Will Smith Exits Role In Big-Budget Action Movie Sugar Bandits

As a long-time admirer of Will Smith’s versatile acting skills and captivating charisma, I have to say that it’s always a treat to witness his transformative performances across various genres. From the action-packed Bad Boys franchise to historical dramas like Emancipation, there’s no denying that he consistently delivers top-notch entertainment.

Acclaimed actor, Will Smith, is stepping away from his acting role in the upcoming action movie titled Sugar Bandits. According to Deadline, scheduling issues are cited as the reason behind Smith’s decision to leave the film, even though he will continue his involvement with the project as a producer. His production company Westbrook is still attached to the film. Previously, Smith was cast as a former special forces soldier leading an elite vigilante team aiming to dismantle the drug trade in Boston. The role will be filled by another actor now.

The narrative of “Sugar Bandits” is adapted from Chuck Hogan’s 2010 novel, “Devils in Exile.” The tale unfolds around Neal Maven, a disillusioned soldier back from Iraq, who encounters a fresh perspective in life upon encountering Brad Royce, a fellow veteran embodying everything Neal yearns for – a vibrant persona, charisma, wealth, social standing, and his dream woman. Maven subsequently teams up with Royce’s group of “sugar bandits,” other veterans utilizing their military skills to dismantle significant drug operations in Boston, keeping the profits and eradicating the drugs.

This year, Stefano Sollima took on the director role for the project. Notably, Sollima is recognized for his work in action/thriller films like “Without Remorse” and “Sicario: Day of the Soldado.” The film titled “Sugar Bandits,” which was recently sold for a reported $80 million at both the European Film Market and Cannes to various distributors, including Amazon Prime, was in pre-production. Scouting locations in Montreal was underway in preparation for filming, which was expected to start shortly. However, it remains undisclosed whether the departure of Smith as the lead actor will affect the distribution agreement and release schedule for “Sugar Bandits.” At this point, no formal announcement has been made regarding these matters.

Smith Returns to the Silver Screen

Will Smith Exits Role In Big-Budget Action Movie Sugar Bandits

This summer, the cinemas saw the comeback of Will Smith as he joined the Bad Boys series once more, with the release of Bad Boys: Ride or Die. This is the fourth movie in the action-packed franchise and has grossed approximately $400 million globally. The success of Ride or Die at the box office has prompted Netflix to give the green light for a new crime thriller, Fast and Loose. This project was previously paused due to Smith’s Oscar slap controversy. In this upcoming film, Smith takes on the role of a criminal organization’s head, rejoining his team after an unusual case of memory loss.

If you’re a fan of Smith’s captivating performances in dramatic or historical roles, such as Apple TV’s Emancipation, keep an eye out for his upcoming Netflix crime drama, The Council. This series is inspired by real events, focusing on the criminal underworld of Harlem in the 1970s and 80s, led by black men. Smith will portray Nicky Barnes, a notorious crime boss known as “Mr. Untouchable,” who graced the cover of The New York Times.

In the upcoming sequel to the 2007 zombie thriller “I Am Legend,” Smith will join Michael B. Jordan. The original movie was based on Richard Matheson’s post-apocalyptic novel with the same title. Although Smith’s character met his end in the initial film, viewers may remember the different ending that appeared on later DVD releases. This sequel plans to continue the tale using this alternate ending, which gained more favor among fans since its debut due to its popularity.

You can watch
Bad Boys
and
Bad Boys II
on Netflix.

2024-09-06 21:01

Smith Returns to the Silver Screen

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