Bad Boys fans thrilled as Will Smith confirms fourth film with Martin Lawrence

Rejoice Bad Boys fans - a fourth instalment is on the way.

Will Smith drove around to his buddy Martin Lawrence's place, camera in hand, and posted a high-energy video sharing the exciting news with fans.

Check it out here:

Development on the sequel, which follows 2020's Bad Boys For Life, was reportedly put on hold after Smith assaulted Chris Rock at last year's Oscars.

But on Tuesday (31 January) Sony Pictures announced that the as-yet untitled film is in early pre-production.

As Smith and Lawrence point out in the announcement video, Bad Boys 4 Life would have been a pretty perfect name for the fourth instalment, but that might be a bit confusing following on from Bad Boys For Life.

I suppose when they set out to make the third movie they probably didn't yet know if they'd be reuniting for a fourth.

Instagram/Will Smith

The first Bad Boys movie was released back in 1995, with the sequel following in 2003.

After 17 years, there was much excitement about the franchise returning in 2020, and now the boys are back for more.

The Bad Boys franchise follows the adventures of two detectives in the Miami Police Department, Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett, played by Smith and Lawrence respectively.

Producer Jerry Bruckheimer is reportedly returning for the fourth film, as are Bad Boys For Life directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah.

The film will be Smith's second major big-screen endeavour following the now infamous slap incident last March - after which he was banned from Academy events for 10 years.

He currently stars in historic drama Emancipation, in which he plays an escaped slave.

COLUMBIA PICTURES / Album / Alamy Stock Photo

Sony chairman, Tom Rothman, told Deadline last May that talks of terminating the project off the back of the slap were inaccurate.

He said: "That movie's been in development and still is. There weren't any brakes to pump because the car wasn't moving.

"That was a very unfortunate thing that happened, and I don't think it's really my place to comment, except to say that I've known Will Smith for many years, and I know him to be a good person.

"That was an example of a very good person having a very bad moment, in front of the world.

"I believe his apology and regret is genuine, and I believe in forgiveness and redemption."

Topics: Will Smith, Film and TV

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey