Summary
Bad Boys 5could include a major franchise change based on a previous tease, and that could be the key to bringing back a major missing character. The action franchise returned in 2024 withBad Boys: Ride or Die, which marked the fourth installment starring Will Smith’s Mike Lowrey and Martin Lawrence’s Marcus Burnett. The sequel’s success with critics and at the box office has already sparked interest inBad Boys 5happening. The early discussions about its possibility have even brought a few intriguing details about what it could include.
One of the ideas floated around is thatBad Boys 5could change locationsand see the franchise leave Miami in a more substantial way.Bad Boys II,Bad Boys for Life, andBad Boys: Ride or Dieincluded segments outside Miami, but Florida still served as the primary setting.Bad Boys: Ride or Die’s directors teased their interest in taking the franchise to international locations like London, Paris, or Asia. The film’s co-writer, Chris Bremner, also suggested the Middle East or Southeast Asia asBad Boys 5setting possibilities. If this happens, a missing character can finally return.
Will Smith’s Condition For Bad Boys 5 Makes Me More Hopeful For The Sequel
Will Smith has made it clear that he will only return to make Bad Boys 5 for the right reasons even after the box office success of Bad Boys 4.
She Was Based Out Of New York & Los Angeles
Gabrielle Union could feasibly return as Syd ifBad Boys 5explores more of the world beyond Miami, Florida. Her character was introduced inBad Boys IIafter she came to Miami for a mission, but she was based out of New York at the time. She went on to live in Los Angeles, California as a member of the LAPD inL.A.’s Finest.Syd is one of the franchise’s more well-traveled charactersthanks to her life, which included a trip to Cuba inBad Boys II.
Why Gabrielle Union Isn’t In Bad Boys 4: What Happened To Syd
Bad Boys 4’s trailer brings back a few familiar faces, but Gabrielle Union’s Syd from Bad Boys II is noticeably still absent from the series' movies.
IfBad Boys 5takes Mike and Marcus to a different city or country, it could be easier for Syd to appear. The franchise has repeatedly overlooked opportunities to bring her back to Miami, soa new location could be used to bring Gabrielle Union back.Bad Boys 5could explain that Syd moved to another place and is working the same case that takes Mike and Marcus away from Miami. If Marcus knows his sister is in the new location they go to, it would make sense for Syd to help her brother and former boyfriend get acclimated.
Her Return Still Hasn’t Happened
Regardless of the reason why Gabrielle Union’s Syd would return inBad Boys 5, the sequel including her would finally make good on a Will Smith promise. While promotingBad Boys for Lifein 2020,Smith promised that Gabrielle Union would return in futureBad Boysmovies, with the implication being that she’d be back forBad Boys 4. That did not ultimately happen, as Gabrielle Union’s absence was noticeable, especially afterBad Boys: Ride or Die’s Syd reference.
SinceSmith broke his promise about Gabrielle Union returningalready, it would be great ifBad Boys 5made good on it. She could still find a way back even if a sequel was fully set in Miami, as it would not be unusual for her to visit her family. However, the idea of Mike, Marcus, and Syd working together on an international case is an exciting concept that would help makeBad Boys 5feel inherently different from the other entries in the franchise.
