Martin Lawrence Developing Sequel to Another ’90s Action Comedy After Bad Boys Success

Martin Lawrence is set to develop a sequel to the 1999 film Blue Belt, which came shortly after her success with Michael Bay Bad Boys. The original film, co-starring Luke Wilson, Dave Chappelle, Peter Greene, Nicole Parker, John Hawkes, Octavia Spencer, Nicole Ari Parker and William Forsythe, followed a jewel thief who tries to recover a diamond he left behind from a police station. police station, eventually pretending to be an officer, only to inadvertently be partnered with a real detective. Blue Belt is generally considered a fan favorite in Lawrence’s filmography.

Now, a quarter of a century later, Deadline reports that one Blue Belt the sequel is in early development from Lawrence’s production company Run Tel Datwith Cole Maliska (Quantico, Chicago Police) currently writing the script. Alongside Lawrence, who stars and produces, the sequel will be produced by the actor’s brothers Robert Lawrence and Rae Proctor, as well as Stacy Lyles and original producer Toby Jaffe through his RDV Films banner. The announcement comes on the heels of Lawrence’s recent success with other legacy sequels Bad Boys for Life and Ride or die.

What the return of Lawrence’s Blue Streak means

Could he recapture Bad Boys’ success?

The announcement of a Blue Belt The sequel comes at an interesting point in Martin Lawrence’s career, following the resurgence of Bad Boys franchise. With both Bad Boys for Life and Ride or die performing well at the box office and receiving the best reviews in the franchise, suggests the next sequel that Lawrence is leaning into family roles that resonate with her fan base. Returning to Blue Belt could capitalize on the nostalgia audiences feel for his late ’90s and early ’00s comedies while also boosting his recent success.

While this is the first time Lawrence has collaborated with Maliska, the sequel raises questions about the return of original cast members like Luke Wilson or Dave Chappelle. Wilson remained active in film and television, including starring in the Kevin Costner film Horizon: an American saga franchise, although Chappelle’s involvement could be complicated due to his controversial public image. Your participation, or lack thereof, can influence public expectations before release.

Interestingly, both the original Blue Belt and Bad Boys The films were released just four years apart, reflecting a career pattern for Lawrence as he alternates between similar genres. Revisiting Blue Belt now, with Bad Boys back in theaters, creates a suitable parallel between them that could help familiarize audiences with both franchises. Especially because the possible Bad Boys 5 hasn’t yet received the green light, this new project could fill a gap in the filmography of the next sequel to the star’s legacy.

How did Blue Streak perform in its original run?

It was a solid success

When it originally opened on September 17, 1999, it debuted with $19.2 million in its opening weekend before rising to a global global turnover of US$ 117.7 million. This made it the 35th highest-grossing film of the year, behind titles such as The Talented Mr. Ripley ($128.8 million) and Pokémon: The First Movie – Mewtwo Strikes Back ($163.6 million). Since films typically have to recoup two and a half times their theatrical budgets, the film’s break-even point of $36 million was probably somewhere around $90 million, a milestone it passed easily, although the planned direct sequel did not have achieved. not materialize immediately.

However, Blue Belt It didn’t perform as well critically. At the time of writing, has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 35% from 68 reviews, a combination of those that were written at the time and additional analyzes that were written in the following decades. However, the audience score is significantly higher than the critic score on the platform, giving the film a Fresh score of 64% from over 100,000 user reviews. It’s likely this fan base that the new film is being designed to reach, in addition to those who enjoyed the Bad Boys sequelae.

Our opinion on the Blue Streak sequel

The development of a Blue Belt The sequel presents a timely opportunity for Lawrence to step back into a significant role, especially as he leans into familiar characters following the success of Bad Boys franchise. This initiative not only aligns with the current industry trend of revitalizing established franchises but it also reflects the potential for engaging materials that appeal to a wide audience. If the sequel is handled with care and creativity, it could emerge as a welcome addition to the action-comedy genre, reminding viewers of Lawrence’s enduring comedic talent.

Source: Deadline