According to Will Smith, DJ Khaled was ‘in-character’ throughout his time on the ‘Bad Boys for Life’ (2020) set.

Will Smith and Martin Lawrence’s Bad Boys: Ride or Die trailer has given audiences an explosive glimpse into what to expect from the upcoming fourth installment of the buddy cop actioner franchise.

Joining the duo in their latest adventure are Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Paola Núñez, Eric Dane, and more. Renowned record producer DJ Khaled is also among those returning to the franchise after his hilarious cameo appearance in the third film.

DJ Khaled in Bad Boys for Life (2020). Credit: Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.
Speaking of the record executive, even Bad Boys star Will Smith was stunned by Khaled’s dedication to the role of Manny the Butcher. Within the given material, the 48-year-old disc jockey was actually able to entertain the viewers with his on-screen presence. It turns out he went full method-acting mode once he stepped into the set of Bad Boys for Life (2020).

His efforts didn’t go unnoticed as the headlining stars, who divulged the details in an interview, were left utterly amused.

DJ Khaled’s ‘Method Acting’ On Bad Boys for Life (2020) Surprised Will Smith

Will Smith in Bad Boys for Life (2020). Credit: Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.
In a recent interview on Complex’s 360 With Speedy, Oscar-winning actor Will Smith sat down for a conversation with Speedy Morman, expounding on the various facets of his life. When Bad Boys co-star Martin Lawrence dropped in for a short visit, the interviewer asked the two talents to shed light on DJ Khaled‘s involvement in the third film of the buddy cop action-comedy franchise Bad Boys for Life (2020).

The host wondered whether there was truth to the rumor of Khaled coming to set every day even before the shooting of his 2-minute appearance commenced. To this, Smith responded:

“Khaled was doing full Method acting. He was like in character walking to set and all of that.”

In the third movie, Khaled’s Manny the Butcher appears for a short course of time. Despite that, he entertained and impressed even veteran Hollywood stars like Smith and Lawrence.

The latter even remarked on the record producer’s on-set antics, explaining that he would yell out his lines. Etching out a picture of the disc jockey’s enthusiasm and passion, Aladdin alum Will Smith added, “He took it real serious.”

The two stars concluded that having Khaled in the movie’s production was a delight. With the hip-hop producer tagging along for another ride in the film franchise, it would be exciting to look forward to the future for further on-set anecdotes and shenanigans.

What Is Will Smith And Martin Lawrence’s Bad Boys 4 About?

Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024). Credit: Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.

The latest trailer drop for the fourth installment in the beloved Bad Boys franchise has set the stage for a new adventure—one that sees deceased Captain Conrad Howard (played by Joe Pantoliano) framed for a supposed long-standing association with drug cartels. The two Miami Police Department detectives embark on a mission to clear their former boss’ name, only to find themselves set up and forced to be on the run.

Not only is the first glimpse at the upcoming release filled with adrenaline-inducing, blood-pumping action sequences, but even the comedy has been turned up a notch.

The official synopsis in the Sony Pictures Entertainment-released trailer’s description reads the following:

“This Summer, the world’s favorite Bad Boys are back with their iconic mix of edge-of-your-seat action and outrageous comedy but this time with a twist: Miami’s finest are now on the run.”

Will Smith in Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024). Credit: Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.
While the first two films in the series saw Michael Bay at its helm, the director duo attached to Bad Boys for Life, Adil & Bilall, will return for Bad Boys: Ride or Die. Previously, Adil El Arbi teased (via The Playlist) what viewers can expect from the latest sequel and how its tone will contrast with the “dramatic” one witnessed in the third iteration.

“…What’s going to happen in this one is, I think, that there’s going to be way more comedy. The third one had the dramatic tone. With this one, it’s really our purpose to get people laughing and having a good time in the theater. Martin [Lawrence] is going to a higher level in this one. This is the culmination of the Marcus Burnett arc.”

Expectations remain high as audiences wonder how the latest run will uphold the essence of the ongoing saga that began in 1995. Will Smith and Martin Lawrence’s Bad Boys: Ride or Die will be released theatrically in the United States on June 7, 2024.

You can check out the trailer below: