Will Smith and Martin Lawrence were Bad Boys for almost 30 years. When they look back on the popular franchise as its fourth film hits theaters, do they realize the dreams they were chasing were right in front of them?
Smith shared the advice he would give his younger self in 1995 when the first Bad Boys film premiered.
“It was like our wildest dreams,” he told Yahoo Entertainment at the May 30 Los Angeles premiere of Bad Boys: Ride or Die.
“We were [the] set of Bad Boys It is [were] completely oblivious to the fact that we were in an iconic moment,” said the actor and producer. “I would tell him, ‘Calm down.’”
“We were looking at old photos of ourselves,” Smith added, referring to himself and co-star Martin Lawrence. “Us [recently] We watched a little of the first film together and didn’t realize we were in the middle of our dreams.”
The original Bad Boys, directed by Michael Bay, debuted in theaters in April 1995. With a budget of $19 million, the film about two Miami police detectives grossed more than $141 million worldwide. After the success of the first film, Bay directed the second film, in 2003. Bad Boys IIwhich commanded a larger budget of US$130 million and grossed over US$273 million worldwide.
For the third installment of the franchise, 2020 Bad boys for lifeSmith expanded his role to include production while Bay handed over the reins to co-directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, who also directed Smith and Lawrence’s latest crime adventure.
Bad Boys: Ride or Die, which hits theaters June 7, stars Smith and Lawrence again as Miami detectives who this time decide to clear the name of their late captain (Joe Pantoliano), who was accused of working with drug cartels. Smith and Lawrence’s characters seek to uncover the truth, as well as discover who is behind the setup – but end up being framed in the process.
What makes this Bad Boys What differs from the first iteration of the franchise is that, in addition to the car chases and stunts, the film also addresses conversations about aging and making room for a younger generation. While the film maintains its buddy comedy roots, it also doesn’t shy away from meaningful moments between its two 50-something stars.
The film also marks Smith’s return to the big screen following his 2022 film Emancipation. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, Emancipation arrived in theaters several months after Smith’s infamous Oscar slap, in which he hit Chris Rock while the comedian was hosting the Oscars.
Smith’s latest return to the big screen, however, highlights his action and comedic talent rather than his more serious side. “It’s a combination of old school and new school,” co-director Adil El Arbi told Yahoo Entertainment at the premiere.
El Arbi said the stars and the characters they play have the same energy and chemistry, but that the production of the film itself is different from the 90s version and has “evolved for the TikTok generation, the video game generation.”
While its stars have racked up dozens of credits and filmmaking has taken on a new style, one constant has been Jerry Bruckheimer, who is still on board as the original producer. The prolific producer credits hard work for the success of this franchise and more.
“Just keep working hard, that’s all,” the producer told Yahoo Entertainment. “The harder you work, the luckier you get.”
Although Smith has worked hard over the years, he still goes back to his early days.
“I would tell my younger self, ‘Calm down, wake up, man. You did it,’” said the actor formerly known as the Fresh Prince.
Lawrence focused more on the practical aspects.
“Watch your back,” he joked.
