When you're on a roll, why stop? Having recently navigated some rough patches, Will Smith is now enjoying the success of ‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’, the fourth film in the ‘Bad Boys’ franchise. Following this success, Smith has signed on with Sony to star in the feature adaptation of ‘Resistor’, according to Deadline. This upcoming sci-fi thriller is based on Daniel Suarez's 2014 novel ‘Influx’.
‘Resistor’ reunites Smith with producer Todd Black, who has previously collaborated on ‘Seven Pounds’, ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’, and ‘Emancipation’. The novel follows physicist Jon Grady, who, along with his team, invents a device that can reflect gravity.
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Instead of receiving acclaim, they face a crackdown by a secretive government organization dedicated to suppressing technological advancements. Imprisoned, Grady must team up with other rebel scientists to expose a conspiracy to keep humanity in a technological dark age.
Currently, ‘Resistor’ is in development and searching for a director. The screenplay, penned by ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ co-writer Eric Singer, builds on a previous draft by Zak Olkewicz (‘Bullet Train’). Smith will star and produce alongside Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Steve Tisch, and Tony Shaw from Escape Artists. Additional producers include Jon Mone from Westbrook and Dave Wilson, with Heather Washington serving as executive producer.
Smith's journey back to the limelight has been notable. After the controversial incident at the 94th Academy Awards in March 2022, where he slapped host Chris Rock, Smith faced significant backlash and project cancellations.
Banned from The Academy for a decade, ‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’ marked his first theatrical release since the incident. The film's success, grossing $112 million domestically and $102 million internationally, has helped revive his career, pushing the ‘Bad Boys’ franchise's total box office earnings past the $1 billion mark.
– Farheen Ali
