The Hollywood Reporter has exclusively confirmed that directorial maestro Michael Bay is locked in negotiations to helm an exhilarating Netflix action spectacle, 'Fast and Loose,' starring the legendary Will Smith. This adrenaline-fueled film revolves around a nefarious crime lord who, after a devastating attack, awakens to find his memory shattered and gradually uncovers a shocking truth: he's been leading a double life as a covert CIA operative.
Crafting the intricate narrative are a formidable team of screenwriters – Jon Hoeber, Erich Hoeber, Chris Bremner, and Eric Pearson – who have woven a web of intrigue and deception that promises to keep audiences on the edge of their seats.
Remarkably, 'Fast and Loose' has been in development even before Smith's controversial encounter with Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars, which sent shockwaves through Hollywood. Prior to this, David Leitch had gracefully stepped away from the project mere weeks before the fateful awards ceremony to embark on 'The Fall Guy,' a Ryan Gosling-Emily Blunt-led action-comedy masterpiece released by Universal Pictures in May.
Producing this high-octane venture are Leitch and Kelly McCormick under their 87North banner, alongside Smith himself. Robert Simonds and Noah Fogelson serve as executive producers for STXfilms, ensuring that every aspect of the film meets the highest standards of excellence.
This marks a reunion of sorts for Bay and Smith, who previously collaborated on the iconic 1995 action-comedy 'Bad Boys' and its 2003 sequel. Their chemistry ignited the franchise, which recently saw Smith and Martin Lawrence reprise their roles in the blockbuster 'Bad Boys: Ride or Die,' released by Sony Pictures in June. This film not only shattered box office records, grossing over $400 million worldwide, but also solidified Smith's status as a sought-after leading man amidst the aftermath of the Oscars incident.
Hot on the heels of 'Bad Boys: Ride or Die's' success, THR reported that Smith was in talks to star in Sony's sci-fi thriller 'Resistor,' an adaptation of Daniel Suarez's 2014 novel 'Influx,' albeit with no director attached at the time.
Smith's recent filmography also boasts critically acclaimed titles like 'Emancipation' (2022) and 'King Richard' (2021), the latter earning him his maiden Academy Award.
Bay, whose most recent directorial endeavor was the Jake Gyllenhaal and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II-starrer 'Ambulance' (2022), has a storied career that includes blockbusters like the 'Transformers' franchise and the Ryan Reynolds-led Netflix hit '6 Underground' (2019).
Deadline initially broke the news of Bay's involvement in 'Fast and Loose,' sparking excitement among fans eager to witness this dynamic duo rekindle their on-screen magic once again.
