Variety published a list of the highest paychecks garnered in Hollywood this year. Topping the list with a $27 million flat rate to portray a billionaire who fakes his own death in Netflix's Six Underground. Denzel Washington would have risen to the top of the list, had he accepted a $30 million offer to star in an undisclosed action film. Incidentally, Denzel opted to keep his options open on other projects.
While it hasn't been confirmed, Will Smith is rumored to be closing in on a deal to reprise his role in Bright 2, the sequel to Netflix's pre-eminent blockbuster film. The project calls for a $35 million salary, easily putting Smith head and shoulders above his peers, should it go into production before 2020.
Dwayne Johnson slots in at number 2 on the ad hoc list with $20 million for his participation in the Fast & Furious spinoff Hobbs & Shaw. Tied with him at number 2 is Robert Downey Jr., raking in the same fixed rates for The Voyage of Doctor Dolittle, set for a 2020 release.
While we await news on Bright 2, Will Smith nonetheless sits comfortably at 3rd, or 4th if you count tie-breakers. The rapper-turned-actor outpaces his Bad Boys 3 co-star by a comfortable margin with a hefty $17 million paycheck. Jason Statham grabs 4th for the same Hobbs & Shaw production. Emily Blunt is the next on the list and the first female in the upper ranks, with salary demands rumored to be in the region of $12-13 million for the sequel to A Quiet Place. Gal Gadot, Brad Pitt Leo Dicaprio and Idris Elba round out on top 10 in no specific order.