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Tag: michael-bay

  • Sydney Sweeney and Michael Bay Driven to ‘OutRun’

    (Left) Sydney Sweeney at the Lionsgate presentation at CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas. Photo: Lionsgate. (Right) Michael Bay attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Columbia Pictures' 'Bad Boys: Ride Or Die' at the TCL Chinese Theater on May 30, 2024 in Hollywood, California. Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Sony Pictures.
    (Left) Sydney Sweeney at the Lionsgate presentation at CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas. Photo: Lionsgate. (Right) Michael Bay attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Columbia Pictures’ ‘Bad Boys: Ride Or Die’ at the TCL Chinese Theater on May 30, 2024 in Hollywood, California. Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Sony Pictures.

    Preview:

    • Sydney Sweeney and Michael Bay are teaming up for an ‘OutRun’ adaptation.
    • It’ll be drawn from the popular 1980s arcade/video game franchise.
    • Jayson Rothwell will write the script.

    Here’s what we’d describe as both a surprising and yet understandable combo of talent and subject.

    While we’re not certain we had Sydney Sweeney and Michael Bay teaming up on our 2025 bingo card, the idea that they’d be coming together to work on a video game adaptation might top that for its unlikely quality.

    Still, given that Sweeney has been increasingly getting into the producing side of movie-making and Bay has a little bit of experience with action, maybe we should all have seen their collaboration on an adaptation of classic 1980s Sega title ‘OutRun’ heading our way –– at least, potentially.

    According to Deadline, Bay will direct the new movie for Universal, with Sweeney –– at least so far –– only aboard to produce rather than making a deal to star. Of course, if the script takes a shape she’s interested in, expect her to take a role, even if it’s supporting part, to get this one made.

    Toru Nakahara (who worked on the likes of ‘Sonic the Hedgehog) will also produce for Sega, while the company’s president and COO Shuji Utsumi will oversee development.

    Related Article: Sydney Sweeney in Negotiations to Star in Legendary’s ‘Gundam’ Movie

    What’s the story of ‘OutRun’?

    'OutRun' video game. Photo: Youtube.
    ‘OutRun’ video game. Photo: Youtube.

    With video games enjoying a huge moment on screens big and small (‘Minecraft’ continues to build at the box office, while ‘The Last of Us’ returned to HBO and Max with a bang a couple of weeks ago, and just released its most impactful episode so far), it’s hardly surprising that other companies would be rooting through titles to find possibilities.

    Universal itself has already seen success in the sphere with ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ and ‘Five Nights at Freddie’s both launching film franchises.

    The initial struggle with ‘OutRun’ is that it features no traditional narrative: this is a pseudo-3D driving video game in which the player controls a Ferrari Testarossa convertible from a third-person rear perspective. The object of the game is to reach the finish line against a timer.

    Still ‘OutRun,’ which Sega debuted in arcade cabinet form back in 1986 and saw become its most successful arcade title of the decade, has enjoyed a long-running embrace by game fans since being ported to variety of consoles and systems, spawning a franchise.

    Jayson Rothwell, whose credits include Netflix thriller ‘Polar,’ comedy horror mystery ‘Silent Night’ [2012] and 2004 horror thriller ‘Blessed’ is the scriptwriter who will be figuring out how it works as a movie.

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    There have been different approaches to titles such as this in the past –– the more recent ‘Gran Turismo’ took the novel idea of focusing on a real-life player of the game becoming a driver, while the less successful (in every sense) 2014 effort ‘Need for Speed’ looked to put a crime thriller coat on the racing action.

    And let’s not forget that “Bayhem” isn’t a term by accident (except for the many spectacular vehicular collisions he’s brought to screens on purpose); the director knows how to stage a set piece with real momentum.

    What else is Sydney Sweeney working on?

    (L to R) Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney in 'Anyone But You. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.
    (L to R) Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney in ‘Anyone But You. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.

    Sweeney’s current schedule is as packed as anyone’s in Hollywood.

    Last year included the continued success of hit rom-com ‘Anyone But You’ opposite fellow rising star Glen Powell and Neon horror thriller ‘Immaculate.’

    She followed those up with one that she might wish to vanish from her resume, misfiring Spider-Man spin-off ‘Madame Web.’

    The actor also filmed the Ron Howard-directed thriller ‘Eden’ about a society of people who opt to start a new life in the Galapagos islands, only for things to wrong. That one should be in theaters this year.

    (L to R) Brandon Sklenar, Amanda Seyfried, Sydney Sweeney and director Paul Feig at the Lionsgate presentation at CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas.Photo: Lionsgate.
    (L to R) Brandon Sklenar, Amanda Seyfried, Sydney Sweeney and director Paul Feig at the Lionsgate presentation at CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas.Photo: Lionsgate.

    She has shot the Lionsgate adaptation of the novel ‘The Housemaid,’ which has Paul Feige in the director’s chair, and has worked on two other movies, ‘Echo Valley’ about a woman (played by Julianne Moore) whose life is turned upside down when her daughter (Sweeney) shows up covered in someone else’s blood, and a biopic of real-life boxer Christy Martin, with Sweeney in the lead role (not to mention it’s another movie she produced).

    Still to come is a starring role in Colman Domingo’s film ‘Scandalous!,’ which will see her playing Kim Novak in the story of the actor’s controversial relationship with Sammy Davis Jr. (played by ‘Alien: Romulus’ David Jonsson).

    And that list doesn’t even include the potential movies to which she is attached: that list includes a remake of sci-fi comedy ‘Barbarella,’ thriller ‘The Caretaker’ and a drama called ‘The Registration.’

    More recently, she was linked to the attempt to make a live-action ‘Gundam’ movie.

    Finally, we have HBO series ‘Euphoria,’ whose much-delayed third season which is finally filming now for a 2026 release.

    What else is Michael Bay working on?

    Producer Brad Fischer, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Director/Producer Michael Bay, Eiza González and Jake Gyllenhaal attend Universal Pictures 'Ambulance' Premiere at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, CA on Monday, April 4, 2022.
    (L to R) Producer Brad Fischer, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Director/Producer Michael Bay, Eiza González and Jake Gyllenhaal attend Universal Pictures ‘Ambulance’ Premiere at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, CA on Monday, April 4, 2022. Photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages.

    Bay, who has been working as a filmmaker longer than his new collaborator has been alive, is busy as both a director and a producer.

    While his most recent feature directorial gig was 2022 action thriller ‘Ambulance,’ he’s got parkour documentary ‘We Are Storror,’ which follows the daring and successful Parkour team, who have amassed a huge following on YouTube. The doc premiered at SXSW on March 8th.

    As a producer, his Platinum Dunes company has backed a number of recent movies, including ‘Drop,’ ‘Transformers One’ and ‘A Quiet Place: Day One.’

    And as usual, he has a vast array of projects in development under both sides of his output, including the long-gestating ‘Robopocalypse,’ a crossover between the ‘Transformers’ and ‘G.I. Joe’ properties and a third main ‘A Quiet Place’ outing.

    When will ‘OutRun’ be in theaters?

    Universal has yet to announce anything close to a release date for this one, so we’ll have to be patient for now. Cool your engines, people!

    Sydney Sweeney in 'Euphoria.'
    Sydney Sweeney in ‘Euphoria.’ Photograph by Eddy Chen/HBO.

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  • Will Smith May Reunite with Michael Bay for ‘Fast and Loose’

    (Left) Will Smith attends the European premiere of 'Bad Boys: Ride Or Die' at Zoo Palast on May 27, 2024 in Berlin, Germany. Photo by Sebastian Reuter/Getty Images for Sony Pictures. (Right) Michael Bay attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Columbia Pictures' 'Bad Boys: Ride Or Die' at the TCL Chinese Theater on May 30, 2024 in Hollywood, California. Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Sony Pictures.
    (Left) Will Smith attends the European premiere of ‘Bad Boys: Ride Or Die’ at Zoo Palast on May 27, 2024 in Berlin, Germany. Photo by Sebastian Reuter/Getty Images for Sony Pictures. (Right) Michael Bay attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Columbia Pictures’ ‘Bad Boys: Ride Or Die’ at the TCL Chinese Theater on May 30, 2024 in Hollywood, California. Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Sony Pictures.

    Preview:

    • ‘Bad Boys’ collaborators Will Smith and Michael Bay may be working together again.
    • Bay is considering directing the action thriller ‘Fast and Loose.’
    • Smith would star as a man with amnesia.

    Way back in the distant mists of time (okay, 1995) an action comedy about wayward, chaos-causing cops roared on to screens.

    It launched the big screen directing career of a young, hungry filmmaker who to that point had been toiling away in the lower rungs of movie departments and handling music videos and commercials.

    The film also cemented the stardom of a rising talent who had broken out on a TV sitcom and graduated to the likes of ‘Independence Day.’

    Yes, ‘Bad Boys’ was the movie, Michael Bay the director, and Will Smith the star. While they re-teamed for the first sequel in 2003, and Bay remained a producer for (plus made cameos in) two further follow-ups, the pair has not worked together since.

    That could all change with Netflix action thriller ‘Fast & Loose.’

    Related Article: Will Smith Starring in New Sony Sci-Fi Thriller ‘Resistor’

    What’s the story of ‘Fast & Loose’?

    Will Smith in Columbia Pictures 'Bad Boys: Ride of Die.'
    Will Smith in Columbia Pictures ‘Bad Boys: Ride of Die.’ Photo: Frank Masi. © 2024 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    With a script that has seen contributions from Jon Hoeber, Erich Hoeber, Chris Bremner and Eric Pearson, ‘Fast and Loose’ follows John Riley (Smith), who wakes up in Tijuana after being left for dead with absolutely no memory.

    Riley follows a string of clues to uncover his identity discovering he’s been living two different lives: one, as a super-successful crime kingpin, surrounded by beautiful women, expensive toys, and a lavish lifestyle, and the other as an undercover CIA agent, but with a puny salary, no family or home life whatsoever, and zero trappings of success. The problem is, he can’t remember which of these two personas is his true identity…

    What’s the history of ‘Fast and Loose’?

    David Leitch in Paris for 'Bullet Train.'
    David Leitch in Paris for ‘Bullet Train.’ Credit: Oliver Vigerie/Sony Pictures.

    Smith has been attached to this one for some time –– previously, ‘The Fall Guy’ director David Leitch was attached to make the movie, but he dropped out of the big chair in the wake of Smith’s slapping incident with Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars, when Netflix hit pause on the project.

    Leitch and his producing partner Kelly McCormick are still aboard to produce the movie alongside Smith, but now it looks like Bay will be calling the shots (and, if we know anything about his work, the explosions.)

    Now Smith, according to Deadline, has dropped out of another big action movie, ‘Sugar Bandits’ to focus on this one and Netflix is hoping that Bay’s deal locks in.

    Bay has experience with Netflix already –– he made action pic ‘6 Underground’ for the streaming service, and his most recent movie, ‘Ambulance,’ is a big hit with its viewership.

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    When would ‘Fast and Loose’ be on screens?

    With no solid deal in place for Bay and no official start date, it’s too early to even ponder when this might land on Netflix’s servers.

    Producer Brad Fischer, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Director/Producer Michael Bay, Eiza González and Jake Gyllenhaal attend Universal Pictures 'Ambulance' Premiere at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, CA on Monday, April 4, 2022.
    (L to R) Producer Brad Fischer, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Director/Producer Michael Bay, Eiza González and Jake Gyllenhaal attend Universal Pictures ‘Ambulance’ Premiere at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, CA on Monday, April 4, 2022. Photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages.

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  • Sam Claflin and Patrick Stewart starring in ‘Barbaric’

    (Left) Sam Claflin in 'Daisy Jones & the Six'. Photo: Amazon Prime Video. (Right) Patrick Stewart as Picard of the Paramount+ original series 'Star Trek: Picard. Photo: Trae Patton/Paramount+ ©2022 ViacomCBS. All Rights Reserved.
    (Left) Sam Claflin in ‘Daisy Jones & the Six’. Photo: Amazon Prime Video. (Right) Patrick Stewart as Picard of the Paramount+ original series ‘Star Trek: Picard. Photo: Trae Patton/Paramount+ ©2022 ViacomCBS. All Rights Reserved.

    Preview:

    • Sam Claflin and Patrick Stewart are attached to comic book adaptation ‘Barbaric’.
    • Writer Sheldon Turner is crafting a series based on his work.
    • Michael Bay’s in talks to direct at least a couple of episodes.

    We might not exactly be hurting for fantasy TV series at the moment –– ‘Game of Thrones’ prequel ‘House of the Dragon’ recently returned and Prime Video’s ‘Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ is back next month.

    Still, ‘Up in the Air’ writer Sheldon Turner thinks there could well be room for one more, especially one that features a less serious side to its tale of warriors and gonzo violence.

    Which brings us to ‘Barbaric’ the best-selling Vault comic he first published in 2021 with co-creator/writer Michael Moreci and co-creator/artist Nathan Gooden.

    Turner is looking to turn the comic into a TV series, and he has ‘Daisy Jones & the Six’s Sam Claflin ready to star with Patrick Stewart –– whose genre credentials surely need no repetition –– taking a voice role.

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    What’s the story of ‘Barbaric’?

    'Barbaric' comic book.
    ‘Barbaric’ comic book. Photo: Vault Comics.

    Set in a Medieval fantasy world, the series follows Owen (Claflin), a barbarian who has been cursed to do good with what remains of his life. Accompanied by his talking axe (Stewart), described in the comic’s synopsis as a moral compass with a drinking problem, Owen wanders the realm, foredoomed to help any who seek assistance. But there is one thing Owen hates more than a life with rules: witches.

    Related Article: Riley Keough and Sam Claflin find Rock and Romance in the ‘Daisy Jones and the Six’ Teaser

    Who else will work on ‘Barbaric’?

    Producer Brad Fischer, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Director/Producer Michael Bay, Eiza González and Jake Gyllenhaal attend Universal Pictures 'Ambulance' Premiere at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, CA on Monday, April 4, 2022.
    (L to R) Producer Brad Fischer, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Director/Producer Michael Bay, Eiza González and Jake Gyllenhaal attend Universal Pictures ‘Ambulance’ Premiere at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, CA on Monday, April 4, 2022. Photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages.

    Netflix –– though the company wouldn’t officially comment to TVLine, likely because not all the deals have been done –– is reportedly backing this one, which Turner will write and produce via his 100% Productions company, which is based at A+E Studios.

    But perhaps the biggest news on this one is the potential director. Michael Bay –– yes, the man behind the likes of the ‘Transformers’ movies, ‘Armageddon’ and, most recently, ‘Ambulance’ (in whose credits Turner is thanked, leading us to think he might have offered some uncredited script re-write work) is in talks to handle the series.

    If he does sign, it would mark Bay’s TV directorial debut. He’s certainly produced a lot of small screen work (‘Black Sails’, ‘The Purge’ and ‘Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan’ among it), but now we might get to see what he can do with a show. We’d guess the idea of working with a Netflix budget rather than the constrictions of regular network TV is what appeals to him.

    And we’d certainly be interested in what Bay’s style looks like within a fantasy world.

    When will ‘Barbaric’ be on screens?

    The new series will have to make it out of development before it can even be considered for a launch date. But given the names involved, we’d guess this has a better chance than some other projects.

    Sam Claflin in 'Daisy Jones & the Six'.
    Sam Claflin in ‘Daisy Jones & the Six’. Photo: Amazon Prime Video.

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  • Movie Review: ‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’

    Will Smith and Martin Lawrence star in Columbia Pictures 'Bad Boys: Ride of Die.'
    (L to R) Will Smith and Martin Lawrence star in Columbia Pictures ‘Bad Boys: Ride of Die.’ Photo: Frank Masi. © 2024 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Opening in theaters June 7th is ‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die,’ directed by Adil El Arbi & Bilall Fallah and starring Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Paola Nuñez, Ioan Gruffudd, Eric Dane, Jacob Scipio, and Joe Pantoliano.

    Related Article: ‘Bad Boys 4’ Officially in Pre-Production with Directors Adil El Arbi Bilall Fallah Back

    Initial Thoughts

    Will Smith and Martin Lawrence star in Columbia Pictures 'Bad Boys: Ride of Die.'
    (L to R) Will Smith and Martin Lawrence star in Columbia Pictures ‘Bad Boys: Ride of Die.’ Photo: Frank Masi. © 2024 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    No one was more surprised than us when we walked out of 2020’s ‘Bad Boys for Life’ having enjoyed the film. Especially coming some 17 years after the unpleasant ‘Bad Boys II,’ and with Michael Bay abdicating the director’s chair to Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah (credited as Adil & Bilall), the third entry in the franchise was as mayhemic (if not Bayhemic) as ever, but actually offered up some character development, a decently structured plot, and yes, plenty of eye-watering yet well-staged action and violence, not to mention the undeniable Will Smith-Martin Lawrence chemistry.

    Flash forward five years and it seems the ‘Bad Boys’ franchise has actually flashed back a bit: ‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’ is more frenzied, sillier, and more mind-numbing than its predecessor. The returning Adil & Bilall (along with encoring screenwriter Chris Bremmer, this time working with Will Beall, whose less-than-sparkling credits include ‘Gangster Squad’ and ‘Aquaman’) seem to be leaning into the style of the first two ‘Bad Boys’ entries, and while Smith and Lawrence still have their act down, it’s starting to feel a little like a parody of itself. ‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’ still manages to be fairly entertaining, but it feels like eating too much of a meal you weren’t even sure you wanted.

    Story and Direction

    Directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah on the set of Columbia Pictures 'Bad Boys: Ride of Die.'
    (L to R) Directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah on the set of Columbia Pictures ‘Bad Boys: Ride of Die.’ Photo: Frank Masi. © 2024 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    You want story? ‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’ gives you plenty – or least piles on incidents and plot points like a wobbly Jenga game. Just in the first 15 minutes alone, perennial bachelor and lead Bad Boy Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) gets hitched – a lot happened in the last four years, we guess – while his partner in detective work and destruction, Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) has a heart attack while dancing at Mike’s wedding. A near-death vision of the late Captain Howard (Joe Pantoliano, picking up a paycheck) convinces Marcus to channel his inner Jeff Bridges circa ‘Fearless’ and walk on the ledge of the hospital roof after he recovers, while we also discover that Mike is now suffering from panic attacks – you know, the kind that always pop up at critical life-or-death moments in a movie like this.

    It turns out that Marcus’ vision isn’t the last we’ll see of Joey Pants; after it comes out that Captain Howard is, for some reason, being investigated after his death for colluding with the drug cartels, Mike and Marcus are sent a recording that Howard made before his death in which he says he’s the one who’s been investigating the corruption and it goes all the way up the food chain of Miami P.D. and perhaps higher. That, it turns out, is the real reason why he was shot to death by Mike’s illegitimate son Armando (Jacob Scipio) in ‘Bad Boys for Life,’ in a neat bit of comic-book-style retconning.

    Before you can say ‘plot contrivance,’ Mike and Marcus find themselves targeted for investigation, while the real villains – a shadowy militia unit led by former DEA officer and cartel prisoner James McGrath (Eric Dane) – are setting them up as well, placing a bounty on their heads with every gang in Miami. Soon the Bad Boys are on the run, joined along the way by Armando, who has been sprung from federal prison to help his father catch the true conspirators.

    Martin Lawrence and Will Smith star in Columbia Pictures 'Bad Boys: Ride of Die.'
    (L to R) Martin Lawrence and Will Smith star in Columbia Pictures ‘Bad Boys: Ride of Die.’ Photo: Frank Masi. © 2024 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    All of this, as well as the increasingly chaotic action, Smith and Lawrence’s banter breaks, and the introduction or re-introduction of a lot of characters we don’t really need, is presented almost as an ongoing recap of the movie you’re watching as you watch it.

    Adil & Bilall move everything along at breakneck speed, with one scene practically butting into another before the previous one is finished, and while there’s a certain energy to it all, it also feels numbing after a while. Mike and Marcus seem to get out of almost every situation they’re in, making the stakes feel less substantial than they are, and for the grand climax at an abandoned amusement park (complete with 16-foot alligator still lurking on the grounds), the pair all but assemble their own version of the Avengers for the big shootout, even including high-tech battle drones.

    Yes, the movie is insane, more so than ‘Bad Boys for Life,’ but we can’t say we weren’t intermittently entertained along the way. When we can actually see the action (it feels far more muddled this time than in ‘For Life’), some of it’s quite exciting: perhaps the best moment is when Marcus’ Marine son-in-law Reggie (Dennis McDonald) takes on 15 assassins by himself in a clear audition for ‘Bad Boys: The Next Generation’ (Jacob Scipio’s Armando seems to be auditioning for that project as well). And while a lot of the jokes fall kind of flat, there are a few laugh-out-loud moments here as well.

    The Cast

    Martin Lawrence and Will Smith star in Columbia Pictures 'Bad Boys: Ride of Die.'
    (L to R) Martin Lawrence and Will Smith star in Columbia Pictures ‘Bad Boys: Ride of Die.’ Photo: Frank Masi. © 2024 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    This is only Will Smith’s second film (following the ill-fated ‘Emancipation’) to arrive after the infamous Oscar slap that was heard around the world. While it kind of works for Lowrey, who has at least shown some character growth in the series, Smith seems to have lost some of his usual infectious energy here and comes across a bit muted. He’s still a compelling presence, and while he still has that chemistry with Lawrence, he (or his character) seems more impatient with the latter this time out.

    As well he should: Lawrence is embarrassing. His Marcus is more or less played as a complete fool now, whether he’s standing bare-assed on a roof or immersed in hip-deep water while facing an alligator. Lawrence still manages to get off a few good lines (“He’s racist!” he exclaims after his confrontation with the gator doesn’t end well) and when he focuses, he can play off Smith well, but focus is his problem: Marcus is less a character and more a collection of pratfalls and extended bits that go nowhere.

    The problem with the rest of the cast – aside from the fact that there are too many of them — is that they either don’t get time to do much or have their true nature telegraphed far too early in the film. Vanessa Hudgens’ Kelly, Alexander Ludwig’s Dorn, and Paola Nuñez’s Rita Secada (who’s now the Bad Boys’ captain) are simply the support system for the stars, while other returning cast members (and one returning filmmaker) just show up for glorified cameos. Only Armando, Lowrey’s son, has something resembling a character arc this time out, and the dynamic between father and son provide the film’s fleeting moments of genuine emotion and introspection.

    Final Thoughts

    Martin Lawrence and Will Smith star in Columbia Pictures 'Bad Boys: Ride of Die.'
    (L to R) Martin Lawrence and Will Smith star in Columbia Pictures ‘Bad Boys: Ride of Die.’ Photo: Frank Masi. © 2024 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    But c’mon, you don’t come to a ‘Bad Boys’ movie for introspection, right? As we said earlier, this is a movie that is overstuffed – with plot, with characters, with action, with crazy camera moves. It starts at around 60mph and quickly escalates from there, but there’s simply never enough time for the viewer to truly feel anything (and since most of it was filmed in Georgia, the Miami flavor and bouncing soundtrack set the scene but never quite suffuse the movie).

    Nevertheless, there’s just enough action and, in the third act, suspense to keep us going for two hours. Smith is certainly still watchable, even if Lawrence has become a chore. When Adil & Bilall get the mix of violence, character, and comedy right – as they did in ‘For Life’ – this can be an entertaining buddy-cop crowd-pleaser. At the very least, the ‘Bad Boys’ franchise seems to be the last one standing in a once-popular genre that has since fallen on hard times. But this cinematic fast-food meal might leave you feeling full and empty at the same time.

    ‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’ receives 6 out of 10 stars.

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    What is the plot of ‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’?

    When the late Captain Howard (Joe Pantoliano) is implicated in a longstanding string of drug-related crimes, the Bad Boys — Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) — attempt to clear his name, only to find themselves framed as well. With a bounty on their heads, they’re forced to go on the run from the drug cartel, the local gangs, and their fellow officers in the Miami PD.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Bad Boys: Ride or Die’?

    • Will Smith as Detective Mike Lowrey
    • Martin Lawrence as Detective Marcus Burnett
    • Vanessa Hudgens as Kelly
    • Alexander Ludwig as Dorn
    • Paola Nuñez as Captain Rita Secada
    • Eric Dane as James McGrath
    • Ioan Gruffudd as Lockwood
    • Jacob Scipio as Armando Aretas
    • Joe Pantoliano as Captain Conrad Howard
    Will Smith and Martin Lawrence star in Columbia Pictures 'Bad Boys: Ride of Die.'
    (L to R) Will Smith and Martin Lawrence star in Columbia Pictures ‘Bad Boys: Ride of Die.’ Photo: Frank Masi. © 2024 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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  • Chris Hemsworth in Talks for ‘Transformers’/‘G.I Joe’ Crossover

    (Left) Optimus Prime in 'Transformers'. Photo: Paramount Pictures. (Center) Chris Hemsworth in 'Spiderhead.' Photo: Netflix. (Right) Ray Park as Snake Eyes in 'G.I. Joe: Retaliation'. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
    (Left) Optimus Prime in ‘Transformers’. Photo: Paramount Pictures. (Center) Chris Hemsworth in ‘Spiderhead.’ Photo: Netflix. (Right) Ray Park as Snake Eyes in ‘G.I. Joe: Retaliation’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

    Preview:

    • Chris Hemsworth is in talks for Paramount’s Transformers/G.I. Joe crossover.
    • The storyline is unknown for now.
    • The concept was set up at the end of last year’s ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’.

    Its own future might still be up in the air as corporate suitors continue to circle, but Paramount is pressing on with exploring its big characters and concepts.

    And, following a tease at the end of last year’s ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’, the studio now officially has a ‘Transformers’/‘G.I. Joe’ crossover in the works.

    According to Deadline, the company has a star circling a lead role, as Chris Hemsworth is in talks to join the film. The actor is already involved with at least one side of this duo, since he’s the voice of Orion Pax –– the robot who will become Optimus Prime –– in this year’s animated ‘Transformers One’.

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    What’s the story of the Transformers/G.I. Joe crossover?

    (Left) ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’ rolls out into theaters on June 9th. (Right) Ray Park, Rachel Nichols and Saïd Taghmaoui in 'G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra'. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
    (Left) ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’ rolls out into theaters on June 9th. (Right) Ray Park, Rachel Nichols and Saïd Taghmaoui in ‘G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

    Right now, Paramount has not released any plot details about how the two universes will connect. There is precedent in comic books and, as mentioned, the end of last year’s ‘Transformers’ outing dropped a big hint, as Anthony Ramos’ Noah Diaz, having helped the Autobots and Maximals save the Earth, is introduced to a mysterious man named Agent Burke, played by Michael Kelly, who gives him a business card bearing the Joes’ logo.

    Here’s what ‘Transformers’ regular producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura told Variety about the plans:

    “Noah goes from somebody who cannot get a job, to a guy who gets the greatest job ever. It really felt organic to put it in here because you could relate it to the story. It didn’t feel like we were being cynical and like, ‘Good news, we could just jam G.I. Joes in here.’ The fans want a lot of things; if we do it and we don’t figure it out well, they’re going to be disappointed. It took us a while to figure out the Maximals, and now we have the hint of how to begin the Joes story.”

    For now, Hemsworth’s role is unknown. Nor do we know whether anyone from the previous ‘G.I. Joe’ movies will carry over to this one or whether this will mark a chance to reset the storyline.

    Who is making the ‘Transformers’/‘G.I. Joe’ crossover?

    Director Steven Caple Jr. on the set of 'Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.'
    Director Steven Caple Jr. on the set of ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.’ Paramount Pictures and Skydance Present in association with Hasbro and New Republic Pictures, a di Bonaventura Pictures Production, a Tom Desanto /Don Murphy Production, a Bay Films Production.

    While Steven Caple Jr. directed ‘Rise of the Beasts’ (and was one of the driving forces behind introducing the Joes to the onscreen ‘Transformers’ universe), no mention is made in the story about Hemsworth’s casting about who will direct or write the new movie.

    All we know at this point is that di Bonaventura is back to produce alongside Mark Vahradian, Michael Bay, Tom DeSanto and Don Murphy. Steven Spielberg and Hasbro Entertainment will be executive producers.

    Related Article: Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback Talk ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’

    When will the ‘Transformers’/‘G.I. Joe’ crossover be in theaters?

    There is no release information for the new movie yet. ‘Transformers One’, which also features the voices of Scarlett Johansson, Brian Tyree Henry and Keegan-Michael Key, will be on screens on September 20th.

    Arcee and Wheeljack in 'Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.'
    (L to R) Arcee and Wheeljack in ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.’ Paramount Pictures and Skydance Present in association with Hasbro and New Republic Pictures, a di Bonaventura Pictures Production, a Tom Desanto /Don Murphy Production, a Bay Films Production.

    Other Movies in the ‘Transformers’ and ‘G.I. Joe’ Franchises:

    Buy ‘Transformer’ Movies on Amazon

    Buy ‘G.I. Joe’ Movies on Amazon

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  • Movie Review: ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’

    Optimus Primal and Optimus Prime in 'Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.'
    (L to R) Optimus Primal and Optimus Prime in ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.’ Paramount Pictures and Skydance Present in association with Hasbro and New Republic Pictures, a di Bonaventura Pictures Production, a Tom Desanto /Don Murphy Production, a Bay Films Production.

    In theaters June 9th, ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’ offers the usual combination of robo-clashes and half-hearted human characters while proving that the franchise is really starting to run out of invention or momentum.

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    What’s the story of ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’?

    ‘Rise of the Beasts’ opens on the planet of the Maximals, a group of Transformers who arrived years ago and assumed the forms of native fauna in order to blend in (sort of). But when Scourge (Peter Dinklage), the henchman of living planet Unicron (Colman Domingo) seeking a vital McGuffin, the heroic Maximals are forced to escape, ending up on Earth thousands of years before the Autobots.

    Cut to Brooklyn of the 1990s, where Noah Diaz (Anthony Ramos) is trying to support his single mother and ailing younger brother while being turned down for various jobs. Drawn into a heist by an acquaintance, he accidently ends up stealing a Porsche that is actually the Autobot Mirage (voiced by Pete Davidson) and is suddenly thrust into a battle for the future of both the robots and the planet –– as Unicron, Scourge and their other evil associates have tracked the Maximals to Earth.

    Noah agrees to help Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen) and the other robots to find what they need to defeat Unicron, and that ends up pulling museum researcher Elena Wallace (Dominique Fishback) into the mission. Soon, they’re racing to stop Unicron’s plan to devour the Earth, with the help of Maximals such as Optimus Primal (Ron Perlman) and Airazor (Michelle Yeoh).

    Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback star in 'Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.'
    (L to R) Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback star in ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.’ Paramount Pictures and Skydance Present in association with Hasbro and New Republic Pictures, a di Bonaventura Pictures Production, a Tom Desanto /Don Murphy Production, a Bay Films Production.

    Who else is in ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’?

    The cast also includes John DiMaggio as the voice of Stratosphere, ‘Ted Lasso’s Cristo Fernández voicing Wheeljack, Liza Koshy as Arcee, Luna Lauren Velez as Mrs. Diaz and Dean Scott Vazquez as Kris.

    Director Steven Caple Jr. on the set of 'Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.'
    Director Steven Caple Jr. on the set of ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.’ Paramount Pictures and Skydance Present in association with Hasbro and New Republic Pictures, a di Bonaventura Pictures Production, a Tom Desanto /Don Murphy Production, a Bay Films Production.

    Robots in Disappointment

    If this was supposed to be Paramount’s big return for the ‘Transformers’ franchise, it is, sad to report, a big miss.

    Directed by Steven Caple Jr. (who has already done decent work on a sequel with ‘Creed II’), the new movie mostly boasts re-heated plot elements and ideas, while throwing in very little that is fresh or new.

    It’s yet another hunt for an energy thingy that will save or destroy everything, leading to very little that will engage all but the youngest cinemagoers.

    Most annoyingly, while the movie does its best to hand wave the idea that humanity at large isn’t aware of the giant robots in their midst until the 2000s setting of the first Michael Bay film, the events that transpire here simply don’t support that.

    Unicron, meanwhile, is far from a compelling baddie, mostly seen through communication with Scourge like an angry boss who keeps ranting at his employees. Scourge himself, despite the best efforts of the effects team, is a stock lead henchman who threatens our heroes.

    Nightbird, Scourge and Battletrap in 'Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.'
    (L to R) Nightbird, Scourge and Battletrap in ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.’ Paramount Pictures and Skydance Present in association with Hasbro and New Republic Pictures, a di Bonaventura Pictures Production, a Tom Desanto /Don Murphy Production, a Bay Films Production.

    And most annoyingly, he has a particular power used against one of the Maximals later in the film that is so effective you have to wonder why he doesn’t employ it more often. Maybe it takes a lot out of the poor guy. Not that anyone is expecting careful logic from a ‘Transformers’ movie, but it makes the experience of watching it that much more frustrating.

    The action is relatively perfunctory, though clearer than the later Bay movies, even if Caple Jr. can’t compete with the stylish levels of “Bayhem.” There are still moments, though, where it’s tough to figure out which hunk of metal is battling which. And don’t get us started on a final act moment that comes across as the laziest rip-off of ‘Iron Man’ possibly conceived, suffering from cheap effects and a ludicrous deus ex Maximals.

    Plus, between this and his useless cameo in ‘Fast X’, it might truly be time for a moratorium on movie appearances by Pete Davidson –– he’s such a one-note performer and Mirage is rarely as funny as he thinks he is. Thank goodness for Cullen, who, even when he’s playing a weirdly angry Optimus, does so with some flare.

    As for the Maximals, they’re less believable performances from respected (and in Yeoh’s case, recently Oscar-winning) actors, and more the bored sound of people crammed into a voice booth and asked to recite trope-heavy dialogue that you’ve heard in a hundred movies such as this.

    Oh, and because no giant studio movie can escape the lure of franchise building and potential crossovers, there’s a scene after the credits that nods towards connections with another big Hasbro property that has faltered on the big screen. It’s less likely to make fans cheer than make them sigh and wonder when the movie was going to earn this.

    Bumblebee in 'Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.'
    Bumblebee in ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.’ Paramount Pictures and Skydance Present in association with Hasbro and New Republic Pictures, a di Bonaventura Pictures Production, a Tom Desanto /Don Murphy Production, a Bay Films Production.

    What works?

    The ‘Transformers’ movies have tried to nod towards its human characters’ storylines (‘Bumblebee’ most effectively), and ‘Rise of the Beasts’ offers Ramos and Fishback at least something to do outside of running and reacting to the giant metal creatures.

    They’re pleasingly not forced into the cliched love story, and actually contribute to the narrative, even giving the likes of Noah’s ill younger brother something to do beyond look cute and be a driving force for him changing his life.

    Optimus Primal, Cheetor, Wheeljack and Arcee in 'Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.'
    (L to R) Optimus Primal, Cheetor, Wheeljack and Arcee in ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.’ Paramount Pictures and Skydance Present in association with Hasbro and New Republic Pictures, a di Bonaventura Pictures Production, a Tom Desanto /Don Murphy Production, a Bay Films Production.

    Fans will be excited to see the Maximals enter the movie canon, though like the Dinobots before them, they largely end up as reasons for our heroes to go on a new mission rather than truly believable as characters in their own right.

    The ‘Transformers’ team appears to have learned only a few lessons from ‘Bumblebee’, and ‘Rise of the Beasts’ mostly feels like a backwards step in a franchise that peaked with the 2007 original. It’s not entirely without merit, but the entertainment value could use more energon crystals.

    ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’ receives 4 out of 10 stars.

    ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’ rolls out into theaters on June 9th.
    ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’ rolls out into theaters on June 9th.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy ‘Transformer’ Movies on Amazon

    ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’ is produced by Skydance, Paramount, di Bonaventura Pictures, Bay Films, New Republic Pictures, Tom DeSanto/Don Murphy Production, Hasbro Studios, Entertainment One, and Amblin Entertainment. It is set to release in theaters on June 9th, 2023.

     

  • Sydney Sweeney Starring in New ‘Barbarella’

    Sydney Sweeney as Cassie Howard in HBO's 'Euphoria.'
    Sydney Sweeney as Cassie Howard in HBO’s ‘Euphoria.’ Photo: Eddy Chen/HBO.

    Off the back of roles on shows such as ‘Euphoria’ and ‘The White Lotus’, Sydney Sweeney is keeping her big screen career bubbling in a big way. And she’s become a firm favorite at Sony, with whom she is developing several projects.

    The latest, per Deadline, is a remake of ‘Barbarella’.

    Roger Vadim’s 1968 campy cult classic follows an astronaut from the 41st century (Jane Fonda) who sets out to find and stop the evil scientist Durand Durand (Milo O’Shea), whose Positronic Ray threatens to bring evil back into the galaxy. It was sexy, it was over the top and while it didn’t exactly set the box office alight, it has outlived the critical reaction and remains one of Fonda’s most iconic roles.

    The film was based on the controversial comic books character created by Jean-Claude Forest for serialization in the French ‘V Magazine’ in spring 1962. In 1964, Éric Losfeld published the strips as a stand-alone book titled ‘Barbarella’. The book caused a scandal and became known as the first “adult” comic book, with the title character frequently depicted having sex.

    Several different attempts at a remake have floated around in the last couple of decades.

    Drew Barrymore was briefly attached to a new take on the tale shortly before the arrival of 2000’s ‘Charlie’s Angels’. That one would have seen her playing a woman who discovers a secret about her planet and leading a revolution.

    Scrub forward to 2007 and you have news that Robert Rodriguez had been developing his own version for a few years, planned to star then-girlfriend Rose McGowan. But though he got an offer from a German company to stump up the budget, he didn’t take because it meant shooting overseas, away from his family. And an attempt to set it up with Universal stalled for other financial reasons.

    Jane Fonda in 1968's 'Barbarella.'
    Jane Fonda in 1968’s ‘Barbarella.’ Photo courtesy of Paramount Movie’s YouTube channel.

    “Universal had initially signed on for $60 million,” Rodriguez told The New York Observer, “but then when we were done with the script it wound up at closer to $82 million, and they had just financed a Will Ferrell movie (‘Land of the Lost’) that was a $130 million and they even cut that down to $100 million.”

    Around the same time, veteran James Bond writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade were hired by Gaumont International Television to script a TV adaptation, one that eventually ended up in the hands of ‘Drive’ director Nicolas Winding Refn. Yet even that ultimately went nowhere, drifting off into the endless wastes of the development galaxy.

    According to Deadline, Sweeney will produce the new movie for Sony, which will now look to lock in a writer and director to move it forward.

    It’s just the latest move for the actor, who already has a role in ‘Madame Web’, due in theaters on February 16, 2024.

    She’s also filmed a role in crime drama ‘National Anthem’, is developing novel adaptation ‘The Registration’ and has mystery TV series ‘The Players Table’ in the works.

    Even more recently, she’s now teaming up with Universal to adapt Marcus Kliewer’s short story ‘The Caretaker’, which tells the story of a young woman who accepts a caretaking job from Craigslist and quickly discovers her responsibilities have stakes far greater (and more dangerous) than she could have ever imagined.

    That one will be produced by Michael Bay’s Platinum Dunes company.

    Sydney Sweeney as Cassie Howard in HBO's 'Euphoria.'
    Sydney Sweeney as Cassie Howard in HBO’s ‘Euphoria.’ Photo: Eddy Chen/HBO.
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  • Movie Review: ‘Ambulance’

    Jake Gyllenhaal and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II
    (L to R) Jake Gyllenhaal and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in director Michael Bay’s ‘Ambulance.’ Photo Courtesy of Universal Pictures.

    Opening in theaters on April 8th is the new action thriller ‘Ambulance’ from ‘Transformers’ and ‘Armageddon’ director Michael Bay. The film stars Jake Gyllenhaal (‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’) and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (‘Aquaman’) as bank robbers who hijack an ambulance and take an EMT (Eliza Gonzalez) hostage.

    The result is Michael Bay’s version of a mash-up between ‘Heat’ and ‘Speed,’ which is mostly entertaining and features impressive performances from Gyllenhaal and Gonzalez, but ultimately falls flat before it reaches the finish line.

    The movie begins by introducing us to Will Sharp (Abdul-Mateen II), a war veteran with a small child who is desperate to find money for his wife’s upcoming surgery. With insurance companies reusing to help, he turns to his adopted brother Danny (Gyllenhaal), who is a life-long criminal. Danny agrees to give Will the money, if he helps him with a bank heist that is about to go down with a possible take home over $32 million. Will reluctantly agrees, but the heist goes terribly wrong.

    The Special Investigation Section of the LAPD led by Captain Monroe (Garret Dillahunt) are on to Danny and waiting for him and his crew when they leave the bank. After a street shootout with the cops, which leaves their entire crew dead, Danny and Will make their escape by hijacking an ambulance with EMT Cam Thompson (Gonzalez) and a wounded policeman (Jackson White) on board.

    Now, with the entire LAPD chasing them through downtown Los Angeles, Danny starts to become unhinged, and Will contemplates how he can get himself out of this situation, while Thompson tries to keep her patient alive. Danny then enacts a dangerous plan to escape, and Will must decide between helping his brother or doing the right thing and ending this horrible ordeal.

    Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Jake Gyllenhaal
    (L to R) Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Jake Gyllenhaal in director Michael Bay’s ‘Ambulance.’ Photo Courtesy of Universal Pictures.

    Whether you like his movies or not, you must respect Michael Bay as a master director. Bay makes movies on the biggest scale possible, and I’d put him in the same category with filmmakers like James Cameron and Zack Snyder. In some ways, ‘Ambulance’ is the most entertaining and fun movie that Bay has delivered in years and has all of the big action sequences you would expect from the director.

    But it also contains a lot of the “Bay-isms” that have plagued his films over the years, like an unbelievably ridiculous plot, characters that only make smart decisions when the script calls for it and putting action above character development.

    The filmmaker also makes more than a few meta references to his own films, which seemed strange and takes you right out of the movie. For example, two police officers’ bond over a scene from Bay’s ‘The Rock,’ and later compare themselves to the characters in ‘Bad Boys.’ The references were probably added as fun Easter eggs, but I found them to be unnecessary and a distraction from the rest of the movie.

    Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is an amazingly talented actor and I’ve really enjoyed him in films like ‘Aquaman,’ ‘The Matrix Resurrections’ and ‘The Trial of the Chicago 7,’ as well as the HBO mini-series ‘Watchmen.’ But unfortunately, his performance in ‘Ambulance’ does not work for me.

    He is introduced as our hero but immediately agrees to rob a bank with his brother, and even though we know that he is doing it to save his wife, he still makes some terrible decisions and causes several crimes. The film wants to wash away his involvement in the bank robbery by the end, so that the character of Will can be the true hero of the movie, but at that point it was too late for me to be able to root for him.

    Eiza González in 'Ambulance.'
    Eiza González in ‘Ambulance,’ directed by Michael Bay. Photo Courtesy of Universal Pictures.

    Who you do root for in this movie is Eliza Gonzalez’s Cam, who is the true hero of the story and frankly, I would have loved to see a film about just her working as an EMT. She is definitely the breakout star of the movie and is great opposite Gyllenhaal and his frantic energy. The actress does her best to ground the film in some sort of reality, which is no small task considering the outlandishness of the plot.

    Jake Gyllenhaal gives a fantastic performance as Danny Sharp, channeling all the crazy energy of Nicolas Cage in ‘Face/Off.’ Gyllenhaal is completely over-the-top, but it works within the parameters of what Bay has created. Again, the problem for me is that I didn’t know who to root for. Danny is clearly the bad guy, but Gyllenhaal is so charismatic compared to Abdul-Mateen II that it’s hard not root for him instead.

    Several supporting actors give strong performances, the best coming from Garret Dillahunt who plays police Captain Monroe. Dillahunt is a “that guy” actor and has appeared in countless TV and film projects, so you will recognize him instantly. In a ‘Heat’ analogy, he plays the Al Pacino to Gyllenhaal’s Robert De Niro. Dillahunt has an interesting approach to playing his role that works really well, but unfortunately the character is not given enough screen time.

    The same could be said for Keir O’Donnell who gives a very interesting performance as an FBI agent who is also a former friend of Danny Sharp. There is a bit of back and forth between the two characters, but with such an interesting backstory and relationship, again, I wish more time had been invested with this character.

    The bank shootout at the beginning of the film is really well choreographed and looks great on screen, but it doesn’t add anything that we didn’t see in Michael Mann’s classic ‘Heat.’ The same can be said for the ambulance chase sequences, which have Bay’s fingerprints all over it, but again, do not add anything that we couldn’t see from watching ‘Speed.’

    And if I were to make a ‘Speed’ analogy with this film, I would say that Eliza Gonzalez is really playing the Keanu Reeves role, with Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Sandra Bullock’s character and Jake Gyllenhaal in the Dennis Hopper part.

    In the end, ‘Ambulance’ is a fun and entertaining movie that just leaves you a little empty by its conclusion.

    ‘Ambulance’ receives 3 out of 5 stars.

    Brad Fischer, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Michael Bay, Eiza González and Jake Gyllenhaal
    (L to R) Producer Brad Fischer, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Director/Producer Michael Bay, Eiza González and Jake Gyllenhaal attend Universal Pictures ‘Ambulance’ Premiere at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, CA on Monday, April 4, 2022. Photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages.
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  • Will Smith and Martin Lawrence Are Back for ‘Bad Boys for Life’

    Will Smith and Martin Lawrence Are Back for ‘Bad Boys for Life’

    Sony

    We never thought it’d happen … but “Bad Boys for Life,” the third film in the over-the-top action franchise starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, is finally coming out. And you know how we know? Because there’s an official trailer to prove it!

    The third “Bad Boys” feature has been caught in a cycle of false starts and dead ends, with development officially beginning more than 10 years ago in August 2009 when the first screenwriter was hired to write the script. In the course of those ten years, at least two directors have dropped out (franchise mastermind Michael Bay, who was too expensive, and Joe Carnahan, who clashed with star Will Smith but still retains a screenwriting credit) and countless iterations of the script commissioned. Filming finally took place this year, from January to June, under the direction of Belgian filmmaking team Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah and leadership of franchise producer Jerry Bruckheimer.

    And honestly … the trailer looks pretty great. It’s got all the hallmarks of the franchise (explosions, macho posturing, F-bombs) in a less expansive Michael Bay-sized package. In other words: we’re in!

    “Bad Boys for Life” hits theaters (yes actually) on January 17, 2020.

  • Michael Bay to Direct Sci-Fi Action Flick ‘Black Five’

    Michael Bay to Direct Sci-Fi Action Flick ‘Black Five’

    Paramount Pictures

    Michael Bay is continuing to do what Michael Bay does best: Make big, loud action flicks. And after recently wrapping one such movie, the filmmaker has reportedly already set up his next project.

    Bay is currently negotiating with Sony Pictures to direct a new film called “Black Five,” Deadline reports, featuring an ensemble cast headed by “a big male lead.” The film is scripted by Ehren Kruger (“Dumbo,” “Transformers: Age of Extinction”).

    “Plot is being kept under wraps, but it’s big Michael Bay movie, with a gritty sci-fi element to it,” the trade noted.

    Sounds about right.

    Without much to go on, it’s hard to figure out just who Bay would have in his sights to star, though a “big male lead” in an action film could be one of many contenders these days. Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne Johnson are the first stars that come to mind, though Bay also just wrapped working on the similar-sounding action ensemble “6 Underground” with Ryan Reynolds. Maybe the Merc With the Mouth could be Bay’s new muse?

    Bay is producing “Black Five” alongside Erwin Stoff, with whom he last collaborated on the 2016 Benghazi raid film “13 Hours.” Perhaps the duo are circling John Krasinski instead.

    According to Deadline, “Black Five” is reportedly eyeing an early 2020 production start. Stay tuned to see who Bay selects as his leading man.

    [via: Deadline]