Will Smith in talks to star in sci-fi thriller Brilliance

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

Working within the realm of science fiction has been pretty good for WIll Smith. Well, that is if you don't count the awful M. Night Shyamalan-helmed AFTER EARTH. But with the M.I.B. films, I AM LEGEND, INDEPENDENCE DAY and other flicks that fall under sci-fi under his belt, the genre seems a good fit for the former Fresh Prince.

Now Will Smith is in early talks to star in Legendary Pictures and Universal Pictures’ potential tentpole BRILLIANCE, according to TheWrap. Julius Onah (“God Particle”) is directing the sci-fi thriller from a script by David Koepp, who adapted Marcus Sakey’s novel of the same name.

Joe Roth, Thomas Tull and Jon Jashni will produce, while Alex Hedlund, Palek Patel and Eric McLeod will executive produce.

Set in a world where some people called “brilliants” are born with heightened cognitive abilities, the story follows a federal agent whose extraordinary gift makes him exceptional at hunting terrorists. Here's the official synopsis of the book:

In Wyoming, a little girl reads people’s darkest secrets by the way they fold their arms. In New York, a man sensing patterns in the stock market racks up $300 billion. In Chicago, a woman can go invisible by being where no one is looking. They’re called “brilliants,” and since 1980, one percent of people have been born this way. Nick Cooper is among them; a federal agent, Cooper has gifts rendering him exceptional at hunting terrorists. His latest target may be the most dangerous man alive, a brilliant drenched in blood and intent on provoking civil war. But to catch him, Cooper will have to violate everything he believes in—and betray his own kind.

The novel was published by Thomas and Mercer, an imprint of Amazon, in August 2013. “Brilliance” is the first of a planned three-book series, with the second book set to be released later this year.

We'll keep you posted on news regarding BRILLIANCE as it comes in.