Will Smith, Westbrook Sign First-Look Deal With Paramount to Make Franchise Films

Westbrook, the entertainment company founded by Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, has signed a first-look deal with Paramount. In a release touting the pact, Paramount said that Westbrook will focus on creating “global, four-quadrant theatrical movies” that have the potential to launch franchises and are based on pre-existing intellectual properties. Will Smith is expected to star in the films and Jada Pinkett Smith is expected to produce them.

Paramount said that two projects are already in development. “Sugar Bandits,” a thriller that is based on a book by Chuck Hogan called “Devils in Exile.” There’s also “Rabbit Hole,” which is being written by Jon Spaihts, one of the screenwriters of the “Dune” films. Westbrook will be based on the Paramount lot in Hollywood as part of the deal.

It’s the latest in a long line of splashy moves by Paramount following the completion of its $8 billion merger with Skydance. In short order, the company lured “Stranger Things” creators the Duffer Brothers over from Netflix and shelled out $7.7 billion to become the home of Ultimate Fighting Championship events for seven years.

Westbrook’s previous films include “Emancipation,” “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” and “King Richard,” which won an Oscar for Smith. Instead of being a moment of triumph, Will Smith’s reputation was tarnished after he assaulted Chris Rock during the 2022 telecast for making a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Smith publicly apologized on multiple occasions and “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” which was released after the incident, was a box office hit despite the backlash he received.

In 2022, Westbrook sold a minority stake to Candle Media, the entertainment venture run by former Disney executives Tom Staggs and Kevin Mayer.

Even before the merger, Paramount had several key first-look deals with such talent as “Transformers” producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura, “Sonic the Hedgehog” producer Neal H. Moritz, “Yellowstone” creator Taylor Sheridan, “A Quiet Place” filmmaker John Krasinski and Ryan Reynolds.