Will Smith and Martin Lawrence have officially reunited for 'Bad Boys 3'
It's been 23 years since the cop duo joined forces
It's been 23 years since the cop duo joined forces
The bad boys are back!
Will Smith and Martin Lawrence confirmed Thursday they're officially participating in a third installment of the "" franchise. Sony Pictures shared that the new film, titled "Bad Boys for Life," will hit theaters on Jan. 17, 2020.
Lawrence revealed the news with a photo of himself and Smith with this simple caption: "It's official. Bad boys for Life"
Smith also shared a video in excitement, writing, "It’s been a LOOOONG time Coming. But now it’s Here! For Life. We back!!"
The original, which marked Michael Bay's directorial debut, was released in 1995 and the sequel dropped in 2003. In the "Bad Boys" franchise, Smith and Lawrence play Miami detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett. Not only are the two partners, but they're also friends who occasionally rub each other the wrong way. And if you've seen the ," you know just what we mean by "rub each other."
In a 2014 interview on "," Lawrence first mentioned that a script was in the works when O'Brien brought up initial rumors.
"I believe so," Lawrence said. "Yes. I just talked to (producer) Jerry Bruckheimer. He said it's real, they're working on a script, they're close and it all looks good."
But Lawrence recanted his statement in 2017 , where he voiced his disbelief in the film getting the green light.
"I don’t think we’re going to get one, not the way everything’s turning out," Lawrence told Entertainment Weekly. "Will is off doing another movie, and I don’t think it’s going to happen. I’m there, I’m ready right now. If they wanted to do it, I’m ready, but I don’t have control of that. That’s the studio’s decision."
Fast forward to October 2018, and that Sony Pictures was indeed planning to move forward with the action comedy. Now, after delays and false starts, it looks like "Bad Boys for Life" is finally happening 15 years after the sequel.
Though details about the plot have yet to be released, fans will be eager to learn how anger management is going for Lawrence's Marcus and whether or not Smith's Mike is still dating Marcus's sister, Syd (Gabrielle Union).
Remember when Smith sings Inner Circle's 1992 reggae hit ", in the first film: What you gonna do when they come for you?