Will Smith Aims For Big-Screen Redemption With “Bad Boys: Ride or Die”

Will Smith is gearing up for a major cinematic comeback with the highly anticipated Bad Boys: Ride or Die, the fourth film in the beloved action-comedy franchise. The 55-year-old actor reprises his role as Miami detective Mike Lowrey, once again teaming up with Martin Lawrence, who plays Marcus Burnett. The duo first captivated audiences in the original 1995 film.

Bad Boys: Ride or Die marks Will’s return to the big screen over two years after the infamous Oscars incident, where he slapped Chris Rock onstage during the award ceremony. This film will test Will’s box office appeal after the scandal and the heavy controversy he has faced since.

Sharing an insightful take on the film, an industry insider told PEOPLE that “Bad Boys is not a risk.” 

“It’s a good piece to see him soar. A talent as ambitious and financially successful as Will does not go away with one mistake. He needs to keep box-office success alive,” the insider added.

 Another entertainment source agreed, saying if Bad Boys: Ride or Die makes commercial success, Will “should be back on top and looking good for other films he is involved with and working on,” including an I Am Legend sequel with Michael B. Jordan.

A close friend of Will revealed that the star is “ready for more of an impact with his work after laying low” since the Oscars incident. 

“He will always be a private guy in his personal life but loves the attention on the big screen. He is hoping for box-office magic with this film and a bright future with all he has going,” the friend added, per PEOPLE.

Despite the fallout from the Oscars, Will starred in Apple TV+’s Emancipation in December 2022. However, that film primarily streamed online, making Bad Boys: Ride or Die his first major theatrical test since the incident. During the press tour for Emancipation, Will acknowledged that some moviegoers might not be ready to see him onscreen yet, stating he will “absolutely respect” their feelings.

At the Los Angeles premiere of Bad Boys: Ride or Die, Will took a moment to express his gratitude to Sony Pictures Entertainment executive Tom Rothman for giving him another chance. “Tom Rothman is a real-life ride or die. Tom Rothman was messing with me when nobody was messing with me. That is my dude,” Will said, highlighting the support he received during a challenging period.