Will Smith Is Reuniting With His Best Director Thanks To Netflix
Any assumption that “The Slap” would derail Will Smith’s career went away after the success of Bad Boys: Ride or Die. Deadline is now reporting that the star is in negotiation to re-join Michael Bay, the director of the first two Bad Boys films, for Fast and Loose on Netflix. This isn’t the first time that Smith has starred in a Netflix original, but it’s going to be much more high-profile than Bright.
Reuniting For The First Time In Over 20 Years
Fast and Loose is about a man who wakes up with amnesia in Tijuana and slowly realizes he’s been living the life of a drug kingpin, except he’s also an undercover FBI agent. There are going to be a few twists and turns in this Cartel-influenced Total Recall, but it’s a script Will Smith has been trying to bring to life for years. The Men in Black star is serving as a producer with his production company, and he’s been looking to work with Michael Bay again ever since Bad Boys 2 came out in 2003.
Launched Both Of Their Careers
Bad Boys, starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, took the rapper-turned-actor’s career to the next level following his success on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The film marked a turning point in the careers of both men, as it was also Bay’s first time as a director, and he’d go on to make a string of hits, including The Rock, Armageddon, and Transformers. Now, 20 years after this last collaboration, the pair will hopefully soon be back together to recapture that magic.
Their Other Netflix Movies Didn’t Go So Well
Working with Netflix is something both Will Smith and Michael Bay have done before, with Bright and 6 Underground, respectively, to mixed success. Both films were, at one point, meant to launch franchises, but Netflix scuttled plans for Bright 2 following the Oscars slap. Bay’s 6 Underground, despite including his trademark style of “Bayhem” action, underperformed among audiences and won’t be getting a sequel.
A Successful Two Years
While both their previous Netflix films underperformed, the streamer must see something in bringing Will Smith and Michael Bay back together again for Fast and Loose. It might have to do with Bad Boys: Ride or Die outperforming expectations with a worldwide box office haul of over $400 million, or it could be that Bay’s last film, Ambulance, turned out to be a hit with critics. Whatever the case may be, Netflix is constantly looking for high-profile original projects and isn’t above opening up the checkbook to make things happen.
Going To Have To Wait Awhile For The Reunion
It will be a while before we get to stream Fast and Loose on Netflix, as the film still hasn’t entered pre-production, and there’s a chance that deals will fall apart at the last minute. For now, Will Smith’s next project is acting as a producer for the upcoming Karate Kid film, which brings together the original star, Ralph Macchio, with Jackie Chan, who starred in the remake alongside Smith’s son, Jaden Smith. Michael Bay, meanwhile, has gone back to being a megaproducer, helping to bring Transformers One and A Quiet Place: Day One to theaters this year.
Source: Deadline
