Michael Bay has left his role as director of the upcoming Netflix action film Fast and Loose due to creative differences with Will Smith. The project, which was set to reunite the two after their successful collaboration on the Bad Boys franchise, will now delay production until 2026.
The movie centers on Smith’s character, who wakes up with no memory in Tijuana, Mexico, and must piece together his life. As he recovers his memories, he discovers that he has been leading a double existence as both a ruthless criminal kingpin and a covert CIA operative. The screenplay was penned by Jon Hoeber, Erich Hoeber, Chris Bremner, and Eric Pearson, building on an original idea by the Hoebers.
Fast and Loose Delayed as Will Smith Takes Lead and Producing Role
Alongside starring in the film, Will Smith is also producing Fast and Loose through his Westbrook Studios. The production team includes Kelly McCormick and David Leitch from 87North. Initially slated to begin filming in October, the project’s start date has been pushed back by a couple of years due to Bay’s departure.
Previous Collaborations and the Significance of a Reunited Bay and Smith
Michael Bay’s exit marks a setback for what would have been a notable reunion between him and Will Smith. Their partnership began with Bad Boys in 1995, the film that launched both Bay’s directing career and Smith’s status as a movie star. That film achieved unexpected international success, grossing $141 million worldwide, including an impressive $75 million from overseas markets—a rare feat for its time.
Reflecting on the obstacles he faced bringing Bad Boys to the screen, Bay recounted the lack of studio confidence in the project due to racial biases.
Sony didn’t believe in the movie, because two Black actors don’t sell overseas,
Bay said.
They had no faith in it. I was watching James Cameron‘s True Lies and I’m like, ‘Oh, my God, this guy has so much money. I have only $9 million.’ And they shut me down, literally. They shut the power off. That’s how rude they were on this movie.
—Michael Bay, director
Bay also described the inspiration behind a now-iconic circular shot in Bad Boys that became key in marketing the film:
I’m like, ‘This is going to be the trailer shot.’ For some reason, I just came up with this shot as we’re driving. And I said, ‘Where’s the circle trolley? Get the circle trolley.’
—Michael Bay, director
Legacy of Bad Boys and Bay’s Continued Ties to the Franchise
Bad Boys made a significant impact by altering perceptions of Black-led action films in global markets. Bay emphasized this milestone, stating,
People try to imitate [the circular shot], but it was a seminal moment,
adding,
Bad Boys literally changed the game on Black actors. It’s the first movie that really traveled overseas.
—Michael Bay, director
Bay returned as director for Bad Boys II in 2003 and continued making cameo appearances in franchise sequels, including Bad Boys for Life (2020), where he played the emcee at Marcus’ (Martin Lawrence) daughter’s wedding. In that scene, his character introduced Mike (Will Smith), who delivered an emotional speech. The upcoming installment, Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024), nods to Bay’s involvement with a brief cameo where he drives past Mike and Marcus in a Porsche, referencing Smith’s iconic pose from the original film.
Bay Focuses on Other Projects While Smith Moves Forward With Netflix Film
Though Bay is stepping away from Fast and Loose, he is reportedly considering a return to the Transformers franchise with Paramount. Meanwhile, Will Smith continues to lead the Netflix thriller as both star and producer, with the film poised to start filming in 2026 under new directorial leadership. The delay and Bay’s departure highlight the creative challenges that sometimes emerge even in highly anticipated collaborations.
