Topics: Will Smith, Oscars, Chris Rock, Jada Pinkett Smith, Hollywood, Film and TV
The directors of Bad Boys: Ride or Die have stated that the film was ‘evolving’ as the controversy around Will Smith’s slap was unfolding, and even hinted that it inspired the film.
Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, a pair of young Belgian filmmakers, were plucked from relative obscurity when they were picked to direct Bad Boys For Life, taking over the reigns of the franchise from Michael Bay.
The duo have returned for the fourth film joined by a returning Will Smith and Martin Lawrence.
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We asked Adil and Bilall, in an interview with UNILAD, about how the film was influenced by Will Smith’s recent controversy, and the Belgian directors said: "Well, I think you know, if you watch the movie, you see that there are some parallels between what's happening in the movie and real life.
“You know, there's it's almost like a meta experience that that Will in the character of Mike Lowrey goes through 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."
The film itself does not have any direct references to the slap unfortunately, but features the boys, played by Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, on the run – with their mentor’s name dragged through the mud.
As well as this, Smith’s character Mike Lowrey faces anxiety and panic attacks throughout the film.
Will Smith famously faced severe backlash in Hollywood after slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars.
The slap occurred after Rock made jokes about Jada Pinkett-Smith’s alopecia, referring to her as GI Jane.
Smith walking up and slapping Rock, and the subsequent yells of ‘keep my wife’s name out your mouth’ went viral.
The Bad Boys actor was banned for ten years from the Academy Awards.
This took place on the very same night where he won Best Actor for his performance in King Richard.
Asked if they rewrote any of the film following the controversies surrounding Will they said:
"I think that the script was evolving the whole time. So the only idea that we had pretty early on was the fact that they would be on the run.
“So yeah, everything was just, you know, part of life, basically of what the situation was. And that was always a part of the script eventually."
Whilst not specifically stating which bits were inspired by the slap, it is clear that it had an effect on the script.
We for one are disappointed that there was no scene of Will Smith slapping someone across the face – but will be watching nonetheless.
Bad Boys: Ride or Die is set to be released on 5 June.
