The directors of Bad Boys: Ride or Die indicated that the film was ‘developing’ as the controversy around Will Smith’s slap unfolded, implying that it inspired the film.
Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, two young Belgian directors, were pulled from relative obscurity when they were chosen to direct Bad Boys For Life, succeeding Michael Bay.
The team has returned for the fourth picture, which also features Will Smith and Martin Lawrence.
In an interview with UNILAD, we asked Adil and Bilall how the film was impacted by Will Smith’s recent incident, and the Belgian directors said: “Well, I believe you know, if you see the movie, you’ll realize that there are some parallels between what’s occurring in the movie and real life.
“You know, it’s almost like a meta experience that Will in the role of Mike Lowrey has with some themes.
“So obviously, it had something, there is a connection between real life and the story of the movie in the movie itself.”
Unfortunately, the film makes no direct references to the slap, but it does show the boys, played by Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, on the run, with their mentor’s name dragged through the mud.
Furthermore, Smith’s character Mike Lowrey experiences anxiety and panic attacks throughout the film.
Will Smith notoriously received harsh criticism in Hollywood after slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars.
The slap came after Rock joked about Jada Pinkett-Smith’s alopecia and referred to her as GI Jane.
Smith approached and slapped Rock, and the accompanying cries of ‘keep my wife’s name out of your mouth’ went viral.
The actor from Bad Boys received a ten-year suspension from the Academy Awards.
READ MORE: “Holy Slap” At Oscars, Jada Pinkett Smith Says, Saved Her Marriage To Will Smith
This occurred on the same night that he won Best Actor for his role in King Richard.
When asked if they rewrote any of the film following the problems surrounding Will, they responded:
“I believe the script was evolving the entire time. So the only idea we had early on was that they’d be on the run.
“So yeah, everything was just, you know, part of life, basically, given the situation. That was always going to be in the script at some point.”
While no precise portions were inspired by the slap, it is evident that it had an impact on the script.
We, for one, are upset that there was no scene with Will Smith hitting someone across the face, but we will still watch.
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