Since Will Smith’s infamous Oscars slap, a few of his upcoming projects have been pushed back until further notice. However, Sony Chairman Tom Rothman confirmed that Bad Boys 4, the newest installment to the action series, is moving forward as scheduled. 

In an exclusive interview with Deadline, Rothman denounced claims that the film wasn’t going to happen following the controversial incident regarding Smith and comedian Chris Rock. 

“That was inaccurate. That movie’s been in development and still is,” Rothman explained. There weren’t any brakes to pump because the car wasn’t moving. That was a very unfortunate thing that happened, and I don’t think it’s really my place to comment, except to say that I’ve known Will Smith for many years, and I know him to be a good person. That was an example of a very good person having a very bad moment, in front of the world. I believe his apology and regret is genuine, and I believe in forgiveness and redemption.

Recently, Smith appeared on the second episode of “My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman,” which premiered on Netflix Friday. The 53-year-old discussed his family, his career, and what he learned most from writing his memoir. 

During the interview, Smith made a surprising realization about life, saying that the “material world is completely, utterly, and totally incapable of sustaining our happiness.” 

“Beyond the essentials of protecting yourself and your family,” Letterman, 75, added.

“You can’t protect your family, right?” Smith said. “That’s not real. Protection and safety is an illusion. You have to learn to live with the reality that any moment, anything can be gone in one second.” 

Smith also credited his memoir for helping him become more of a relatable actor in the industry. 

“Life is so exciting to me right now, because I can reach people differently than I’ve ever been able to reach people, largely because of my pain,” he said. “I’m really ready to dive into my art in a way that I think will be hopefully fulfilling for me and helpful for the human family.” 

In March, Smith made headlines after slapping Rock, 57, for making a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, and her shaved head, Sis2Sis reported. The West Philadelphia native addressed the incident in an Instagram post, writing, “I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris,” Smith wrote. “I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be.” 

The Academy initiated a 10-year ban against Smith after conducting a formal review of the incident. 

Since then, Chris Rock has had multiple sold-out shows across the country while taking shots at the Academy Award-winning actor. 

“I got smacked by the softest n—- that ever rapped,” Rock said during a show.