The prince of Bel-Air and box office brilliance, Will Smith, turned Hollywood into his personal playground in the 90s. From fighting aliens in Independence Day to conquering the west in Wild Wild West, he turned every role he took on into an instant hit. Not to forget The Pursuit of Happyness, in which he literally redefined the purpose of ‘happiness’. With a resume glossier than all the magazine covers he has appeared on, the ‘Big Willie Style’ rapper has cemented his name in Hollywood’s pantheons.

But fast forward to today, Smith has lost considerable popularity owing to certain factors like the infamous slapgate. This begs the question: Would any of his old franchises want him to return for reboots or upcoming projects?

This Will Smith-led blockbuster may get an anime adaptation

In the blockbuster Men in Black, Smith found his claim to fame. Years later, now, Giant Freakin Robot reports that the MIB franchise is developing an anime based on the intergalactic custodians of Earth. This was brought to life by Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, sporting sleek suits and shades. But there has been no confirmation if either of them will return to voice the anime characters yet.

Although there was speculation floating around earlier this year of him returning to play Agent J, no official announcement materialized. But once news of the anime adaptation reaches fans, they are sure to sound alarms if the I Am Legend actor is left out. Because through the sci-fi action thriller, Smith not only saved Earth but also conquered audiences with his charisma.

Regardless of his declining fanbase, the 54-year-old is still considered a timeless icon. After all, to convince him to take on Men in Black in the first place, even Steven Spielberg had to go above and beyond.

How did Steven Spielberg rope in Smith for Men in Black?

After the success of Independence Day, Smith was hesitant to take on Men in Black for fear of being stereotyped as an alien fanatic. To appease him, Steven Spielberg, who was producing the flick, gave the actor some red-carpet treatment. In an interview with Kevin Hart, he revealed that the Jaws director won him over with a helicopter ride and an ice-cold welcome drink.

Initially, Spielberg had even tried calling the Emancipation actor to deliver some harsh advice. But such was Smith’s star power back then that he paid no heed. If he is still held in such high regard by the makers of Men in Black, he may just land a spot in the anime series!

Do you think that the Men in Black anime will bring Will Smith back to the beloved franchise? Tell us your opinion in the comments.