If you're curious about the long-awaited threequel to Bad Boys, and some of the drama surrounding
it, look no further.
Here's everything you need to know before you sit down to watch some massive explosions
and ridiculous action scenes.
It just wouldn't be a Bad Boys film if it weren't for the bad boys themselves, Will
Smith and Martin Lawrence.
Obviously, both Smith and Lawrence are returning in their franchise roles as detectives Mike
Lowrey and Marcus Burnett, and they'll still use extreme measures to combat some of the
worst crime in Miami.
If you need a refresher, Will Smith's character, Mike Lowrey, is the rich ladies man of the
team, while Lawrence's Marcus Burnett is more the exasperated family man.
Together, they're the bad boys of the Miami Police Department.
There's one other crucial aspect to the Bad Boys franchise, and that's the irritated,
and grudgingly respectful, Captain Howard.
Luckily, Joe Pantoliano will also be returning in Bad Boys for Life.
We're guessing that time hasn't changed how fed up he is with our favorite detectives,
even if he always ends up having their backs anyway.
I got three cops critical, kids dying on the street from souped-up X. I do not want these
animals taking over my city!"
We know a bit of the story going into Bad Boys for Life, thanks to some official production
notes and the trailers released so far.
The story focuses on AMMO, an elite squad within the Miami Police Department.
Their current target is Armando Armas, a violent young cartel leader.
Armas has his crosshairs focused on Detective Lowrey, and he has a prior history with our
heroes.
With Armas on the hunt, Lowrey and Burnett are pulled back into the fray, despite the
fact that Burnett seems to have his eye on retirement.
They start working with AMMO's leader to stop the threat that Armas poses.
Naturally, AMMO's leader is also a former flame of Detective Lowrey's, and he considers
her the one that got away.
Most of the actors showing up in Bad Boys for Life are new to the franchise, but there's
a pretty good mix of up-and-coming actors and well-established ones.
The big one joining the cast is Jacob Scipio, who will portray Armando Armas, the film's
villain.
His character is described as having a "vicious, taunting nature" and he has a past connection
with our detectives.
Paola Nunez, a star of Mexican television and film, is also joining Bad Boys for Life
as Mike's ex, a criminal psychologist and the aforementioned head of AMMO.
We also know a few actors who will play roles as members of this elite squad: Vanessa Hudgens,
Alexander Ludwig, and Charles Melton will all be part of the team.
It's a Bad Boys film, so it probably isn't much of a stretch to guess that at least one
of them is a secret bad guy.
Finally, one interesting wrinkle in the plot description is that Armas targets our heroes
under the direction of his mother.
We don't know for sure who plays this character, but Kate del Castillo, who has been cast in
an undisclosed role, seems like a good bet.
It seems like all the elements for a Bad Boys film are here, but Bad Boys for Life is missing
one significant piece: Michael Bay.
Instead, the directing duo of Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah are at the helm.
They previously directed Black, Gangsta, and have also signed to direct Beverly Hills Cop
4.
They may not have been the first choices to take on Bad Boys for Life, but they were the
ones who managed to get the troubled production to the finish line.
Why did it take so long for a third Bad Boys movie to explode onto the screen?
Well, the project had to sail some troubled waters.
Will Smith has reportedly had a sequel in mind since at least 2008, but multiple delays
had many people thinking it may never happen at all.
The original director was going to be Joe Carnahan, who's helmed big action movies like
Smokin' Aces and The A-Team.
However, Carnahan apparently clashed with Will Smith about the creative direction of
Bad Boys for Life, and was subsequently let go from the project.
It's unclear exactly what caused the rift, but Carnahan is still credited as co-writer
on the film's screenplay.
Considering all the talk in the trailer of this being "the last ride" for our detective
heroes, it seems likely that Bad Boys for Life is the end of their story.
However, if they decide to ever truly reboot the Bad Boys franchise, one Hollywood actor
has already thrown his name in the ring to take up the reins.
Winston Duke, who played M'Baku in Black Panther and starred in Jordan Peele's Us, told the
The Deadline Podcast that he would love to star if they ever rebooted Bad Boys.
He also offered Black Panther co-star, Daniel Kaluuya, as the person he would choose to
partner up with if it ever did get off the ground.
Considering the timing, it seems unlikely that a Bad Boys reboot will happen any time
soon, but the prospect of Duke and Kaluuya teaming up is a great idea nonetheless.
With all the years that have passed since Bad Boys II, you're probably eager to see
some things blow up already.
The trailers released so far have pretty much everything you could want.
Lowery exasperated at Burnett's antics?
Check.
"I got this.
I'm gonna penetrate this man's soul with my heart."
"What?"
Captain Howard swearing a whole bunch?
Check.
A bunch of people singing "Bad Boys" by Inner Circle?
Oh, yes.
And, of course, the explosions.
So many explosions.
You'll be able to see them all when the film blasts into theaters on January 17th, 2020.
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