Will Smith’s Oscar Controversy Made Hancock 2 Even More Difficult

Will Smith’s actions on the 2022 Oscars ceremony, and the backlash it obtained, make the event of 1 much-anticipated sequel very tough.

The event of Hancock 2, the sequel to 2008’s Hancock, has been made much more tough after Will Smith’s 2022 Oscars controversy. Smith starred in Hancock as an invulnerable, immortal, alcoholic superhero, who has seen quite a lot of backlash within the public consciousness for his rough-around-the-edges method to heroism. Although Hancock obtained a combined response from critics and audiences alike, rumors of a sequel started circulating not lengthy after the unique movie’s launch, and regardless of not a lot info being confirmed, it appears the event of Hancock 2 is perhaps even more durable now within the wake of Smith’s actions on the 2022 Academy Awards ceremony.

On the identical evening Smith obtained his first Greatest Actor Oscar, he obtained an immense quantity of backlash after he responded to Chris Rock making a joke about his spouse, Jada Pinkett Smith’s, shaved head by strolling onto the stage and slapping the comic. Within the aftermath, Smith noticed lots of his upcoming tasks postponed, obtained quite a lot of anger from the general public and Hollywood friends, and located himself resigning from the Academy and being banned from Academy features, together with the Oscars, for ten years. These actions stirred up an enormous quantity of controversy surrounding the Hollywood household man, which may put future deliberate tasks in jeopardy.

Associated: Each Will Smith Film Sequel The Actor Did not Return For (& How They Did)

Why Hancock 2 Hasn’t Occurred Already

The much-anticipated Hancock 2 might be one in all these mentioned tasks, as many have been eager to see a follow-up to Smith’s distinctive superhero journey for over a decade. Shortly after the discharge of Hancock, Smith teased that, though no plans had been put in place for a Hancock sequel, concepts have been brewing in regards to the world-building alternatives with the growth of the Hancock franchise. In 2009, The Strolling Useless writers Adam Fierro and Glen Mazzara have been employed to pen a script for the sequel, and Charlize Theron expressed her need to reprise her function because the secretly-superpowered Mary Embrey.

Director Peter Berg reaffirmed plans to make Hancock 2 in 2012, however throughout a 2020 interview, Theron confirmed that no progress had been made on a sequel, although she would nonetheless be inquisitive about participating. Regardless of initially receiving a combined response, Hancock has grown in recognition over time since its launch, and the truth that it fared moderately effectively on the field workplace laid the groundwork for a sequel to be developed. Whereas Will Smith’s current Oscars backlash may make the manufacturing of Hancock 2 now appear inconceivable, it may be the right manner for Smith to recuperate.

Will Smith’s Oscar Slap Created A Bizarre Hancock Parallel

Hancock informed the story of John Hancock, a superhero who receives an enormous quantity of backlash within the media and public consciousness after a critical PR catastrophe. If this sounds acquainted, it appears to completely mirror Will Smith’s personal life after his controversial actions on the 2022 Academy Awards. Because of this the storyline that Hancock 2 would comply with might be a bit too near residence, which could persuade the manufacturing group to halt no matter growth may truly be occurring behind the scenes.

Smith’s first venture after the Oscars controversy, Emancipation, launched on Apple TV+ on December 9, 2022, and has been met with combined opinions, though Smith’s efficiency was praised. This might spell excellent news for his future in Hollywood, and will level in the direction of him making a transparent restoration from his prior actions, which might completely replicate the storyline specified by Hancock, as Smith’s superhero overcomes immense public backlash over the course of the movie. If that is so, Hancock 2 may but see the sunshine of day.

Extra: I Am Legend 2 Avoids One Enormous Will Smith Sequel Mistake