"There is a very, very, very strong possibility that you will be seeing a Bad Boys within the next 12-16 months."
Count 'em: That's three "verys." That's what Will Smith said during a radio interview with Beats 1 about the trilogy that everyone has been waiting for. Start at the 18:34 mark in the video below to hear it with your own ears.
But notice how Smith didn't necessarily say that he and his Bad Boys co-star Martin Lawrence would be reprising their roles in the franchise. There's chatter that two younger actors will star in the third Bad Boys movie, and Smith and Lawrence will be attached to the project loosely, possibly making a cameo appearance to pass the baton down to the new officers who will be taking on drug crime in Miami.
That would break my heart: I want Detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett.
Either way, I hope the upcoming film returns to the franchise's roots. Bad Boys II cost way too much money and was more about Michael Bay-esque booms and explosions instead of focusing on a funny script that unleashed Lawrence's and Smith's comedic talents and chemistry to the world.
Twelve to 16 months is right around the corner—I can't wait.
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Diana Ozemebhoya Eromosele is a staff writer at The Root and the founder and executive producer of Lectures to Beats, a Web series that features video interviews with scarily insightful people. Follow Lectures to Beats on Facebook and Twitter.
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