Upcoming Will Smith Movies And Shows: What's Ahead For The Bad Boys Star

Will Smith toasting Martin Lawrence in Bad Boys For Life.
(Image credit: Sony Pictures Entertainment)

The term “movie star” is practically synonymous with Will Smith. For years, it seemed as if any project that he touched – such as Independence Day, the Men in Black movies, the Bad Boys franchise, and Disney’s live-action remake of Aladdin, to name a few – was destined to become an enormous box office success. His career has certainly had its ups and downs over the years, but there is more to come from the man otherwise known as “Big Willie” or “The Fresh Prince,” as you can see from this guide to the upcoming Will Smith movies we are excited to see below. 

Bad Boys: Ride or Die (June 7, 2024)

Martin Lawrence and Will Smith in Bad Boys: Ride or Die

(Image credit: Sony Pictures Releasing)

In 2020, the Bad Boys movie franchise was revived for a third installment which became one of the greatest successes of that year. So, it should come as no surprise that the action-packed Bad Boys for Life is not the last we will ever see of Will Smith as Mike Lowery and Martin Lawrence as Marcus Burnett.

The fourth Bad Boys movie, Bad Boys: Ride or Die – which directorial duo Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah have returned to helm – has already secured a date on the 2024 movie release date schedule for the month of June and concluded production in early March, according to a joint Instagram post by Smith and Lawrence. So, it appears you won’t have to worry too much about whatcha gonna do during the time we wait for the sequel to release.

I Am Legend 2 (TBA)

Will Smith armed and walking through parked cars in I Am Legend.

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

As fans of the 2007 adaptation of Richard Matheson’s post-apocalyptic novel I Am Legend will recall, the film has two different endings. SPOILER ALERT: in the theatrical cut, Will Smith’s character dies, but in an alternate ending found on home video releases, he survives. The second, more widely favored conclusion will be recognized as canon when the follow-up is released.

Smith is producing the upcoming sequel to I Am Legend, in which he will also reprise his role as Dr. Robert Neville – one of the few survivors of a global outbreak he is responsible for, which killed some, but turned the rest into vicious, nocturnal mutants. Variety reported in late 2023 that the actor revealed at the Red Sea International Film Festival that there is a script for the sci-fi thriller, which Michael B. Jordan is also starring in and producing.

Fast And Loose (TBA)

Will Smith as Deadshot in Suicide Squad

(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Very rarely has Will Smith played a “bad guy” – save when he joined 2016’s Suicide Squad cast as Deadshot or when he led one of the best Margot Robbie movies, Focus, as an experienced con artist. However, the actor’s role in Fast and Loose is described as the leader of a criminal organization whose reunion with his crew following a bout of memory loss is met with suspicious circumstances.

The crime thriller comes from brotherly writing duo Jon and Erich Hoeber (known for penning 2012’s Battleship and the Meg movies) and is being produced by Netflix, which put development on hold following the Oscar slap incident. In early 2023, Variety reported that the streaming platform opted to continue moving forward with Fast and Loose again after Sony greenlit Bad Boys: Ride or Die.

The Council (TBA)

Older Will Smith in Gemini Man

(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)

Telling the true story of a crime syndicate consisting of seven Black men who ruled Harlem in the 1970s and 1980s, The Council will see Will Smith adopting the role of Nicky Barnes, a crime boss deemed Mr. Untouchable, in this new Netflix crime drama, as IndieWire reported. The project will reunite Smith with screenwriter Peter Landesman, who wrote and directed 2015's Concussion

It's unclear at the moment if Landesman is expected to direct this movie as well, but he will also serve as an executive producer. Likewise, Smith is on-board to produce in addition to starring in this new movie, which was announced in 2019, but without any further updates revealed since.

Planes, Trains, And Automobiles (TBA)

Steve Martin and John Candy in Planes, Trains and Automobiles

(Image credit: Paramount)

If there's one movie that people think of as a Thanksgiving classic, it's John Hughes' Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. Both one of the best Steve Martin movies as well as one of the best John Candy movies, this road trip comedy is a regular favorite for many homes during November, which is why the promise of an upcoming remake of Planes, Trains and Automobiles might make many people nervous. 

Nevertheless, Will Smith and Kevin Hart are signed on to produce and star in a modernized retelling of this Thanksgiving tale, with Aeysha Carr in charge of writing the screenplay. The new comedy was first announced in 2020, but the last we heard about it was in 2023 when Hart told ET Canada (via Today) that the script is in progress and he is looking forward to working with fellow Philadelphia native Smith.

Aladdin 2 (TBA)

Will Smith in Aladdin

(Image credit: Disney)

While 2019's Aladdin didn't necessarily show us a whole new world, it did bring in a massive audience eager to revisit the classic tale. The live-action remake to Disney's immensely popular 1992 animated film made more than a whopping $1 billion dollars worldwide, so you better believe Disney is making a sequel. 

It was announced that Aladdin 2 was in the works at the Mouse House in 2020, with Guy Richie returning to the director's chair while John Gatins (Flight) and Andrea Berloff (Straight Outta Compton) are writing the screenplay. After years without any news since, rumors suggested that the follow-up had been cancelled. In 2023, star Mena Massoud told ScreenRant that he could not confirm or deny the sequel’s chances of finally happening. 

Brilliance (TBA)

Alan Tudyk in Will Smith in I, Robot

(Image credit: Fox)

In addition to all the sequels, remakes, and other IP-based properties lined up in Will Smith's future, the Gemini Man actor is also looking to produce and star in Brilliance – an intriguing new sci-fi property based on Marcus Sakey's 2013 novel of the same name. Reuniting the actor with screenwriter Akiva Goldsman – who co-wrote I Am Legend and I, Robot – this new movie takes place in a world in which, since 1980, one percent of the population has been born with special powers. 

As THR reported in September 2019, Smith will play the role of Nick Cooper, a federal agent tasked with keeping tabs on individuals with these special gifts. The project has been in development since 2013 with several false starts since and even talk of Jared Leto replacing Smith at one point, so it's hard to know if it's still moving forward. But it's certainly intriguing and, if successful, could spark another franchise for the actor.

Additional Upcoming Will Smith Producing Credits

Will Smith in a suit and tie in Pursuit of Happyness

(Image credit: Sony Pictures Releasing)

In addition to all the various titles listed above that Will Smith is attached to, bouncing between actor and producer duties, there are several more movies and shows coming up from Smith's Overbrook Entertainment division. 

Bel-Air Season 3 (TBA)

Jabari Banks on Bel-Air

(Image credit: Peacock)

A dramatic, modern-day retelling of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, the hit sitcom that proved Smith’s acting chops to the world, Bel-Air is returning for a third season. However, when fans can continue to see the struggles of Jabari Banks’ Will Smith at his home away from home with a Peacock subscription has yet to be announced.

Pole To Pole (TBA)

Will Smith in Hancock.

(Image credit: Sony Pictures)

As reported by The Independent in early 2023, Smith is set to host and produce a new travel docuseries alongside National Geographic called Pole to Pole. Viewers will be able to join the actor on this new journey with a Disney+ subscription, but when has yet to be revealed.

Onyeka And The Academy Of The Sun (TBA)

Onyeka Book Trailer

(Image credit: Simon & Schuster)

In early 2022, Deadline reported that Smith and David Oyelowo joined forces to produce a film adaptation of Tọlá Okogwu’s novel, Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun. However, no updates regarding the coming-of-age story of a young girl seeking guidance about her newfound magical abilities in Nigeria have come out since.

Da Understudy (TBA)

Spike Lee during interview

(Image credit: VF)

In early 2023, Will Smith had signed on to help produce a Spike Lee joint about an actor willing to kill for his dream role in Da Understudy. The last update we heard of the Amazon Studios movie came from Variety when Jonathan Majors was dropped from the cast in early 2024.

Which upcoming Will Smith project are you looking forward to the most?

Will Ashton

Will is an entertainment writer based in Pittsburgh, PA. His writing can also be found in The Playlist, Cut Print Film, We Got This Covered, The Young Folks, Slate and other outlets. He also co-hosts the weekly film/TV podcast Cinemaholics with Jon Negroni and he likes to think he's a professional Garfield enthusiast.