Will Smith Loses Major Projects After Slapping Chris Rock at Oscars 2022; Expert Says He 'Deeply Damaged' His Career

Following the controversial Oscars 2022 wherein Will Smith slapped Chris Rock over a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith, the actor's career may be affected.

Director David Leitch quit as the director of the planned Netflix film 'Fast and Loose,' starring Will Smith, a week before the Oscar ceremony, in an inadvertent stroke of excellent timing. Instead, he went on to Universal's 'Fall Guy,' starring Ryan Gosling, which will begin filming in August.

According to a source, Netflix was competing with Universal for Leitch's next movie, but Universal won out. Netflix put out an urgent request for another filmmaker to take over a movie starring the star who was strongly predicted to win the best actor at the Academy Awards, according to insiders. However, following Will Smith's on-stage attack on Chris Rock at the Oscars, Netflix discreetly shelved the project.

Will Smith's Projects Put on Hold

'Fast and Loose' was supposed to be about a criminal leader who loses his memory following an attack. As he pieces together the puzzle, he realizes that he has been a wealthy kingpin and a broke CIA operative.

Netflix seems hesitant to move further, which is understandable. It's unknown if the film will be recreated with a different actor and director. 'Emancipation,' Will Smith's slave escape story for Apple+, is presently in post-production.

The streamer expected to launch in 2022, but no date has been set. Apple has been silent about the matter. Otherwise, 'Bad Boys 4' at Sony had been in the works - Smith having gotten 40 pages of the script before the Academy Awards - but would now be put on hold, according to a source.

A few additional pre-production ventures are expected to follow suit. Requests for comment were not returned by Netflix, as per Hollywood reporter.

How Will Smith's On-Stage Attack Affect His Career?

Will Smith has been in several blockbuster films, including the 'Bad Boys' and 'Men in Black' series. According to box office tracker Comscore, his live action and animated films have made more than $9 billion worldwide.

Even as a recently minted Academy Award winner, though, his assault on Chris Rock raises doubts about whether his actions will have a substantial influence on his career prospects. According to experienced Hollywood publicist Michael Levine, Will Smith's smack across the face of comedian Chris Rock at the Academy Awards ceremony wasn't just bad, it was very really awful.

Smith's actions have seriously harmed his career in the short term. "If you're buying Will Smith stock right now. let's agree. Short term run, not good," said Levine, whose clients include pop icon Michael Jackson, former President Bill Clinton, artist David Bowie, and comedian Dave Chappelle, according to CBC,

Meanwhile, Chris Rock has moved on to a new level following the controversial event. He addressed the slap at a comedy event for his 'Ego Death Tour' at Boston's Wilbur Theater. Many are eager to hear Chris Rock's opinions on not just being struck by Will Smith, but also on whether he was aware of Pinkett Smith's medical condition and the aftermath of one of the most shocking events in Academy Awards history.

Tony Rock, Chris Rock's younger brother, turned to Twitter to answer inquiries about his older brother, including how he was doing. Tony, who also addressed his brother getting hit in one of his own standup acts that was aired on social media, tweeted, "Still Rich," CNN reported.