Will Smith won't need to call it a career just yet. Of course, the actor has come under tremendous fire for getting violent at the Academy Awards with comedian Chris Rock, resulting in many of his planned projects reportedly getting paused or delayed. Many former fans have said they won't be supporting Smith any longer, and the King Richard star might be concerned about getting "fully canceled" in the wake of the scandal.
This might be a challenging time for Smith, but according to the Daily Mirror, industry insiders say the Best Actor Oscar winner is set to be "flooded with work offers." It is believed that Smith could first be "lured to the small screen" and appear in movies with smaller budgets, and there will be no shortage of interested parties. With that said, a jump back to big-budget pictures with established directors remains possible, as Michael Bay says he's up for working with Smith again, and there might be other Hollywood filmmakers who feel the same.
“While quiet, there is still strong affection for him in sections of Hollywood," says marketing consultant Jeff Kelly, who notes that Smith's 10-year Oscars ban was "harsh but justified." Kelly also notes that "Hollywood loves nothing more than a redemption story and comeback," which sets the stage for Smith to pick back up with his acting career. In any case, what's both expected and best for Smith, according to Kelly, is for him to first take some time off before getting back on any movie set.
"It appears too easy to write his career off, his fate is a little more complicated," Kelly says. "There will be offers on the table from producers looking to work with him. Smaller budget companies will want to bring him on board to make movies, most likely in the action genre, using his name and cache, which they believe audiences still value.”
Of course, it will be up to the fans to ultimately decide what happens with Smith's career. If many of them turn out to support Smith with his "redemption story" and comeback to film, then the actor will be back in business. Ultimately, industry experts see Smith's career getting back on track at some point as the most likely outcome, given the high-profile friends and supporters he still has in Hollywood.
"It is very difficult for many to see a future for Mr. Smith following the furor. But Hollywood has always dealt with things differently," explains Kelly. "This will not be the end for Smith. He still has allies in the business, who while silent now, feel that one mistake should not mean an end to a lifetime of entertaining audiences. And certainly, if he wanted to pick up work in smaller budget pieces, there will be options out there for him."
Will Smith Can Still Be Nominated for Oscars, Even If He's Not Allowed to Go
Will Smith's punishment for smacking Chris Rock is that he cannot attend the Academy Awards for a full decade. While Smith won't be present for any of the ceremonies, he could still potentially be nominated for awards, so it's possible he'll be up again for Best Lead Actor before his ban expires. Even so, the actor resigned from the Academy before the punishment was announced, calling the decision heartbreaking.
"I betrayed the trust of the Academy. I deprived other nominees and winners of their opportunity to celebrate and be celebrated for their extraordinary work. I am heartbroken," Smith said in a statement. "I am resigning from membership in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and will accept any further consequences the Board deems appropriate. Change takes time and I am committed to doing the work to ensure that I never again allow violence to overtake reason.”