8/22/98-Steve Harris, publisher of CINESCAPE magazine, sent this in: "...we've heard some really interesting stuff in the Bad Boys 2 vs. Rock 2 debate recently that seems to hint that Bad Boys is the next sequel project..."

THE RUMORS Various rumors from sources close to the development

*BAD BOYS 2 may not make it until spring of 2000.

*Jerry Bruckheimer wants to turn BAD BOYS into a franchise.

*Tom Dey (The Devli's Advocate) is done re-writing BAD BOYS 2. It's said to have lots of laughs and many intense moments, but it's also being plagued with comments such as "it's not hip enough", and "it's too dark", says a source familiar with the project.

*Marcus and Mike may return in under an all-new police department (since the drug money was never recovered at the end of the original)

*The budget may shoot to $60 million.

*Will Smith may ask for $15-20 million to return, though he was already offered a $3 million pay or play deal back in 1995.

*Friction on the set of Martin Lawerence's new comedy LIFE between the star and everyone else is starting to concern those around the BAD BOYS 2 project.

*Another far out rumor from an anonymous e-mailer states that everyone is aiming for a PG-13 rating, meaning the two stars will have their mouths washed with a big bar of soap.

*The previous script of BAD BOYS 2 had a style that was very close to that of the LETHAL WEAPON 2 script. Remember how Lethal Weapon 2 was to Lethal Weapon 1: better and more entertaining than the original. Tom Dey was brought in to re-write the script because it needed a bit of a funnier edge to it.