Will Smith reportedly earned a huge check just to make the long flight to Saudi Arabia and speak at the annual Red Sea International Film Festival.
According toVariety, Smith bagged $1 million to trek to the Middle Easter country and attend the festival, which wrapped up on December 9. Sources added that Will was housed at the luxury Assila Hotel in Jeddah.
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The I Am Legend actor was far from the only Hollywood superstar to appear at the festival as Gwyneth Paltrow, Chris Hemsworth, Johnny Depp, Halle Berry, Michelle Williams and more were also on hand at the event. Paltrow also reportedly netted a bigger appearance fee than Will Smith.
āThat part of the world you get paid,ā an anonymous agent told Variety.
Johnny Depp and Will Smith at the Red Sea Film Festival! pic.twitter.com/1HIDJ2axMm
ā š¦šš« (@vaersac) December 3, 2023
Will Smith gives āI Am Legend 2ā Update & Explains How He Plans To Resurrect His Dead Character Robert Neville #RedSeaIFF23pic.twitter.com/C9JbM6No9I
ā Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) December 2, 2023
In conversation during the event, Will Smith touched on a multitude of topics including the anticipated sequel to 2007ās I Am Legend, in which he is set to star opposite Michael B. Jordan.
āI have a call with Michael B. Jordan tomorrow. Weāre really close. I am probably giving up too much informationā¦ the script just came in,ā he said before adding of the sequelās plot direction. āWeāre going with the mythology of the DVD version where my character lives and I canāt tell you anymore.ā
The Red Sea International Film Festival served as one of Willās first public speaking engagements since slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars.
Elsewhere, Smith detailed his struggles grappling with fame and his attempts to remain even-keel during the ups and downs of his career.
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āFame is a unique monster and Iāve had to be really careful,ā he told the audience. āYou canāt get excited when everybody is saying good things about you. The more you take when people are saying good things about you, the more hurt youāre going to be when people are saying bad things about you.
āWhat Iāve experienced in my adversities of the last couple of years is that I have to be clear about who I am and what I am attempting to do in the world, and I canāt need others to applaud for me to stay focused on my mission.ā