With the resounding success of Sony Pictures' Bad Boys: Ride or Die surpassing the $100 million domestic box office milestone over the weekend, the studio and its star, Will Smith, are already casting their eyes towards the horizon. Smith is set to take center stage in Sony's upcoming thriller, Resistor, based on the captivating sci-fi novel Influx by renowned author Daniel Suarez.
The first draft of the script, penned by Zak Olkewicz, has been further honed by Eric Warren Singer, whose latest iteration has piqued the interest of executives. The film will be helmed by the producing quartet of Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Steve Tisch, and Tony Shaw from Escape Artists, who have been nurturing this project for quite some time. Smith and Jon Mone, through Westbrook, have also been involved in its development, with Heather Washington serving as executive producer, alongside Dave Wilson.
While the plot details remain shrouded in mystery, the 2014 novel offers a thrilling glimpse into a world where physicist Jon Grady and his team make a stunning discovery: a device capable of manipulating gravity. This groundbreaking invention promises to revolutionize the field of physics and reshape the future. However, instead of receiving accolades, Grady's lab is unexpectedly locked down by a shadowy organization known as the Bureau of Technology Control.
The bureau's agenda is clear: to suppress the truth about this sudden technological leap and prevent the societal upheaval it would undoubtedly spark. In this futuristic landscape, where the benefits of progress are reserved for a privileged few, Grady's refusal to join the BTC lands him in a high-tech prison, housing other doomed intellectuals. Now, as the last hope for humanity to escape its artificial dark age, Grady and his fellow prisoners must embark on a perilous journey to expose the secrets of an unimaginable enemy, one that wields a technological advantage decades ahead of its time.
Escape Artists has been diligently developing this project for quite some time, but it was Singer's script last month that finally sparked excitement among executives. The studio and producers saw it as a perfect opportunity to showcase Smith's immense talent. Keen to capitalize on the actor's box office pull, the studio moved swiftly to secure his participation, especially after the impressive tracking numbers for Bad Boys: Ride or Die's opening weekend.
Smith, having read the script and met with executives to discuss the project, made a commitment shortly after Bad Boys: Ride or Die reignited the summer box office with its $100 million-plus global opening. Although this marks Smith's first project since then, sources indicate that it's unlikely to be his next film as no director is currently attached. However, discussions with potential directors are expected to intensify in the coming weeks, as excitement builds around this sci-fi thriller that promises to thrill audiences once again.
Smith boasts a profound and enduring partnership with both Sony and Todd Black, one that has spawned numerous hits such as the emotional drama "Seven Pounds," the inspiring tale "The Pursuit of Happyness," and the recently released Civil War thriller "Emancipation." The "Bad Boys" franchise has reached billion-dollar status, with its latest installment, "Ride or Die," amassing an impressive $113 million domestically and a staggering $215.5 million globally in just its first 10 days of release. This partnership continues to thrive, delivering captivating stories and thrilling experiences to moviegoers worldwide.
