'It's official': Will Smith's first album in 20 years to drop on Mar 28

With "Based on a True Story", Smith is stepping back into the spotlight -- not just as an actor, but as a musician with a deeply personal and reflective story to tell

Hollywood superstar Will Smith is set to make a long-awaited return to music.

On Friday, Smith announced that his first album in more than two decades, "Based on a True Story", will officially drop on Mar 28, Billboard reports.

“Been working on this project for a minute and I’m itchin’ to get it out to y’all,” he wrote on Instagram.

Smith shared the news along with promotional images and the full tracklist for the 14-track album. The project features previously released singles, including "First Love", "Beautiful Scars", "TANTRUM", "Work of Art", and "You Can Make It". Fans can also look forward to exciting collaborations with DJ Jazzy Jeff, Teyana Taylor, and Jac Ross.

In a January interview with Billboard, Smith opened up about why he decided to return to music two decades after his last album, 2005’s "Lost and Found".

Reflecting on his journey, he described the creative process as deeply personal and transformative.

“A well opened up inside of me, a well of understanding of art and pain… all kinds of things that I didn’t even know were in there,” he said.

“Then after the Oscars, that spiritual investigation continued and a whole world woke up inside that I didn’t even know was there. Dreams, visions; parts of my inner landscape that I had no awareness of prior to three years ago. And that opened up this bubbling to share what I’m seeing and experiencing, to explore."

Explaining how his approach to music has evolved, he said: "A big part of my music now is about that: the ecstatic kind of joy I remember from church when I was growing up; the ability to try to make this place more bearable. You know, I’ve always had a wild imagination; that’s part of who I am. But there’s something new happening with me that’s demanding I explore musically.”

Smith also hinted that "Based on a True Story" is just the beginning, revealing plans for three albums under the same banner. He described the project as “three seasons of a TV musical show”, suggesting that fans can expect an extended musical journey beyond this first release.