Everyone’s attention was drawn to Will Smith hitting Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards. It continues to generate news even two months later. Not only that, but the incident has had an impact on the Aladdin actor’s career, with several of his projects being canceled or postponed as a result of the incident.
While a previous item in The Hollywood Reporter said that the film’s production had been suspended because to the iconic slap, a Sony Pictures Entertainment official has recently clarified whether or not the film’s production has been halted. Fans of Smith, rejoice! According to recent rumors, a Sony Pictures Entertainment official has spoken out against claims that the development of Bad Boys 4 was harmed by Will Smith hitting Chris Rock at the Oscars. Motion Picture Group Chairman Tom Rothman cleared the air in a new interview with Deadline, confirming that things are still moving forward. “That was false,” he said of the THR article claiming the project had been suspended.
“That movie has been in development and still is,” Rothman said of the Will Smith-led Bad Boys 4 sequel. Because the automobile wasn’t moving, there were no brakes to pump.” “I’ve known Will Smith for many years, and I know him to be a decent person,” Tom Rothman stated of knowing Will. That was an example of a good guy having a terrible day in front of the whole world.” The boss also stated that “forgiveness and redemption” are important to him.
While this is encouraging news, Will’s other initiatives have been halted or postponed. Within a week following the 2022 Academy Awards incident, Netflix abruptly halted production on Fast and Loose, a film in which Smith plays a criminal leader who loses his memory and gradually learns about his double life as a CIA operative and crime kingpin. Will’s Bright 2 was apparently halted in April in a decision that was supposedly “unrelated to the [Oscars] event.”