After dominating the box office with 'Bad Boys: Ride or Die', Will Smith is now gearing up for Sony Pictures' next big sci-fi thriller, 'Resistor', an adaptation of Daniel Suarez's bestselling cyberthriller novel 'Influx'.
- Jun 19, 2024
AceShowbiz - With "Bad Boys: Ride or Die" re-establishing Will Smith as a top Hollywood draw, bringing in over $100 million domestically in just ten days and a global total of $215.5 million, Sony Pictures is capitalizing on Smith's renewed star power. The studio has confirmed Smith's involvement in their upcoming project, "Resistor", based on Daniel Suarez's 2014 bestselling novel, "Influx".
The project, which is being developed by Escape Artists and co-produced by Smith's own company, Westbrook, alongside Todd Black's Escape Artists, features an intriguing plot likely to excite sci-fi fans. Although specific plot details remain under wraps, Suarez's novel provides a promising blueprint.
The story revolves around a particle physicist who makes a groundbreaking discovery - a device that can defy gravity - only to become the target of a clandestine government agency known as the Bureau of Technology Control.
Screenwriter Zak Olkewicz, known for Bullet Train, initially adapted the screenplay. The latest draft comes from Academy Award-nominated Eric Warren Singer, celebrated for his work on "Top Gun: Maverick" and "American Hustle". Producers besides Smith and Black include Jason Blumenthal, Steve Tisch, Tony Shaw, and Dave Wilson. Heather Washington is set to executive produce.
This project reunites Smith and Black, who have previously collaborated on Sony hits like "Seven Pounds", "The Pursuit of Happyness", and "Emancipation". The news of this collaboration was first reported by Deadline and later confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter (THR) and ABC Audio.
Smith's recent resurgence comes after a highly publicized and controversial moment at the 2022 Oscars, where he had a confrontation with Chris Rock. Despite the incident, Smith has returned triumphantly to his box office glory.
In fact, representatives from Creative Artists Agency (CAA), Smith's agents, have already been reaching out to studio executives to discuss future projects, taking advantage of the actor's revived momentum.
While a director has yet to be attached to Resistor, the film promises to be an exciting venture for both Smith and his fans, blending high-concept sci-fi with thrilling action - a perfect recipe for another box office hit.
