You probably remember exactly where you were when "the slap" happened. It was one of those cultural glitches that didn't feel real. Since then, the internet has been obsessed with one question: what does Will Smith even do now? If you look at his Instagram, it's all travel and smiles. But behind the scenes, the reality is a lot more complicated—and way more active—than a few viral clips suggest.
Honestly, he’s not just sitting in a mansion in Calabasas counting his Fresh Prince royalties. In 2026, Will is essentially running a high-stakes redemption marathon. He’s juggling a massive new film deal, a high-octane docuseries, and a business empire that’s currently being reorganized faster than a Rubik's Cube.
The Screen Comeback: It’s All About "Pole to Pole" and Paramount
Right now, if you turn on National Geographic or Disney+, you’ll see Will Smith’s face everywhere. He just launched his new series, Pole to Pole, in January 2026. This isn't just a travel show. It’s a grueling 100-day expedition where he travels from the South Pole to the North Pole.
Think of it as the ultimate "find yourself" journey, but with a massive production budget. He’s out there skiing across Antarctica, catching anacondas in the Amazon, and diving under Arctic ice. It’s part of a long-term deal his company, Westbrook Inc., signed with Nat Geo to do "unscripted adventure." It’s smart, really. It’s hard to stay mad at a guy when he’s being chased by a venomous tarantula for science.
But the real "movie star" news is the Paramount deal.
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In late 2025, Westbrook Studios locked in a multi-picture first-look agreement with Paramount Pictures. This is huge because for a while, the big studios were ghosting him. Now, he’s attached to star in a project called Sugar Bandits, which is an adaptation of a Chuck Hogan novel. He’s also looking at a sci-fi project called Rabbit Hole. Basically, he’s leaning back into the "Big Action Hero" persona that made him the king of the 90s.
What about the sequels?
You've probably seen the "concept trailers" for I Am Legend 2 floating around YouTube. Most of those are fan-made AI projects, so don't get fooled. However, there is real weight behind the actual I Am Legend sequel. The plan is to follow the alternate ending of the first movie where his character, Robert Neville, actually survives. Michael B. Jordan is signed on to produce and star alongside him. It’s one of the most anticipated projects on his slate, though production timelines have been shifty.
The Business Side: Westbrook and the Racing Circuit
Will isn’t just an actor; he’s a venture capitalist. His company, Westbrook Inc., is the mothership. It handles everything from the Bel-Air reboot to his social media presence.
Lately, he’s been diversifying in ways nobody expected. Did you know he owns a racing team?
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- Westbrook Racing: Launched in 2024, the team competes in the UIM E1 World Championship.
- The Tech: It’s an all-electric powerboat racing series.
- The Competition: He’s racing against teams owned by Tom Brady and Rafael Nadal.
He’s also an angel investor. He’s put money into everything from Gravity Sketch (a 3D design tool) to Arc Boats. Even if the movies stopped tomorrow, his portfolio is deep enough to keep most small countries running.
The Drama That Won't Go Away
It hasn’t been all "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" lately. You can't talk about what Will is doing without mentioning the legal and financial headaches.
Just this month, in January 2026, a violinist named Brian King Joseph filed a lawsuit against Smith. He’s claiming wrongful termination and sexual harassment during a tour that started back in late 2024. Smith’s lawyers are calling it "baseless and reckless," but it’s the kind of headline that keeps his PR team awake at night.
Then there’s the money. There have been reports that he’s been quietly offloading real estate. He sold a mansion in Maryland and listed a property in Woodland Hills. Some insiders claim it’s a "strategic cash grab" because his income isn't what it used to be. The 2025 album he released, Based On A True Story, reportedly didn't move the needle much at all. It turns out that even for Will Smith, nostalgia only goes so far in the music business.
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Is he still with Jada?
The "marriage situation" is the elephant in every room he walks into. As of 2026, they are still technically married but have been living "completely separate lives" for years. They’re more like business partners who share a brand at this point. They even shut down their joint charity, the Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation, after donations plummeted following the Oscars incident. They’ve pivoted to more private giving, likely to avoid the public scrutiny that comes with a high-profile non-profit.
Why it actually matters
Will Smith is the ultimate test case for "cancel culture" in the 2020s. He’s trying to prove that if you work hard enough, travel to enough remote corners of the earth, and sign enough business deals, you can outrun a single bad moment.
He’s currently:
- Filming big-budget action for Paramount.
- Adventuring for National Geographic.
- Investing in green tech and electric boats.
- Managing ongoing legal battles and a complex family dynamic.
He’s basically trying to be the "hardest working man in show business" again because he knows he doesn't have the "untouchable" status he had for thirty years.
What you can do next
If you're curious about the "new" Will, the best place to start is Pole to Pole on Disney+. It shows a version of him that is a lot more vulnerable and, frankly, less polished than the "Fresh Prince" we grew up with. You can also track his business moves through Westbrook Racing if you're into the tech/sports crossover side of his life. Keep an eye on the trades for the Sugar Bandits production start date—that will be the real test of whether he’s truly back in Hollywood's good graces.
Next Steps for the Reader:
- Check out the Pole to Pole docuseries to see the physical transformation he's undergone for his 2026 projects.
- Follow the UIM E1 World Championship results to see how his racing team is performing against other celebrity owners.
- Monitor the Westbrook Studios production slate for official updates on I Am Legend 2, as most trailers currently online are fan-made concepts.