brilliant, this return to theatrical-first IP performs into his legacy. Because of this new deal, Paramount can form not only one film, however a number of franchises that would outline the subsequent decade of Smith’s profession.

Our Take On The Paramount & Will Smith Deal

Will Smith stays one of many few actors whose title nonetheless carries world blockbuster weight, even in mild of his latest AI controversy. Due to this fact, this Paramount deal looks like a pure evolution for the actor, which can be much less about reboots or sequels (like Bel-Air) and extra about creating one thing contemporary with franchise potential already baked in from the beginning.

With Sugar Bandits already sounding like a grounded, Sicario-style thriller, and Rabbit Gap tapping expertise like Jon Spaihts, there’s robust potential for this partnership to yield one thing distinctive. Paramount’s latest scorching streak reveals they don’t seem to be simply chasing developments; they’re additionally constructing momentum, and bringing in an enormous title like Will Smith could also be their most strategic transfer but.