What was meant to be a high-octane reunion between Bad Boys star Will Smith and director Michael Bay is officially off. Bay has stepped away from Netflix’s Fast and Loose after he and Smith were unable to reconcile creative differences, sources confirmed to TheWrap and Deadline.
The action-comedy—which Netflix is still pushing forward with—was originally set to begin production this October but is now eyeing a 2026 start date as the streamer searches for a new director.
Smith remains attached to star in and produce the film via Westbrook Studios, alongside Kelly McCormick and David Leitch of 87North. The script, penned by Jon Hoeber, Erich Hoeber, Chris Bremner, and Eric Pearson, follows a man who wakes up in Tijuana with no memory of who he is. As he pieces his past together, he discovers he’s been living two lives—one as a ruthless crime kingpin and the other as a deep-cover CIA agent.
It’s the kind of premise tailor-made for wild stunts and big laughs. But according to multiple reports, Bay and Smith had conflicting visions: Bay wanted to double down on action, while Smith was leaning into a more comedic tone. And after weeks of trying to find a middle ground, Bay officially exited the project on Wednesday.
This marks yet another stalled reunion between the longtime collaborators. Bay famously launched his directing career—and Smith’s blockbuster action run—with 1995’s Bad Boys. He also helmed Bad Boys II, but hasn’t returned for the franchise’s recent entries. Most recently, he made a quick cameo in Bad Boys: Ride or Die, which dropped earlier this year.
While Fast and Loose won’t reunite them, Bay has other projects lined up. He’s reportedly in talks to return to the Transformers universe at Paramount and is developing OutRun, a high-octane video game adaptation with Sydney Sweeney attached to star, over at Universal.
As for Smith, this isn’t the first time creative clashes have shifted a project. Over the years, directors like Joe Carnahan (Bad Boys for Life), Andy Tennant (Hitch), and Alfonso Gomez-Rejón (Collateral Beauty) have all walked away from Smith-led films citing creative differences. Still, the Oscar winner remains a major force in Hollywood, and Netflix is clearly committed to making Fast and Loose a reality.
With the clock ticking and production plans shifting, all eyes are now on who Netflix taps next to steer the project. Matching Bay’s signature visual style may be tough, but a new filmmaker might just bring the tonal balance Fast and Loose needs to deliver both spectacle and story.
Stay tuned—because no matter who ends up in the director’s chair, this one’s still set to be loud, fast, and unforgettable.