In June 2008, Bay stated that he may direct
Bad Boys III, but that the greatest obstacle to the potential sequel would be the cost, as he and Will Smith demand some of the highest salaries in the film industry.
[7] By August 2009, Columbia Pictures had hired
Peter Craig to write the script for
Bad Boys III.
[8] In February 2011,
Martin Lawrence reiterated that the film was in development.
[9] In June 2014, Bruckheimer announced that screenwriter David Guggenheim was working on the storyline for the sequel.
[10] Two months later, Lawrence said a script had been written and parts had been cast.
[11] By June 2015, director
Joe Carnahan was in early talks to write and possibly direct the film.
[12] Two months later,
Sony Pictures Entertainment announced that
Bad Boys III would be released on February 17, 2017, and that additional sequel,
Bad Boys IV, is scheduled for release on July 3, 2019.
[13] On March 5, 2016, the film was pushed to June 2, 2017.
[14] Producers plan to begin production in early 2017.
[15] On August 11, 2016, the film was pushed back once again to January 12, 2018, to avoid box office competition with the upcoming
DC Comics film
Wonder Woman, and retitled
Bad Boys for Life.
[16] Lawrence revealed on
Jimmy Kimmel Live! that filming may start in March 2017.
[17]