Will Smith Lands Sci-Fi Thriller Blockbuster After Bad Boys 4 Success
There was once a time when the world wondered if Will Smith’s career would ever bounce back, but following the box office-crushing success of his latest flick, Bad Boys: Ride or Die, the actor has already lined up another project. Pairing with Sony and the team at Escape Artists, Will Smith will lead the cast of Resistor, which adapts the story of Daniel Suarez’s 2014 sci-fi novel, Influx.
Eric Warren Singer, the scribe behind such hits as Top Gun: Maverick and American Hustle, is writing the latest version of the film’s script.
Will Smith Returns To Blockbusters
At this moment in time, Sony is keeping the plot details close to their chest but we do know at least part of what awaits audiences in the Will Smith-led Resistor as Suarez’s novel points the way.
The story follows a physicist named Jon Grady (who we’re presuming will be played by Smith) and his team of researchers who stumble upon an incredible world-changing device that can reflect gravity. However, the scientists hit a major roadblock when a government group known as the Bureau of Technology Control attempts to shut down their findings and put an end to the work that Grady and his colleagues are doing.
A History Of Sci-Fi Success
The Bureau of Technology Control gives Grady a very difficult decision: either join forces with them or face harsh punishment. Taking the latter option, Grady is tossed into a futuristic top clearance facility, and it’s there that he will plot with fellow prisoners to overthrow the bureau and bring their secrets into the light. With numerous roles in similar sci-fi thriller projects, Will Smith will find himself right at home as the leading physicist on a mission for the truth in Resistor.
Bad Boys: Ride Or Die Proved Will Smith Is Back
Although it’s reported that the movie’s production company, Escape Artists, has been trying to get the project off the ground for a while, it wasn’t until the staggering success of Bad Boys: Ride or Die that they were able to fully get the ball rolling. The latest installment in the Bad Boys franchise has been a lifesaver for the otherwise drab and dismal 2024 box office, kicking off the summer of blockbusters and pouring money back into the industry.
With this extra bit of oomph, Sony and Escape Artists snagged Will Smith and got him onboard for Resistor before the actor got other bids.
Audiences Forgave The Slap
Some may see Will Smith’s casting in Resistor as a bit of a comeback for the actor who was essentially blacklisted from Hollywood following a violent outburst at the 2022 Academy Award celebrations. In the briefest way possible, the altercation took place after Chris Rock, who was on stage presenting an award, cracked a joke at the expense of Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Strutting onto the stage, Will Smith walked right up to Rock and slapped him across the face before returning to his seat and shouting expletives at the comedian.
A While To Wait For Resistor
The incident was one of the most shocking moments to happen during the award show’s history and was made even crazier after Will Smith took home the award for Best Actor for his work in King Richard. After the unforgettable moment, Will Smith’s career suffered a downturn, with many studios shying away from working with him. Since the slap, Will Smith has only appeared in Antoine Fuqua’s Emancipation and Bad Boys: Ride or Die, with Resistor the latest project to come across the actor’s desk.
As of right now, Will Smith is the only name attached to the cast of Resistor, and the film hasn’t set a release date. Stay tuned for more information.
Source: Deadline
