Back in September 2019, just before the covid outbreak, Will Smith was reportedly going to star in another Netflix production, The Council. But we haven’t received any further updates on the project even after three long years. The project was supposed to mark Smith’s second collaboration with the streamer after the fantasy action, Bright. But in the wake of the Oscars controversy and countless production houses dropping Smith off their projects, is it yet another movie of his that’s not going to see the light?

What was The Council about? 

Concussion’s Peter Landsman wrote the script for The Council. The crime biopic focuses on an African American crime syndicate, The Council which operated in Harlem in the 1970s and early 1980s. The Syndicate was involved with drug trafficking and had hoped to create a self-policing African American state. That was until The Council’s king, Nicky Barnes a.k.a Mr. Untouchable came under the notice of the United States’ President.

The notorious mafia boss, Nicky Barnes was the inspiration behind the biopic. Born Leroy Nicholas Barnes, he ran an international drug trafficking ring and Italian American mafia in the 1970s. Later, he served jailed in 1978 and turned into a federal informant.

Peter was also executive producing the film along with Joanne Lee and David Lee. James Lassiter, Matt Jackson, and Jason Essex were co-producing. 

Has Netflix quietly shelved the Will Smith movie? 

Will Smith was supposed to produce the film in addition to starring in the lead role of Nicky Barnes. But after the initial announcement, we haven’t received any news of further development. Filming never began and we don’t have any filming dates yet. It’s highly likely that the streamer has decided to push it to the back burner without any further announcement.  

The actor slapped comedian Chris Rock at the Oscars for making jokes about his wife, Jada Pinkett’s hair. The controversy reached a boiling point when Sony put his Bad Boys For Life on hold, and Netflix paused production on Fast and Loose.