The pilot for NBC's untitled Bad Boys spin-off has started filming, and a first look photo has arrived from the set. The original Bad Boys was Michael Bay's first movie, and he used his years of experience directing music videos to make the modestly budgeted production look super slick and glossy. It also put Will Smith on the path to movie stardom after years on The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air.
The careers of Smith, Bay and Martin Lawrence exploded after the success of the movie, so it took eight years for Bad Boys II to land in 2003. Needless to say, the budget was much bigger, leading to endless car chases, gunfights, and explosions. The critics weren't impressed, but the sheer excess of it has earned the movie a lot of funs, and it was heavily spoofed in Edgar Wright's Hot Fuzz. A third movie called Bad Boys For Life has been in development for years and has been delayed numerous times.
Related: Bad Boys For Life Eying August Start With New Directors
In the meantime, NBC has ordered a pilot for a Bad Boys spin-off that will focus on Syd Burnett, sister of Martin Lawrence's Marcus. Gabrielle Union will reprise the role from Bad Boys II, which finds Syd changing career from the DEA to become a detective in L.A. Jessica Alba recently joined the pilot as Syd's partner Nancy, and in good old buddy cop style, Syd's impulsive nature will clash with Nancy's more cautious approach. A first look photo of the duo filming the pilot can be found over at Digital Spy. Click HERE to see the photo.
Ghostbusters star Ernie Hudson will also appear as Syd's father in the spinoff. If NBC orders the show to series based on its pilot it will be interesting to see if either Lawrence and/or Smith make any kind of appearance. Given the family connection, it at least feels like the door is open for Marcus to show up at some point.
The show may also reignite interest in Bad Boys For Life, which is supposedly aiming to start filming this summer. Michael Bay won't be returning, while Joe Carnahan was attached to direct before dropping out due to the production's numerous delays. Filmmaking duo Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah are now rumored to be taking over, but if the project is going to start filming within the next few months then production would need to start ramping up soon. Lawrence has previously cast doubt on the movie coming together, so if it falls apart again, it probably won't happen at all.
More: Martin Lawrence Doubts Bad Boys For Life Will Happen
Source: Digital Spy