A project by Will Smith in collaboration with Netflix has been completely stranded, following the controversy that occurred at the Oscars last Sunday. This is Fast and Loose, a film that had already lost David Leitch as director a week before the incident. This time, the same streaming service has decided to take it to the background and its development in the future remains uncertain.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Leitch left the direction of this film to focus on the filming of Fall Guy, starring Ryan Gosling, which will take place next August. A close source said that the platform was competing with Universal — the company behind the title with Gosling — to work with the filmmaker and when he stepped aside, he had called for a new director to take charge of leading the production.
After Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Academy gala, the streaming giant “quietly moved the project to the background,” according to published information. The story was about a crime boss who loses his memories after an attack and begins to gather all the clues until he discovers that he has a dual identity: a dangerous mafia kingpin and a dilapidated CIA agent.
Fast and Loose will star Will Smith, but with the development paused it is unknown whether the filming will really be able to materialize with the Oscar winner in the lead. It is not yet clear whether Netflix will do without the American star and will have in mind the signing of his replacement. A similar situation involves the making of Bad Boys 4, under the Sony label, as it has recently been declared paused, according to a close source. For now, none of the companies that will release productions with Smith have made any comments on the release of these.
Will Smith made his resignation from the Academy official
On April 1, Will Smith announced his resignation from the Hollywood Academy after attacking the comedian live Chris Rock, after the latter made an inappropriate joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. The event was televised before the cameras that broadcast the 94th edition of the Oscars and was among the most talked about of the event. A few days later, the African-American artist who won the statuette for Best Actor for King Richard: a winning family officially stepped aside the organization:
“I resign from being a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and I will accept any other consequences that the board deems appropriate,” he said in a statement. “My actions in the presentation of the 94th Academy Awards were shocking, painful and inexcusable. The list of people I've hurt is long and includes Chris, his family, many of my dear friends and loved ones, all the attendees and global audiences at home.”
KEEP READING: