Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Bad Boys: Ride or Die!
Summary
Michael Bay has a quick cameo inBad Boys: Ride or Dieto reunite him with the franchise he started. Bay launched theBad Boysseries in 1995 by directing the first installment of what would become a very successful property. He returned to directBad Boys IIseveral years later, but plans for another movie with him at the helm never made it to fruition. By the timeBad Boys for Lifewas ready to be made, Bay had vacated the director’s seat, allowing Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah to replace him. The duo returned to directBad Boys: Ride or Dieas well.
Even though Michael Bay did not direct the two modernBad Boysmovies, his work on the franchise is not forgotten. Many of his Bayisms and the formula for the films he established are still utilized inBad Boys: Ride or Die. The constant reminders of Bay’s influence on the property do not solely come through certain shots or action sequences. Audiences are treated to another Michael Bay cameo inBad Boys: Ride or Die, as the former franchise director is briefly featured during one of the film’s scenes.
Every Bad Boys Character In Multiple Movies
The Bad Boys franchise has introduced a lot of characters throughout the four movies, and here is every one that appears in more than one film.
He Drives A Porsche
Anyone whowatchesBad Boys: Ride or Diecan spot Michael Bay’s cameo during the first half of the film. There is a scene where Marcus walks across the street without looking at the traffic to prove to Mike that he can’t be killed. Mike follows Marcus into the street and stops multiple cars in the middle of the road in the process. This includes him almost getting hit by a Porsche. When the movie cuts to showthe driver who is angry with Will Smith’s character, it is none other than Michael Bay.
The Michael Bay cameo holds plenty of connections to the franchise, including the decision to put the former director in a Porsche. The movies have a history of including different models of Porsches, and that trend began during the originalBad Boys. The black Porsche is featured throughout the movie, including the big climactic drag race. By putting Michael Bay in a Porsche for hisBad Boys: Ride or Diecameo,the movie sneaks in another reminder of the imprint the director left on the franchise. Mike drives a new Porsche in the fourth installment too.
He’s Appeared In Movies Before
The decision to have Michael Bay cameo inBad Boys: Ride or Diemeans the franchise is continuing a tradition of having him appear. It all began with Bay’s cameo as a car driver inBad Boys II. His character is stopped by Marcus so they can commandeer his car, but Mike tells him to find a better ride. This marked the first time Michael Bay had a cameo in the franchise as he was not in the original film. It was expected that theBad Boys IIcameo would be a one-time instance of the director being in the movies.
A surprise came withBad Boys for Lifeadding a Michael Bay cameotoo. The director returned to play the MC at Reggie and Megan’s wedding. The movie makes a bigger deal of his appearance, as Adil and Bilall give him the spinning camera shot that Bay used for Mike and Marcus in previous movies. By having Michael Bay cameo inBad Boys: Ride or Die,he has now appeared in three consecutive installments. Now, audiences will come to expect additional appearances by him if the franchise continues afterBad Boys: Ride or Die’s ending.
His Cameos Are Consistent
Another appearance by Michael Bay in theBad Boysmovie orderraises the question if his cameos are all connected through him playing the same character. The cameos inBad Boys IIandBad Boys for Lifedid not have any evidence of connection other than Bay played both characters. However, hisBad Boys: Ride or Dieappearance is much closer to his role inBad Boys II. Both movies saw himplay a car driver who wears a bucket hat and gets angry with Mike and Marcus.
The biggest difference is Bay drives a beat-up Chevy inBad Boys IIcompared to a nice Porsche inBad Boys: Ride or Die.It is possible that all of Michael Bay’s cameos are connected, withBad Boys for Lifeproviding the link between them all. Bay’s character seemed to be struggling financially inBad Boys II, but that is not the case in the fourth installment. It could be that his new job as a wedding MC, as shown inBad Boys for Life, has made him more successful and rich.
As a result, Michael Bay’sBad Boys: Ride or Diecameo might connect to his previous roles. There is no direct confirmation either way, but it is more fun for the franchise if his cameos are all as the same character. Perhaps another cameo in a future movie will officially confirm if Michael Bay’s cameos are all connected after all.
