Will Smith is set to star in an adaptation of Marcus Sakey’s novel “Brilliance,” which Paramount Pictures has acquired to adapt into a feature film, an individual with knowledge of the project told TheWrap.
Akiva Goldsman will write the screenplay based on the first book in Sakey’s trilogy, and it once again teams Goldsman with Smith after the two worked together on “I Am Legend” in 2007 and “I, Robot” in 2004.
Smith and Goldsman will also produce “Brilliance” along with James Lassiter and Shane Salerno, and the film will be a co-production between Goldsman’s Weed Road Pictures, Smith’s Westbrook Entertainment and Salerno’s The Story Factory.
“Brilliance” imagines a future in which 1% of the world’s population is born with special mental and physical gifts, leading the world’s governments track them and have branded them “brilliants.” Smith plays a special agent who also has brilliant gifts and is tasked with tracking down a violent criminal brilliant, or “abnorm,” who wishes to spark a civil war between ordinary humans and those with special gifts.
Paramount’s Wyck Godfrey and Alex Jackson will oversee the production for the studio, and Sakey will serve as a co-producer on the film.
Smith most recently starred in his biggest blockbuster to date, Disney’s live-action remake of “Aladdin.” He’ll next be seen in Ang Lee’s “Gemini Man” and in Sony’s “Bad Boys for Life.”
Salerno at The Story Factory negotiated Sakey’s deal. Smith and Salerno are both represented by CAA. Goldsman is represented by Hansen Jacobson Teller.
Deadline first reported the news of the project.