Bruckheimer Confirms Development on Bad Boys 3

In the past few months, there's been quite a bit of chatter about Will Smith returning to some of his most famous franchises as they receive the threequel treatment. In fact, just this week it was confirmed that Smith would start shooting Men in Black III with Tommy Lee Jones this fall for a summer 2012 release date.

There's also been talk in the past year about Sony reuniting Smith with Martin Lawrence and Michael Bay for Bad Boys 3 with a screenwriter having been hired last summer, though it seemed somewhat dubious even last month when Lawrence confirmed to MTV that the project was "real."

At the UK junket for Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time, ComingSoon.net asked the Big Kahuna, producer Jerry Bruckheimer, if there was a possibility we'd see him, Michael Bay and Smith working together for the first time since Bad Boys 2 back in 2003, presumably once Bay and Smith finish their current threequels, Transformers 3 and Men in Black III, respectively.

The producer was more prudent with his choice of words on the project than Lawrence, saying, "It's a wish and a hope and a dream. We've been working on a screenplay, which is excellent. It's an idea Will gave us, so hopefully, it will come to fruition, we would love it to."

Being that the first Bad Boys was the big breakthrough movie for Bay, Smith and Lawrence 15 years ago--seems like longer, doesn't it?--it certainly would be interesting to see them do a third movie maybe with some of the modern edge they've seen since been exploring.

In the meantime, Bruckheimer's own summer slate is full with Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time out on May 28 and The Sorcerer's Apprentice out on July 16. Via Comingsoon

Bay, Spielberg and Kruger to Meet for Transformers 3

Michael Bay's official website got an update from the director on his future projects:

* He will be meeting later this week with Steven Spielberg, and Ehren Kruger to discuss ideas for Transformers 3. By the end of the week he should have an idea if Transformers 3 will hit your local cineplex in the summer of 2011 or 2012.
* In the meantime "Pain & Gain" is looking very possible as is...
* ...Bad Boys 3. Either film coming to a theater near you before or after Transformers 3.
Via Comingsoon

I'd prefer Bad Boys 3. Transformers 3 should take a little more time on the script this time around.

Bad Boys 3 in Development

Columbia Pictures is developing a third installment of the high-octane "Bad Boys" franchise, tapping Peter Craig to pen the screenplay.

The hope is to have a script that would reunite director Michael Bay, producer Jerry Bruckheimer and stars Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. At this point, with the project in the early stages, none has a deal to return.

The "Boys" movies feature Smith and Lawrence as Miami detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett, caught up in cases involving car chases and explosions.

The first "Boys," released in 1995, helped launch Bay as a director and Smith as an action star even though it was not a fire-stamped blockbuster -- it grossed $66 million domestically and $141 million worldwide.

The sequel, released in 2003 when Bay and Smith's stars had risen, grossed $138 million domestically and $273 million worldwide.

All parties have expressed a willingness to return if a story can be hammered out. One potential hurdle, however, would be the costly deals with the players.

Craig, repped by CAA and Management 360, co-wrote "The Town," which Ben Affleck is directing for Warner Bros. and which shoots in Boston next month. He is adapting anime "Cowboy Bebop" for 20th Century Fox and Keanu Reeves.
'Bad Boys 3' in the works
Peter Craig will write the screenplay

Via Borys Kit for THR.com