Partnership Centers on Global, IP-Driven Films and Star Vehicles for Oscar Winner

Smith Secures New Studio HomeWestbrook

November 18, 2025: In a major move signaling the continued career resurgence of the star, Will Smith and his production company, Westbrook, have signed a first-look, multi-picture deal with Paramount Pictures. The partnership is designed to produce a slate of high-concept, “four-quadrant” theatrical films—projects intended to appeal to the widest global audience across all age and gender demographics—with a focus on creating potential new franchises.

The deal makes Paramount a new creative home for Smith, who had previously been closely associated with Sony Pictures for decades through franchises like Bad Boys and Men in Black. Under the agreement, Westbrook will also establish offices on the Paramount lot in Hollywood, cementing the collaboration.

Two Major Projects Already Underway

The partnership arrives on the heels of the successful run of Smith’s latest film, Bad Boys: Ride or Die, and highlights Paramount’s aggressive strategy to sign top-tier talent following its merger with Skydance Media. Two major projects are already in development under the new banner:

Sugar Bandits: Based on the novel Devils in Exile by Chuck Hogan, this action-thriller follows a former special forces soldier who joins a vigilante group to target the drug trade. While Smith was initially attached to star, he remains an executive producer on the project, which is being positioned as a potential franchise starter.

Rabbit Hole: A mystery project penned by Jon Spaihts, the acclaimed screenwriter behind Dune. Though plot details are being kept under wraps, the film is being developed as a major starring vehicle for Smith.

The Strategy: Global Franchise Building

Paramount and Westbrook’s agreement is a strategic alliance centered on generating intellectual property (IP) and long-running franchises. Studio executives emphasized that the deal’s focus is on utilizing Smith’s unique global bankability to create event-level films with significant international appeal. Westbrook, co-founded by Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, will leverage the full distribution and financial power of the major studio to bring ambitious projects to the screen.

The signing of Smith and Westbrook is the latest win for Paramount, which has recently secured deals with Stranger Things creators the Duffer Brothers and announced a feature adaptation of the Call of Duty video game franchise.