Michael Bay’s “Fast and Loose,” starring Will Smith, was supposed to begin production in August. However, that same month Bay exited the project after he and Smith failed to see eye-to-eye creatively, with both pulling the film in opposite tonal directions.
Word is, Bay wanted to lean heavily into the action, while Smith preferred a more comedic sensibility. This was meant to be their “Bad Boys” reunion, but that will no longer be the case.
A replacement for Bay has now been secured ahead of next month’s shoot — a filmmaker Smith can exert more control over. That person is John Swab, a journeyman director best known for B-level action fare such as “King Ivory.”
According to Deadline, Swab “blew away” Smith with his pitch. The trade also notes that Smith “was very hands-on” in choosing the director, and that landing the job required making a strong impression — something insiders say Swab did right from the start.
The film, now scheduled to shoot in October, follows a man who wakes up in Tijuana with amnesia, only to discover he’s been living a double life — half crime kingpin, half undercover CIA operative. The script, written by Jon Hoeber, Erich Hoeber, Chris Bremner, and Eric Pearson, blends action with comedy.
The assignment marks a huge step up for Swab, an American filmmaker who has built a career directing gritty, crime-driven dramas often set against the backdrop of addiction, exploitation, and small-town America. His features include “Run with the Hunted” (2020), “Body Brokers” (2021), “Ida Red” (2021), “Candy Land” (2022), and “Little Dixie” (2023), many of which star frequent collaborator Frank Grillo. While Swab’s films have found a niche audience on the indie circuit and streaming platforms, critical reception has been mixed to negative.
Smith will also reunite with his “Bad Boys” producer Jerry Bruckheimer, who is on board for the project.