Will Smith Makes His Hollywood Return With “Bad Boys 4,” Coming This June
It’s now been almost two years since Will Smith’s infamous moment in slapping Chris Rock at the Academy Awards, and the former “Fresh Prince of Bel Air” star is still trying to break back into the mainstream and mend his reputation.
Following a disappointing box office turnout for his latest film “Emancipation,” Will Smith seemingly took a step back from the movie world, at least temporarily. Now, despite a few roadblocks and a couple of delays, the release date for the fourth installment of the “Bad Boys” franchise has just been revealed.
Alongside Martin Lawrence as Marcus Burnett, Smith will reprise his role as Miami narcotics detective Mike Lowrey in the newest film in the buddy cop saga, slated to release this coming June. “Bad Boys 4,” as it’s currently titled, will see the two detectives teaming up again to take on a new criminal antagonist, played by Eric Dane.
The first “Bad Boys” film came out in 1995, and arguably kicked off Will Smith’s career as a movie star. “Bad Boys” became a testament to Smith’s capabilities as a serious actor, and through the film’s success Smith became an established Hollywood figure. After the critical acclaim achieved by “Bad Boys,” Smith and Lawrence returned for a sequel that graced theaters in 2003, which was followed by the long-awaited “Bad Boys for Life” in 2020. It would be fitting if the fourth installment in the film franchise that helped to kickstart Smith’s film career would be the movie that brings him back from the depths of disillusionment from fans around the world.
Smith is also set to star in the upcoming Netflix film “Fast and Loose,” which currently holds an unscheduled release date, but will expectedly come shortly after “Bad Boys 4” hits theaters. “Fast and Loose” was greenlit by Netflix back in 2022, just a month before the Oscars slap occurred, but production for the film was ultimately halted amid the controversy around Smith. Netflix finally decided to move forward with the project after Sony announced its plans to begin production on “Bad Boys 4.”
Since the slap, many Hollywood studios have been avoiding working with the Oscar and Grammy award winning star due to the still-simmering controversy surrounding him, and the fear of the negative effect this lingering contention around Smith’s image could have on ticket sales and streaming revenue. The underperformance of 2022’s “Emancipation” at box offices, despite meeting favorable reviews, is the biggest determinant in the hesitation for studios to embark on projects led by Smith, but the release of “Bad Boys 4” could present an opportunity for the actor to turn things around.
“Bad Boys 4” will hit theaters on June 7th, and will likely be quickly followed by “Fast and Loose” later on this summer. Time will tell if these releases will mark the return of the Fresh Prince’s reign in Hollywood, or if Smith’s flop streak will continue
