It’s possible that there’s a little bit of both at work here. “Bad Boys For Life” was the last blockbuster before Covid changed how we watched movies for almost two years, raking in over $426 million at the box office, a series high and evidence that “Bad Boys” is a legit blockbuster franchise.

So, of course, studio executives want to keep pairing Will Smith and Martin Lawrence together for these big budget explosion delivery vehicles. And Will Smith is an undeniable star who audiences clearly still want to see on the screen. But did the slap change that?

Honestly, the only way to find out is to see how his next big movie does. I feel like if he does an apology tour and comes across as genuinely sorry, that’ll be enough for the broader audience, especially if Chris Rock accepts it as authentic. Whether he deserves a comeback is up for debate and will be up to all of us to individually make that call, but the more I consider Lawrence’s words the more I’m convinced the producers are quietly moving forward with “Bad Boys 4” as Smith keeps a low profile. 

Bottom line: people like to see Will Smith, especially in movies like the “Bad Boys” flicks.

It’ll be a minute before we have confirmation one way or another, but I’m inclined to think Lawrence isn’t just blowing smoke here.