Will Smith projects currently on hold after the Oscars slap

Films such as 'Bad Boys 4', 'Fast and Loose' and a possible biopic have been delayed or dropped

In an unexpected moment at the 2022 Academy Awards, actor Will Smith slaps comedian Chris Rock. AFP

Smith confronts Rock onstage at the Oscars after the comedian made a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. AFP

Rock likened Jada Pinkett Smith's hair to a GI Jane haircut, which prompted her husband to take to the stage to confront Rock in a seemingly unscripted moment. Reuters

Smith leaves the stage at the Oscars after slapping Rock for a remark he made about his wife Jada. She lost her hair because of alopecia. AP

Smith and Jada arrive at the 94th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California. AFP

Smith wins Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance in King Richard, at the 2022 Oscars. AFP

Smith, in tears, pays tribute to his wife Jada during his acceptance speech. AFP

Smith with wife Jada after he won the Oscar award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. AFP

Serena Williams at the Oscar Awards on Sunday, March 27, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. AP

Serena and sister Venus Williams introduce a performance by Beyonce at the Oscars. AP

US tennis star Venus attends the 94th Oscars. AFP

Will Smith made headlines around the world after slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars over a bad joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.

Although Smith won the Academy Award for Best Actor later that night, there has still been plenty of fallout from the incident — including his resignation from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on April 1.

In addition, a number of projects the actor has been working on have also been put on hold. Here’s a look at some of those that are currently on the back-burner.

'Bad Boys 4'

The fourth instalment in the Bad Boys franchise will feature Smith and Martin Lawrence as best friends and police detectives. In January 2020, it was reported that the film was in development, with Sony hiring screenwriter Chris Bremner to pen the script. This month, The Hollywood Reporter said that Smith had received 40 pages of that script before the Oscars incident, however, the project has now been put on hold.

'Fast and Loose'

A week before the Oscars, director David Leitch dropped out of helming Netflix’s film Fast and Loose, which was to star Smith. The movie would have told the story of a crime boss who loses his memory after being attacked, only to learn that he has been living a double life. Netflix has reportedly put the project on the back-burner for now, possibly opting to scrap it or move forward with a different director and star.

'Emancipation'

Emancipation is in post-production with Apple TV+, and stars Smith as an escaped slave who joins the Union Army. It’s been hotly tipped to be a film that could garner major awards next season and is scheduled to come out sometime in 2022. However, Apple TV+ has yet to issue an announcement on the official release date, with some wondering if the film is being purposefully delayed.

Apple TV+ biopic

Netflix and Apple TV+ were both interested in acquiring the rights to a Will Smith biopic inspired by his bestselling memoir, Will. However, after the events of the Oscars ceremony, both companies reportedly “quietly removed” their bids to work on the project.