Will Smith is officially on a career rebound with news of a multi-film deal. From Independence Day to Men in Black to Bad Boys, Will Smith has headlined some of the biggest movie franchises in Hollywood for decades; he is also one of the few stars who can still bring global audiences to theaters based on name alone.

Smith is no stranger to working with major studios, as he and Paramount have previously collaborated on тιтles like Gemini Man and Anchorman 2, while Sony helped launch and sustain his most iconic IPs. Now, with the industry more focused than ever on big-budget franchises and IP-driven projects, Smith has signed a new movie deal.

Paramount Pictures has revealed a multi-picture, first-look deal with Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith’s production company Westbrook, with a focus on IP-based, franchise-starting theatrical films. The studio will develop new high-concept, four-quadrant features, many of which are being set up to star the Oscar-winning actor. Two projects already in the pipeline under the new deal include:

• Sugar Bandits — A Boston-set action thriller based on Chuck Hogan’s novel Devils in Exile, following a former special forces soldier leading a vigilante squad targeting the city’s drug trade.
• Rabbit Hole — A mystery project penned by Dune screenwriter Jon Spaihts, with plot details still under wraps.

As part of the agreement, Westbrook will be headquartered on the Paramount lot in Hollywood. This new move follows a string of high-profile talent acquisitions by Paramount, including a four-year deal with Stranger Things creators the Duffer Brothers, and a feature adaptation of Call of Duty from Activision. Last month, the studio also landed High Side, starring Timothée Chalamet.

What Will Smith’s New Paramount Deal Means

Will Smith’s pivot toward franchise generation reflects Hollywood’s current appeтιтe for IP-driven franchises over original films. By aligning with a studio like Paramount, Smith gains significant support in creating new action-forward, global hits, which could also potentially spawn the next Men in Black-level success story.

Paramount, in turn, gets a bankable star while also producing through a proven company. Smith’s Westbrook has already demonstrated strong storytelling instincts and commercial sensibilities, making it a perfect match for Paramount’s aggressive growth strategy. Furthermore, with two big names beginning a collaboration, there is significant potential for box office success.

For Smith, this deal also signals a new chapter. After collaborations with Sony and streaming experiments like Emancipation and Bright, this return to theatrical-first IP plays into his legacy. As a result of this new deal, Paramount can shape not just one movie, but multiple franchises that could define the next decade of Smith’s career.

Our Take On The Paramount & Will Smith Deal

Will Smith remains one of the few actors whose name still carries global blockbuster weight, even in light of his recent AI controversy. Therefore, this Paramount deal feels like a natural evolution for the actor, which will be less about reboots or sequels (like Bel-Air) and more about creating something fresh with franchise potential already baked in from the start.

With Sugar Bandits already sounding like a grounded, Sicario-style thriller, and Rabbit Hole tapping talent like Jon Spaihts, there’s strong potential for this partnership to yield something unique. Paramount’s recent H๏τ streak shows they’re not just chasing trends; they’re also building momentum, and bringing in a big name like Will Smith may be their most strategic move yet.