Originally posted Monday, January 14, 2019 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog
Will Smith and Martin Lawrence began shooting the action-comedy sequel "Bad Boys for Life" today in Buckhead masquerading as Miami.
Sure, it’s cold, gray and miserable today but through the magic of film, it will probably look warm and sunny on camera.
Smith announced the start of production Sunday on Instagram.
The buddy cop movie is scheduled to come out in theaters January 17, 2020.
The two stars - playing Miami cops Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett - watched the first two films over the weekend to refresh themselves, according to Smith in his Instagram post.
The original - when Lawrence was 30 and Smith was 27 - came out in 1995 and generated $66 million. The 2003 sequel pulled in $138.6 million.
Smith is now 50 and Lawrence 53.
Talk about a second sequel floated around for many years but has only recently finally come to fruition.
No word if Gabrielle Union will be back. She is currently shooting a “Bad Boys” spin-off called “L.A.’s Finest” set to air on Spectrum/Comcast in Los Angeles. (Coincidentally, I had lunch today with Ernie Hudson, who is playing Union’s character’s dad.)
In the film, Joe Pantoliano will reprise his role as their boss Captain Conrad Howard. New cast members include Alexander Ludwig (“Vikings”) Charles Melton (“Riverdale”) and Vanessa Hudgens (“Dog Days,” “Second Act”)
11Alive caught the actors on location today.
Parts of the film are likely to shoot in Miami as well since that’s where the movie is set.
