Jacob Scipio and Paola Nuñez were announced in the cast on December 21, 2018. Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig and Charles Melton were announced in the cast on December 20, 2018. Joe Pantoliano is also set to reprise his role as Captain Howard. In November 2018, Martin Lawrence officially revealed via Instagram that he and co-star Will Smith would return for a sequel. Sony is reportedly gearing up for the long-awaited third installment to begin filming in November 2018 and wrap in March 2019. On January 30, 2018, it was announced that Sony Pictures were in negotiations with Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah to direct the upcoming third entry in the Bad Boys franchise titled Bad Boys for Life with a possible production date in August, 2018. During an appearance on Australian breakfast show Sunrise on January 15, 2018, Will Smith told hosts Samantha Armytage and David Koch that a third film was coming "very soon". In August 2017, Lawrence said that he doubts that the film will ever be made.
On March 7, 2017, Carnahan left the film due to scheduling conflicts, and in August 2017 Sony removed the film from their release schedule. Lawrence revealed on Jimmy Kimmel Live! that filming may start in March 2017. 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. Producers had planned to begin production in early 2017. On March 4, 2016, the film was pushed to June 2, 2017. Two months later, Sony Pictures Entertainment announced that Bad Boys III would be released on February 17, 2017. By June 2015, director Joe Carnahan was in early talks to write and possibly direct the film. Two months later, Lawrence said a script had been written and parts had been cast. In June 2014, Jerry Bruckheimer announced that screenwriter David Guggenheim was working on the storyline for the sequel. In February 2011, Martin Lawrence reiterated that the film was in development. By August 2009, Columbia Pictures had hired Peter Craig to write the script for Bad Boys III. The National Treasure franchise, starring Nicolas Cage as an amateur cryptologist, was a solid performer for Disney with $US347 million worldwide for the 2004 original and $US457 million for 2007's National Treasure: Book of Secrets.In June 2008, Michael 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. Bad Boys II was also directed by Bay, and grossed $US270 million worldwide. Bad Boys, directed by Michael Bay, generated $141 million in worldwide box office on a $US19 million budget. Bad Boys for Life, from directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, has generated a mostly positive critical reception, with a 74 per cent score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Sony's sequel to 1995's Bad Boys and 2003's Bad Boys II reunites Will Smith and Martin Lawrence as old-school cops taking down the leader of a Miami drug cartel, and carries a $90 million production budget. Bremner teamed with Peter Craig and Joe Carnahan on Bad Boys for Life, which was easily outperforming expectations on its first day of release Friday with estimates in the $US60 million ($A87 million) to $US70 million ($A102 million) range. Bruckheimer produced the three Bad Boys and the two National Treasure movies. Bremner has also signed to write National Treasure 3 for Disney with Jerry Bruckheimer producing.
Sony Pictures has launched early development of an untitled fourth Bad Boys movie with Bad Boys for Life screenwriter Chris Bremner returning to write the script.