Will Smith biopic is 'thrown into chaos as Netflix and Apple+ pull out of bidding war' after the Hollywood star slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars
- Two streaming giants removed their bids on the film based on his autobiography
- Will, 53, has faced backlash since slapping Chris on stage at the Oscars
Will Smith's biopic is said to have been thrown into chaos after Netflix and Apple+ reportedly pulled out of a bidding war after the Oscars slap controversy.
Insiders are believed to have claimed the two streaming giants removed their competitive bids on the film about the Hollywood star's life, based on his best-selling autobiography Will.
It comes after Will, 53, marched on stage and slapped Chris Rock during the Oscars ceremony after the comedian made a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith's haircut.
![Oh dear: Will initially laughed off the attack but as the gravity of the situation became clear, Smith then posted a public apology to Instagram 24 hours after the ceremony](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/04/04/01/56177953-10682537-image-m-28_1649032348673.jpg)
Oh dear: Will Smith's biopic is said to have been launched into chaos after Netflix and Apple+ have pulled out of a bidding war following the Oscars slap controversy
A source told The Sun: 'Netflix and Apple+ have quietly removed their bids for a Will Smith biopic and will instead relocate the funds and develop original ideas from new black actors.'
The source added that working with the rapper has now become 'risky business' as he faces his upcoming movie projects being put on hold in the wake of the scandal.
MailOnline has contacted Will's representatives, Netflix and Apple for comment.
Meanwhile, work on the fourth instalment of the Bad Boys film franchise has been halted by Sony following the Oscars scandal, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
![Scandal: It comes after Will, 53, marched on stage and slapped Chris Rock during the Oscars ceremony, before he went on to win the Best Actor award for his role in King Richard](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/04/04/01/56177945-10682537-image-a-29_1649032396510.jpg)
Scandal: It comes after Will, 53, marched on stage and slapped Chris Rock during the Oscars ceremony, before he went on to win the Best Actor award for his role in King Richard
The film would have seen Smith reunited with co-star Martin Lawrence as a maverick Miami drugs agent.
And Netflix has reportedly slowed down production on its planned action thriller movie Fast and Loose, which stars Will.
The film had already lost its intended director prior to Smith slapping Chris, further complicating the film's path to being shot.
Fast And Loose was originally to be helmed by Deadpool 2 director David Leitch, but he had withdrawn from the project just a week before the Oscars.
![Adaptation: Amid the fallout from the slap, Will's biopic, based off his autobiography, is said to have been thrown into chaos after Netflix and Apple+ reportedly pulled out of a bidding war](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/03/12/11/50284017-10605507-_Will_out_now_on_Penguin_Press_delves_deep_into_Smith_s_issues_a-a-35_1647083784237.jpg)
Adaptation: Insiders claimed the two streaming giants have removed their competitive bids to the film about the Hollywood star's life, based on his best-selling autobiography Will
A source told THR that both Netflix and Universal had been competing for a new project from Leitch, but the traditional studio appealed to him more than the streamer.
Following the loss, Netflix started urgently searching for a new director to take over on Smith's project.
It's not known if the project will be scrapped, or if Netflix will just find another star and director pair to lead it.
Industry sources say studios want to assess how tarnished Smith's reputation has become after he stormed on stage to slap Chris for making a joke at the expense of his wife Jada, before sinking millions of dollars into further projects.
![Family: Smith slapped Rock on stage at the ceremony after the comedian made a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith's shaved head, which was her attempt to hide hair loss from alopecia; seen March 27](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/04/03/21/56139227-10679797-Family_Smith_slapped_Rock_on_stage_at_the_ceremony_after_the_com-a-94_1649018614030.jpg)
Family: Will slapped Chris on stage at the Oscars ceremony after the comedian made a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith's shaved head. Jada suffers from alopecia
The Men in Black and Ali actor is also due to appear in Apple TV's £90million slavery drama Emancipation this autumn, but there has so far been no suggestion that will be delayed.
Smith – who took exception to Chris' joke about his wife's shaved head, a result of alopecia – has announced his resignation from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, saying he had 'betrayed' its trust.
He won't be able to vote for the Oscars or attend special Academy events in the future but he will still be eligible for future Oscar nominations.
'I am resigning from membership in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and will accept any further consequences the Board deems appropriate,' he wrote in a statement.
![Bad Boys for Life was one of the highest grossing films of 2020, earning $425m worldwide](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/04/03/02/56144215-10680331-image-m-106_1648948014788.jpg)
Stopped: It comes after work on the fourth instalment of the Bad Boys film franchise has been halted by Sony following the Oscars scandal, according to reports
'Change takes time and I am committed to doing the work to ensure that I never again allow violence to overtake reason,' Smith concluded.
Will – who won the Best Actor gong for his portrayal of Richard Williams, father of tennis stars Venus and Serena, in King Richard – is unlikely to be invited to announce the Best Actress award next year, a task performed in recent years by the outgoing Best Actor.
One Academy member said: 'Some of the members are saying Will jumped before he was pushed. The executives are still in utter disbelief at what happened.'
The Academy said it would 'continue to move forward' with disciplinary proceedings.
![Tainted: Will ¿ who won the Best Actor gong for his portrayal of Richard Williams ¿ is unlikely to be invited to announce the Best Actress award next year](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/04/04/01/54740621-10682537-Lauded_Will_has_earned_critical_acclaim_for_his_performance_as_S-a-30_1649032465875.jpg)
Tainted: Will – who won the Best Actor gong for his portrayal of Richard Williams – is unlikely to be invited to announce the Best Actress award next year
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