Will Smith Desperate to Reclaim Hollywood Throne After Fall From Grace: ‘Failure Is Not An Option’ (Exclusive)

Back in the spotlight!

Three years after his infamous Oscars slap, Will Smith has signed a first-look, multi-project deal with Paramount Pictures — and a source tells the National Enquirer that he’s refusing to let this opportunity go to waste.

As reported by Deadline, the new contract finds the Men in Black actor and his entertainment company, Westbrook, creating “franchise-starting” flicks that he’ll star in.

“Action comedies, thrillers and sci-fi spectacles — the kind of films that made him a superstar in the first place — are what he’s looking for going forward,” the source tells the Enquirer. “He’s cracking down on his staff and his reps to funnel the best material, filmmakers and writers to Westbrook. Failure is not an option!”

Smith knows what it’s like to fall out of favor in Hollywood. The 57-year-old was banned from the Academy Awards for 10 years following his onstage altercation with Chris Rock, 60, in 2022 over a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith, 54. He also saw the release of 2022’s Emancipation delayed.

“Will’s endured public shame and humiliation, and he’s managed to turn the page,” says the source.

In 2024, he even found box office success again, with Bad Boys: Ride or Die earning over $400 million globally.

Now, Smith is “pressuring everybody around him to deliver the goods and impress Paramount,” adds the source. “He’s ruling Westbrook with an iron fist and isn’t afraid to let any employees go if they’re not bringing enough to the table. Will really wants to cement his place back on top of the movie scene!”