Joe Carnahan, the director of Liam Neeson’s The Grey, is reportedly in talks to helm Bad Boys 3 for Sony Pictures. The film would be the first installment in the Will Smith/Martin Lawrence franchise since 2003.
The news was first reported by Deadline, which notes that Sony really wants to get this together as soon as possible. They hope Smith can get started on it as soon as he finishes his work on Warner Bros.’ Suicide Squad.
The script for the new film was directed by David Guggenheim (Safe House).
It will be the first Bad Boys film not directed by Michael Bay. The franchise started in 1995 and, along with Independence Day, is credited with establishing Smith as an action star. It also helped Bay become a top action director.
There’s been talk about a Bad Boys 3 for years, going as far back as 2009. Lawrence has said repeatedly that the new film was in the words and he was confident that Smith would make it.
Carnahan is a well-regarded action director, having also made Smokin’ Aces, The A-Team and Stretch. He’s also worked with Sony Pictures TV, directing episodes of The Blacklist.
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image of Joe Carnahan courtesy of INFevents.com