Will Smith to Produce ‘Brilliance’ in First Post-Slap Project — But Could He Star In It, Too?

Looks like Will Smith‘s post-slap future is a little brighter than expected. The actor — whose star has been clouded by controversy ever since he struck Chris Rock across the face at the 2022 Oscars — is set to produce and potentially star in Brilliance, a Paramount Pictures film, Deadline reports.

Smith will once again collaborate with Akiva Goldsman, whom he worked with on I, Robot, I Am Legend and Hancock. The actor will produce Brilliance under his Westbrook Studios company, although Deadline reports his role on the movie could expand: “The hope remains that the film is a star vehicle for Smith, though sources said he hasn’t committed to star.”

Brilliance is an adaptation of the Marcus Sakey novel tribology of the same name, which is based in a future where “non-neurotypical people — demonized by society as ‘twists’ or ‘abnorms’ — are threatening the status quo of the ‘normal’ population with their unique gifts,” per Deadline.

Smith’s latest starring film role, his Civil War drama Emancipation, is currently in limbo at Apple TV+. The streamer is reportedly split on when and how to release the movie after Smith’s PR crisis, according to a New York Times report published earlier this week. While Apple planned to push the Emancipation release to 2023, sources now say the company could drop the film by the end of this year, making it awards eligible.

Even if Emancipation were to snag an Oscars nom or win a coveted gold statue, Smith would not be in attendance. The actor was banned from all Academy Award events for the next 10 years after slapping Rock during the live telecast in March after the comedian made a joke about Jada Pinkett-Smith’s bald head.

Smith has since apologized multiple times, and filmed a video sharing his thoughts — including a direct message to Rock — which he posted to YouTube in July. The clip didn’t go over too well with Rock, who publicly blasted Smith for his “hostage video” during a comedy set with Dave Chappelle earlier this month.