Bloomberg is reporting that the Disney-owned National Geographic has chosen to delay production of Pole to Pole, a nature series that was set to follow Oscar-winner Will Smith travelling to the North and South Poles. While work has been pushed back to the fall, this is the latest blow to the actor after he slapped comedian Chris Rock during this year's Academy Awards.
Since then, the actor has resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences and been banned from attending any of its events for the next decade.
In terms of other upcoming projects, Netflix has hit the pause button on an action movie called Fast and Loose, Sony Pictures has halted work on the next instalment of the Bad Boys franchise, and Apple TV+ has been oddly quiet about plans for Emancipation, a series starring Smith originally set to debut this year.
In a Tweet shared by Bloomberg's Lucas Shaw, it's said that Netflix has also "abandoned" plans to make Bright 2, despite the fact it was once a priority for the streamer. He believes this is unrelated to the slap, but the timing is awfully suspect. Directed by David Ayer, Bright is set in a world where humans and mythical creatures co-exist, and follows an LAPD police officer and his orc partner.
Smith should be riding high after winning a "Best Actor" Oscar as one of the hottest commodities in Hollywood. That's not the case after his actions at the show, and it's unclear how long studios will baulk at the prospect of working with him. Right now, though, it appears he's stuck on the sidelines.
Are you disappointed that Bright 2 won't be happening?