Will Smith To Return To Disney As Genie In 'Aladdin 2' Following Oscars Slap

Will Smith's career took a turn when he shockingly stormed the stage at The Oscars and slapped comedian and actor Chris Rock on national television just minutes before he accepted the award for Best Actor for his performance in "King Richard. "

Following the infamous Oscars slap, it seems that Disney is bringing Will Smith back to reprise his role as TheGenie in the sequel to the live-action "Aladdin."

Will Smith took on the role of The Genie in Disney's live-action "Aladdin," a role that was previously voiced by the iconic Robin Williams in the 1992 animated film.

After the Oscars slap, no one knew where Smith's career would turn, however, it seems that Disney is forgiving the actor as The Sun reports not only is Will Smith returning as The Genie for the live-action sequel, but he is reportedly going to have an even bigger role than he did in the first film.

“This would be one of the first movies Will has shot since the Oscars slap and it is quite surprising, given that it will be for a kids’ film," a movie insider told the newspaper. "He has done a lot of work on himself and the consensus is that it will all be very much in the past by the time the movie is released."

The insider added, “The first film was a huge success so it would be silly not to make another, and it would be a real shame to have to re-cast Will over what happened."

“So Disney is keen to stand by him and bring him back into the fold,” the insider concluded.

Movie fans around the world watched in shock when actor Will Smith stormed up onstage after comedian Chris Rock made a joke about Smith's wife's, Jada Pickett Smith's, short haircut. Smith slapped Rock in the face, then turned around and sat back down at his table in the audience before yelling expletives at him.

Just moments later, Smith won Best Actor for his starring role in the film "King Richard,"but days after the Oscars, the actor resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which also banned him from its events for 10 years.

"Chris, I apologize to you. My behavior was unacceptable and I'm here whenever you're ready to talk," Smith said in a YouTube video months later. "There is no part of me that thinks that was the right way to behave in that moment. There's no part of me that thinks that's the optimal way to handle a feeling of disrespect or insults."

Many also brought Smith's wife up in the conversation, saying Jada Pickett Smith influenced him to stand up for her. However, the "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" actor put those rumors to bed, saying, "I made a choice on my own, from my own experiences, from my history with Chris. Jada had nothing to do with it. I'm sorry, babe."

At the time of the video, Will Smith said he reached out to Chris Rock to apologize directly but was told the comedian is not yet ready to speak to him about the incident.