Will Smith’s Post-Slap Comeback Continues — Set to Star in Crime Drama ‘Sugar Bandits’

Will Smith’s assault of Chris Rock during the Oscars put his career in jeopardy, or, at the very least, in temporary hiatus, but he’s now trying to reappear in the spotlight.

Smith’s attempt at a comeback continues with the actor’s “Bad Boys 4” currently in post-production. He also has the “I Am Legend” sequel with Michael B. Jordan on the way. Now, here’s another project.

Variety is reporting that Smith will star in “Sugar Bandits,” a Boston-set saga thats an adaptation of Chuck Hogan’s 2004 novel of the same name. Curiously enough, Ben Affleck adapted Hogan’s “Prince Of Thieves” into 2010’s “The Town.”

Hogan will adapt his own novel, “The Devil In Exile,” for “Sugar Bandits,” which is being dubbed a crime-thriller. Smith will star as an Iraq War veteran who teams up with other vets to take down Boston’s drug trade.

“Sugar Bandits” has no director attached. I would imagine that one will be announced sooner rather than later. Smith has only starred in one film since he slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars in 2022: Antoine Fuqua‘s “Emancipation,” which had been shot prior to the slap. It was met with lukewarm reviews.

Regardless, Rock did confess that he’d love to see “Emancipation” but “just to watch Will Smith get whipped.”

Many have forgotten that Smith won the Oscar for Best Actor the night of the slap. It was supposed to be a joyous and important night in his career, but was overshadowed by a shameful incident. A few days later, Smith quickly escaped to Dubai and laid low with his best friend, the Crown Prince. It was best to stay out of the country.

Smith was himself slapped with a 10-year ban by the Academy, he can’t attend any Oscar-related events until 2033. The irony about that AMPAS ban is that, technically, people like Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey can still attend the Oscars, they haven’t been banned.

“Bad Boys 4” started production last Spring. The film hits theaters on June 14, 2024.