Will Packer on building a Billion-Dollar film empire, pivoting to power, navigating Hollywood high stakes, Kevin Hart being evil, lesson from Paul Walker, persistence through rejection from Beyoncé, and turning setbacks into success.s

May 5, 2026

Will Packer, film producer and studio exec behind hits like Girls Trip and Ride Along, shares stories from his rise from an HBCU student film to a billion-dollar resume. He talks on-set crisis leadership, pivoting and reshooting like a GM, turning rejections into opportunities, building momentum and confidence, and working loyally with stars like Kevin Hart.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

ADVICE

Defuse On-Set Conflict By Taking The Thunder Out

Do “take the thunder out” by defusing hot conflicts and accepting responsibility to reframe disputes and preserve the project.
Will Packer used this on Paul Walker’s first-day wardrobe fight, apologized unasked, and turned a potential walk-off into cooperation.

ADVICE

Prioritize The Brightest Fire And Compartmentalize Everything Else

Keep the main thing the main thing by prioritizing the single issue burning brightest and compartmentalize other problems.
Will treats production like a GM role and focuses on the dominant five-alarm fire on set first.

ANECDOTE

How A FAMU Premiere Turned A Tiny Film Into A Launching Pad

Will Packer premiered Chocolate City at FAMU in tuxes to signal importance and attract attention.
The front row Hollywood seats stayed empty, but the packed auditorium proved he had an audience and launched his career.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

“Do you want to be right or do you want to win? I want to win.” -Will Packer

When Will Packer pulls up to The Pivot Podcast, the conversation goes far beyond Hollywood headlines, combining sports and business to one of the most entertaining yet educational episodes we've had. Will unpacks the real story behind his rise—from grinding it out as a young mind at at HBCU to becoming one of the most powerful producers in the game.

He shares how he built a billion-dollar film resume from the ground up, turning bold ideas into box office hits while navigating an industry that rarely hands out opportunities. But this isn’t just about success. Packer gets candid about the missteps, the pressure of managing money and expectations, and the moments where everything could have fallen apart.

From producing cultural staples to learning hard lessons about risk, partnerships, and perseverance, his journey is a masterclass in betting on yourself—even when the odds say otherwise. From navigating Hollywood’s gatekeepers to creating opportunities where none existed, his path is paved with resilience, ownership, and vision as we unpack the wins, losses, and the pivots in between—and what it really takes to turn ambition into a lasting legacy.

He reflects on hits like Girls Trip, Ride Along, Think Like a Man, and Stomp the Yard to life—films that didn’t just perform well, but became cultural movements. Along the way, he’s collaborated with some of the biggest names in Hollywood, including Kevin Hart, Ice Cube, Queen Latifah, Tiffany Haddish, and the late Paul Walker. On day one of filming Takers, Will had to step in and defuse a tense moment when Paul nearly walked off set—quickly navigating the pressure to keep the production on track. It became a test of leadership, showing how staying composed and solutions-focused can turn a potential setback into a moment of trust and respect.

Filled with inside stories, lessons and advice on staying at the top, this episode is about building confidence as a muscle, taking big leaps, and overcoming rejection in order to get doors to finally open, Will is unguarded and uses humor to share some of his most impactful moments to allow us to see a side of him we haven't before, hoping his story inspires and ignites a fire in others.

Pivot Family, comment, like, hit the subscribe button, we enjoy hearing and learning from you- the good and the bad, we want to know!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices