Bad Boys: Will Smith Personally Pushed For Original Star’s Return in Ride or Die (Exclusive)

Bad Boys: Will Smith Personally Pushed For Original Star's Return in Ride or Die (Exclusive)

As a long-time fan of the Bad Boys franchise, it’s been an absolute thrill to see the dynamic duo, Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett, back in action after such a long hiatus. The latest installment, Bad Boys: Ride or Die, has not only lived up to my expectations but surpassed them in many ways.


As a dedicated gamer, I’ve been eagerly waiting for a sequel to my favorite action game – the Bad Boys series! It’s been 17 long years since Will Smith and Martin Lawrence donned their suits as Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett, but they’re back in action with Bad Boys for Life (2020). The film brought in an impressive $420 million against a budget of just $90 million, making Sony Pictures decide to greenlight another installment, Bad Boys: Ride or Die. This summer, we got to witness the continuation of their thrilling adventures at the cinemas, and it didn’t disappoint, raking in nearly $400 million in this uncertain box office era.

In these fresh movies, Smith and Lawrence headline a mostly revamped cast featuring stars like Vanessa Hudgens, Tiffany Haddish, and Alexander Ludwig. However, there’s one actor from the original “Bad Boys” series who has appeared in every film apart from the leading duo – Joe Pantoliano.

Bad Boys: Will Smith Personally Pushed For Original Star's Return in Ride or Die (Exclusive)

In the movies “Bad Boys” (1995) and “Bad Boys II” (2003), Pantoliano portrays Captain Conrad Howard, the superior of Mike and Marcus. Although Conrad plays a significant part in both films, he meets an untimely end at the start of “Bad Boys for Life”. However, in the film “Ride or Die”, Conrad reappears, but only as a vision to Marcus when he falls into a coma.

In response to being asked about his role in the fourth installment, Pantoliano playfully said, “I received some extra money,” implying he felt more satisfaction due to his return. He suggested the audience was disappointed when his character was killed off and thus they found a way to bring him back to life in the story.

As a dedicated fan, I’m excited to share that it was our beloved Smith who took the lead, as confirmed by Pantoliano. In an intriguing turn of events, it was revealed that the Best Actor of 2022 played a crucial role in weaving Conrad into the narrative of the Ride or Die story.

According to Pantoliano, he played a significant role in the situation. He shared, “We needed to find a solution to return the Captain.” I was extremely thankful that this occurred, he added. Interestingly, he didn’t interact with him directly, but he would often receive updates from producer Doug Belgrad. Belgrad would call and inform me, saying, “At the moment, it seems like this is what will transpire.”

Ride or Die” might have been Pantoliano’s final appearance in the franchise. As for Will Smith, he has expressed interest in making a “Bad Boys 5”, depending on how well “Ride or Die” is received by critics and audiences.

Bad Boys: Ride or Die is now available on home media.

Read More

2024-08-08 19:40