‘Bad Boys’ run the world – especially when they’re shirtless, right Will Smith?

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With the 1995 release of Bad Boys, Will Smith may have achieved a major turning point in his career toward becoming one of the biggest stars in the history of Tinseltown. His performance in the action flick proved that he could manage a large-scale production, which helped him secure roles in other popular 1990s movies such as Independence Day and Men in Black.

However, did you know that Smith took issue with director Michael Bay’s well-known choice to have the actor, now 55, run in a scene while sporting ‘no shirt’? Well, Bay could see he was helping the actor establish him as a real movie star, and the s*x appeal would help him no doubt. And seems the director was absolutely right.

And that’s why Smith has since expressed regret to Bay for the argument in a lighthearted manner.

Will Smith and Martin Lawrence in Bad Boys
In 2022, the Bad Boys actor sent Bay a humorous apology by including a special note inside his book. It was a thoughtful gift, but what really made it cool was the message within.

The Sweet Apology: Will Smith’s Message to Michael Bay

In his 2021 autobiography Will, Will Smith detailed his personal life and Hollywood career, emphasizing various moments that shaped his ascent to stardom. Among those stories is his collaboration with Michael Bay on Bad Boys, specifically during a daylight chase scene through Miami’s streets.

The director had intended for Smith to run through the streets shirtless while brandishing a gun and pursuing ‘bad boys’ who had just abducted his co-star, Téa Leoni. Although the latter was not keen on the idea, Bay persisted and eventually they came to an agreement where Smith would wear an open button-up shirt that showed his chest.

Will Smith in a still from Bad Boys
Upon completion of the scene, Bay exclaimed to Smith with joy that he had just turned the actor into a movie star. In a 2022 video that the director, 59, shared on Instagram, he was seen holding a copy of Smith’s book—which he claimed the actor had given him—and unfolding it to show an inscription that read:

“Okay, Michael. You were right, I was wrong!” 

In response, Bay quipped in the video that it “looks like an apology” for forcing Smith to run while wearing only a shirt half-off and “making him a movie star”. The video is entertaining and highlights the mutual influence that Bad Boys had on the careers of both Smith and Bay, who are icons in their own right.

Even though Smith had already acted in two other movies and Six Degrees of Separation when he landed the role of Bad Boys, it is arguable that Bay helped the actor catapult to stardom. Well, Smith had a run of successful films after Bad Boys, such as Enemy of the State, Men in Black, and Independence Day.

Bad Boys: Ride or Die: What to Know about Will Smith’s Bad Boys 4

Martin Lawrence and Will Smith in the Bad Boys: Ride or Die trailer
For years, there has not been much news on Bad Boys: Ride or Die, but now Mike (Will Smith) and Marcus’ (Martin Lawrence) return is getting closer. Starring Smith and Martin Lawrence, the first Bad Boys was released in 1995.

Not so recently, the trailer for the fourth Bad Boys film was unveiled, bringing the much-awaited flick closer to its release date. The three-minute epic teaser introduces the story of the upcoming movie, which centers on Mike and Marcus’ late former captain being falsely accused and their quest to clear his name.

The co-director of Bad Boys 4, Adil El Arbi, also teased information about the plot and tone of the upcoming film. In an interview with The Playlist’s The Discourse podcast, he spoke about a few things fans can anticipate from the impending film:

“I think that there’s going to be way more comedy. The third one had the dramatic tone. With this one, it’s really our purpose to get people laughing and having a good time in the theater. Martin [Lawrence] is going to a higher level in this one. This is the culmination of the Marcus Burnett arc.”

Not only that, but several other cast members from Bad Boys for Life (2020) are returning, including Vanessa Hudgens as Kelly, Paola Núñez as Captain Rita Secada, and Alexander Ludwig as Dorn. The release date for Bad Boys: Ride or Die is set for June 7, 2024.

You can watch Bad Boys on Hulu until then!