Will Smith: The action thriller Supermax will be the Hollywood star's next film

Will Smith is back! Things had been a bit quiet around the Hollywood star lately, but now he's set to star in a new film: "Supermax." The action thriller will be directed by David Gordon Green, according to Deadline.

Initial details about the plot have already been released. The film is described as a "propulsive and twist-laden action thriller." The story centers on two FBI agents investigating a murder case. What makes it unique: The crime was committed in the world's most secure prison. Will Smith is expected to play one of the two agents. His character's name is Rex. Additional cast members are currently being cast, including the other FBI agent, who is set to be portrayed by a female actress. Production is scheduled to begin in mid-August.

Supermax starring Will Smith is set to be released on Prime Video

Amazon MGM has secured the worldwide rights for the hefty sum of $70 million. However, those looking forward to seeing Will Smith back on the big screen may be disappointed. Instead of a theatrical release for "Supermax," the action thriller is set to premiere on Prime Video. A specific release date has not yet been announced.

"Supermax" director David Gordon Green is known, among other things, for his "Halloween" films, which continue John Carpenter's 1978 horror classic of the same name. In addition to Green, the writers of "Supermax" have also been announced. The screenplay is by David Weil and David J. Rosen. The duo is no stranger to action material. The two already know each other from "Citadel." They have written several scripts for the Prime Video action series. Additionally, David Weil serves as the showrunner for "Citadel." Meanwhile, Will Smith is not only set to play the lead role in "Supermax." The actor is also active behind the scenes: Smith is on board as a producer alongside Adam Fishbach, Andrew Rona, and Alex Heineman.

Things have quieted down for Will Smith following the scandal at the Oscars

After numerous films such as "Aladdin" and "Gemini Man," to name just a few from the recent past, Will Smith has kept a low profile in recent years. This is likely due in no small part to the scandal at the 2022 Oscars. Four years ago, a scandal erupted unlike anything seen before. For Will Smith, it initially looked like the pinnacle of his already highly successful career. He was nominated for the Oscar for Best Actor for his performance in Reinaldo Marcus Green's biopic "King Richard." What's more: With his role as the father of the famous tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams, Smith was the clear favorite to win the award. During the Oscar ceremony, he sat in the audience with his wife – and had to listen as Chris Rock made fun of Jada Pinkett Smith's bald spot on stage. What happened next was something no one could have expected: the offended husband stood up, walked over to Chris Rock, and slapped him. Later that evening, he actually won the Oscar for Best Actor and, visibly shaken and in tears due to his behavior, accepted his award. His victory, the defining moment of his career, was overshadowed by the incident with Chris Rock. The whole world was talking only about the slap – and in the years that followed, things quieted down around the success-spoiled Will Smith.

Following his Oscar-winning role in "King Richard," he has appeared in only two other feature films to date. In 2022, he starred in Antoine Fuqua's historical film "Emancipation." Two years later, he returned with another installment of the successful "Bad Boys" franchise. In "Bad Boys: Ride or Die", he once again starred alongside Martin Lawrence. With a global box office gross of $404 million, the film proved to be a success. And it showed: Despite the Oscar scandal, Will Smith is far from finished as a movie star. It will be interesting to see if he can prove that again with "Supermax."