Summary

• Armando will be crucial to the story of Bad Boys: Ride or Die as he will help Mike and Marcus take down the cartel.
• The story for the new film will feature the two characters bonding after the events of Bad Boys For Life.
• Mike has historically been reckless and not had many close connections, but his relationship with Armando could change this.

Bad Boys: Ride or Die star Will Smith explains how Mike's son factors into the story of the upcoming sequel. Directed by returning filmmakers Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, the new entry in the hit action comedy franchise sees Mike and Marcus (Martin Lawrence) wrapped up in a criminal conspiracy as they attempt to restore the legacy of their late Captain Howard (Joe Pantoliano). The Bad Boys 4 cast features the return of actors like Vanessa Hudgens, Paula Núñez, and Alexander Ludwig, but also Jacob Scipio, who was introduced as Mike's criminal son, Armando, in Bad Boys For Life.

In a recent interview with EW ahead of the Bad Boys: Ride or Die release date, Smith teases what kind of role Armando plays in the new film's story. According to Smith, Armando's intimate knowledge of the cartels will come in handy as the pair work together to clear Mike's name, and they ultimately go on quite the bonding journey as father and son. Check out Smith's comments below:

"Mike Lowrey's son plays a really critical part in saving the legacy of the Bad Boys and of Captain Howard. Jacob better get ready to have a really, really good summer because his life is never going to be the same after this movie. He has such a powerful role in this film.

"Mike is trying to repair his past with his son and the loss of the captain, and there's even a sense that Mike has that he might be cursed. He says, 'Bad s--- happens to everybody I love,' and it's part of why he's had a difficult time having any love and any friendships other than Marcus. So this is about him trying to develop a ride or die relationship with his son too."

Mike Having A Son Could Be A Game-Changer For Bad Boys: Ride Or Die

How Will Armando Change Mike Lowrey?

The revelation that Armando is Mike's son doesn't come until a little later in Bad Boys For Life's runtime, and it has fairly big implications on the events of the rest of the film. Bad Boys For Life ends with Armando behind bars after having killed Captain Conrad, but the final scene between him and Mike teases that redemption could be in his future. If Armando does redeem himself and become a more permanent fixture in Mike's life, it could have fairly big implications for Smith's character.

Though the Bad Boys: Ride or Die trailers tease that film will still feature plenty of action, the fact that Mike has a son could result in a little more restraint from a character who has historically been a little more of a daredevil.

Between Mike and Marcus, Mike has always been more reckless and more of a risk-taker. As Bad Boys For Life establishes, Marcus is a serious family man now, but Mike remains relatively untethered. If the upcoming sequel leans into Mike's relationship with his son, Smith's character could fundamentally evolve as his priorities as a father come more to the forefront.

Though the Bad Boys: Ride or Die trailers tease that film will still feature plenty of action, the fact that Mike has a son could result in a little more restraint from a character who has historically been a little more of a daredevil. He has family in his life now, after all, and he will surely want to be around for Armando as their bond strengthens. It remains to be seen how Mike will evolve in Bad Boys: Ride or Die, but Armando will evidently be a fairly critical part of the upcoming sequel.

Source: EW