Will Smith and Paramount are planning new films together

Since the change of management at Paramount, one headline has followed the next: they are planning a "Call of Duty" film, "World War Z 2", new "Star Trek" films – and now they also want to work closely with Will Smith and his company Westbrook. As reported by industry magazine The Hollywood Reporter, among others, the superstar has signed a first-look deal with the film studio.

Westbrook is backed by both the "Bad Boys" actor and his wife Jada Pinkett Smith. They now want to produce blockbusters together with Paramount, in which Will Smith himself is to take on leading roles. The upcoming productions are to be based on IP. Overall, the aim is not just to realize the projects for a specific audience, but rather to address several target groups.

Sugar Bandits

Two projects have already been announced. The first is the thriller "Sugar Bandits". The film is based on the novel "Devils in Exile" by Chuck Hogan. It is about an Iraq war veteran who joins forces with other veterans. The group fights the drug trade in Boston.

Rabbit Hole

On the other hand, a film called "Rabbit Hole" is also to be made. The man behind the project is Jon Spaihts, who has already worked as a screenwriter on a number of popular films in Hollywood. These include, above all, Denis Villeneuve's "Dune" films, "Doctor Strange" and "Prometheus". Smith is likely to be involved as an actor in both "Sugar Bandits" and "Rabbit Hole".

The controversies surrounding Will Smith

So Paramount is still planning big. One building block for future plans is now Will Smith. The superstar's image has suffered somewhat in recent years due to controversy. After the Academy Award scandal in 2022, another campaign recently sparked a lot of discussion online. Smith is accused of making heavy use of AI in a tour video. Specifically, this relates to the depiction of his audience. Smith shared the video on his social media with the words: "My favorite part of tour is seeing you all up close." You can find some examples here.

The further plans at Paramount

Call of Duty film adaptation

Probably the biggest announcement from the film studio is the film adaptation of "Call of Duty". With over 500 million copies sold worldwide, "Call of Duty" remains one of the most successful video game series in history. As Paramount announced in a press release, the project is currently in development.

The newly signed deal enables Paramount to produce both films and series based on the "Call of Duty" brand. The aim is to serve the series' loyal fan base and at the same time attract new viewers to the franchise. It is not yet known when exactly the "Call of Duty" film will be released in cinemas or what plot it will follow. Given the scope of the game – from historical war locations to science fiction scenarios – there are plenty of options.

World War Z 2

The zombie blockbuster "World War Z" celebrated its cinema debut over a decade ago – and despite ongoing speculation about a sequel, it hasn't been made. This could now finally change: According to statements made by Paramount and Skydance executives at a recent press event, "World War Z 2" is now one of the prioritized projects – along with "Top Gun 3" and other planned productions. However, no concrete details about the sequel have yet been given. A possible comeback of Brad Pitt in the leading role is also uncertain at present. "World War Z 2" is therefore probably still at a very early stage of development.

Star Trek

"Star Trek" is also set to return to the big screen in the future. The last movie was released in 2016 with "Star Trek: Beyond". Since then, the franchise has mainly focused on series, including productions such as the fan-favorite "Strange New Worlds". The next series project, "Star Trek: Starfleet Academy", is already in the starting blocks. So far series and film projects have been largely independent of each other – but that could soon change. Behind the scenes, there will be a greater focus on closer integration in future in order to develop the "Star Trek" universe more coherently.