Will Smith is plotting his big return with major movie moving forward in secret
WILL Smith is plotting his comeback as he moves forward with plans for a major new movie, a source has revealed.
While he may be on the Academy Awards' blacklist for a decade and face a wait for movie studios and the public to welcome him back on screen - behind closed doors, Will Smith is already working on a screen return with I Am Legend 2.
The movie, produced by his company Westbrook Studios, will see Smith reprise his role as scientist Robert Neville fighting for survival and a cure for zombies in post-apocalyptic New York City.
Insiders say that Oscar-winner Akiva Goldsman, who adapted Richard Matheson's 1954 novel for the original 2007 movie, is including Smith's character in the follow-up.
Smith won acclaim for the first movie, co-starring Michael B Jordan, making around $585,410,052 at the box office.
While no script has been signed off in full yet, the concept will feature Smith, as Warner Brother Studios have not blocked the star's return despite his infamous Chris Rock attack, the source said.
Smith faced a backlash after storming on stage at the 2022 Oscars and hitting host Rock in the face over a joke he made about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
A source told The Sun: "The script is being written mentioning his character and as of yet, Will remains attached to the project.
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"The concept is still to be signed off by Warner Brothers, but there has been no indication that Will is off the project.
"Obviously he is the producer of the film and his production company is in charge while the development continues.
"The reality is that Will will make a comeback at some point and it will be simply down to which studio will be the one to take a chance on him.
"The negative sentiments from the public about his career have certainly reduced in recent weeks as the world has moved on thanks to stories like the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard trial.
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"And Will himself is undergoing therapy and taking time away from the limelight.
"Certainly Hollywood loves comeback stories where stars seemingly done with the business bounce back with a big project such as with Robert Downey Jr, Mel Gibson, Drew Barrymore, and Winona Ryder.
"In two years' time things could look very different - and Will could return to the screen. "
BAD BOYS RETURN
Last month Sony boss Tom Rothman revealed that Bad Boys 4 was still being looked at even though reports claimed it was on hold - and Smith had not been ruled out.
At Cinemacon, he said: "That movie's been in development and still is. There weren't any brakes to pump because the car wasn't moving.
"That was a very unfortunate thing that happened, and I don't think it's really my place to comment, except to say that I've known Will Smith for many years, and I know him to be a good person.
"That was an example of a very good person having a very bad moment in front of the world.
"I believe his apology and regret is genuine, and I believe in forgiveness and redemption."
DRUG-FUELED PREMONITIONS
Last month, Smith revealed in an interview with David Letterman that he had a psychedelic drug-fueled vision that his career would be "destroyed" before attacking host Rock at the Oscars.
Smith recalled a premonition that he experienced while under the effects of ayahuasca - a psychoactive herbal drink that reportedly holds some hallucinogenic properties.
The Bad Boys' star prediction of his fall from grace did leave him with one positive outlook of being certain that he "can handle anything that this life has to offer."
Speaking to host David Letterman, Smith said: "Once you drink it, you're going to see yourself in a way you've never seen yourself.
"One of the experiences was the individual, most hellish psychological experience of my life."
Smith said he had the vision that his palatial home, wealth, and unparalleled career would be ripped from him during two years in which he explained ingesting the psychedelic drug nearly 15 times.
"I'm drinking, I'm sitting there, and then, all of the sudden, it's like I start seeing all of my money flying away, and my house is flying away, and my career is gone away,'" Smith recalled.
Smith said he came to when he heard his daughter, Willow Smith, calling out for his help.
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His comments came in My Next Guest Needs No Introduction, taped months before the viral slap.
The Sun contacted Will Smith and Westbrook Productions representatives for comment.
