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The trailer for the upcoming Bad Boys: Ride or Die dropped just recently, and the movie marks the return of Will Smith and Martin Lawrence to their iconic roles as Miami detectives nearly three decades after the release of the original film in 1995. The iconic duo reunites for more action-packed adventures but with a rather surprising twist: they’re the ones on the other side of the law this time.
The production of the film was stopped following the Slap — allegedly due to the subsequent investigation — but the filming later resumed. Bad Boys: Ride or Die is now scheduled for a June 2024 release date. We have already discussed the public perception of Will Smith following the unpleasant event at the 94th Academy Awards, but now we’re switching the spotlight to Martin Lawrence, especially after his appearance at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards, where he seemed not to be himself. Many fans are now wondering whether it’s high time for the comedian/actor to hang up his comedy mic and his badge.
For those who aren’t in the know, the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony featured a special reunion between Martin Lawrence and his Martin co-stars, Tisha Campbell, Carl Anthony Payne II, and Tichina Arnold. Even the stage was made to mimic the set of the 1992 sitcom. However, during their comedy segment, the audience noticed that Lawrence seemed like he was slurring his words a little bit — a moment many attributed to symptoms of poor health.
This caused concern among many fans and set the social media world ablaze regarding Martin Lawrence’s health, sparking many online debates on whether or not it’s time for a 58-year-old Big Momma’s House star to take a final bow on stage and focus on his health. However, fan speculation doesn’t just end at Martin Lawrence’s health. Many are pointing toward the fact that his career has been slowing down by inches for years, if not decades, alluding that the actor may have been considering retirement quietly among family and friends for quite some time.
The latter is a particularly interesting point, primarily because the argument, though unfounded, contains a small dose of truth. Following the release of the original Bad Boys, Smith would go on to become a major movie star but Lawrence took a riskier approach with his comedy. He made a few bad decisions that ended up being box office flops and got involved in controversies that briefly derailed his career. He also suffered a nervous breakdown while directing 1996’s A Thin Line Between Love and Hate, so the quiet concerns regarding his health aren’t completely without merit.
Bad Boys 2 dropped in 2003, and the movie was a success. Yet, Smith emerged as a more bankable star, and Martin Lawrence faded into the background. The period between 2005 and 2015 was really rocky for Lawrence as he starred in several different movies, the majority of which were commercial successes. That success ranged from movies that managed to double their budget to massive earners. However, not all of those movies resonated with the critics, and some, despite their commercial success, were publicly poorly received.
Other releases, such as Big Momma’s House 2 and Wild Hogs, did exceptionally well with the critics, audiences, and the box office. So, it’s fair to say that the producers of Bad Boys for Life (which was a huge financial success) didn’t just pluck Martin Lawrence from obscurity for the sequel. Unlike Smith, Lawrence just slowed down after a rather successful run during the ’90s and 2000s. With yet another sequel lined up, it’s safe to assume that Martin Lawrence’s career hasn’t declined; the actor just slowed things down.
As for the apparent health issues perceived at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards, those close to the actor claim that he is doing better than ever health-wise and even thriving in his career. Insiders also stated that the actor had a few surprises for the fans, but they didn’t disclose any details about what the fandom should expect. They did, however, explain Lawrence’s strange behavior at the Emmys. Â Black men’s health needs, while often ignored, are certainly issues that need to be addressed and understood.
Namely, sources claim that Lawrence’s speech, the slurring words, and the long pauses during the sketch were the result of a technical error. Apparently, the teleprompter glitched due to late changes to the script, which affected Martin Lawrence’s delivery. And if anyone thinks that that’s too good of an excuse to believe, the Martin cast completed their sketch successfully, joking about how the show never won an Emmy before its main star was presented with the award for the best actor in a comedy.
So, in light of the ongoing debate surrounding Martin Lawrence’s well-being and the trajectory of his career, sparked by his recent appearances at the Emmys, it would seem that both his health and his career are doing fine. Bad Boys: Ride or Die is scheduled for a June 7, 2024 release date.