Following the triumph of Bad Boys for Life, it was anticipated that Will Smith and Martin Lawrence would be reprising their roles for the fourth installment. However, it has now been disclosed that Vanessa Hudgens will also be returning to reprise her character from the third movie, according to a report by Deadline.
Hudgens showcased a different side of herself in Bad Boys for Life, deviating from her typical romantic-comedy roles to engage in shootouts alongside Smith and Lawrence. Her character, Kelly, is the expert in weaponry at Advanced Miami Metro Operations (A.M.M.O.) in the movie. A.M.M.O. members, including Kelly, assist Mike (Smith) and Marcus (Lawrence) in their efforts to defeat the antagonists throughout the film. The plot of Bad Boys 4 is currently a mystery, but the third movie concludes with the eponymous “Bad Boys” taking control of A.M.M.O. Thus, it is logical for Hudgens’ character to continue to lend a hand.
Action movies, such as the Bad Boys franchise, are not usually associated with Hudgens by audiences. The actress gained recognition for her prominent role in Disney’s High School Musical trilogy, and she has also thrived on Netflix, featuring in several movies for the platform, such as The Princess Switch and The Knight Before Christmas. Nevertheless, prior to her involvement in Bad Boys for Life, Hudgens had already dabbled in the action genre, appearing in films such as Sucker Punch and Polar. She has also played significant parts in tick, tick… BOOM! and Spring Breakers.
Who is behind the production of Bad Boys 4?
Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, the directorial team behind Bad Boys for Life, will helm Bad Boys 4, with a screenplay by Chris Bremner. Arbi and Fallah gained notoriety as the directors of Batgirl, which was halted during post-production. However, they deserve recognition for their work on Bad Boys for Life, which was one of the final major blockbusters before the COVID lockdowns and grossed $426 million worldwide. They have also directed multiple episodes of Ms. Marvel, Snowfall, and the lauded film Rebel.
In addition to his role as a lead actor, Smith will serve as a producer for Bad Boys 4, working alongside Jerry Bruckheimer, Doug Belgrad, and Chad Oman. Lawrence will also be fulfilling dual responsibilities, functioning as both a lead actor and an executive producer. Other executive producers attached to the project include James Lassiter, Mike Stenson, Barry Waldman, and Jon Mone.