Paramount Pictures signed a first-look deal for multiple movies with Will Smith and his company Westbrook. The agreement includes a development commitment for theatrical films aimed at global audiences, many positioned as franchise-starters featuring Smith.
Will Smith and his production company sign multi-picture Paramount deal
Two movies already confirmed for Will Smith are Sugar Bandits and Rabbit Hole, with Westbrook relocating its base and creative operations to the Paramount lot in Hollywood.
The thriller Sugar Bandits, adapted from Chuck Hogan’s novel Devils in Exile, is centered around a former Special Forces soldier who leads a vigilante squad to dismantle Boston’s drug trade. Dune screenwriter Jon Spaihts is writing the second project, Rabbit Hole, though the plot remains undisclosed. Paramount describes both films as high-concept, four-quadrant features with franchise potential. (via Deadline)
The deal follows Paramount’s July 2025 merger with Skydance. The merger brought new leadership under David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Josh Greenstein. Since then, the studio has pursued major talent acquisitions, including a four-year pact with Stranger Things creators the Duffer Brothers. It also added the Timothée Chalamet-led heist thriller High Side. Paramount further got the rights to adapt a feature film based on Activision’s Call of Duty franchise.
Will Smith’s partnership with Paramount marks a shift after decades of collaboration with Sony. At Sony, he headlined franchises like Men in Black and Bad Boys. Smith and Paramount also worked together on Gemini Man and Anchorman 2. His new pact signals a return to theatrical-first filmmaking, aligning with Hollywood’s focus on IP-driven franchise generation and positioning him for future blockbuster opportunities.
CAA represents both Smith and Westbrook in the agreement. Paramount aims to expand its annual theatrical output to as many as 20 films. The studio positions the Smith-Westbrook deal as part of its broader strategy. It aims to build long-term global franchises under its new ownership.
Originally reported by Anubhav Chaudhry on ComingSoon.
