Where Are Marcus' Sons In Bad Boys: Ride Or Die?

Marcus Burnett’s life is in serious jeopardy during Bad Boys: Ride or Die, raising questions about where his two sons are. Martin Lawrence’s character in the Bad Boys movies has always been closely tied to his family. His wife, Teresa, and their three kids were key parts of the franchise’s first two installments as Marcus balanced being a cop with his duties as a father and husband. But by the time Bad Boys for Life and Bad Boys: Ride or Die came, Marcus and Teresa were practically empty nesters after their daughter, Megan, got married and started a family of her own.

Megan and her husband Reggie are among Bad Boys 4‘s returning characters, as they and Teresa remain vital parts of Marcus’ life. This proves to be more crucial when Marcus has a mild heart attack that puts him in a coma. Bad Boys: Ride or Die is all about family in some ways, as Mike Lowrey gets married and Captain Howard’s daughter and granddaughter factor into the story too. It’s that emphasis that makes two of Bad Boys 4‘s missing characters all the more glaring. The whereabouts of Marcus’ two sons are completely ignored.

Marcus’ Two Sons Are Missing From Bad Boys 4 After Bad Boys 3 Absences

Quincy & James Haven’t Been Seen Since Bad Boys II

The mystery of what happened to Marcus and Theresa’s sons, Quincy and James, after Bad Boys II began with Bad Boys for Life, as the two boys were strangely missing from the film. This was notable at the time since there were two major events that they probably should have been around for: Megan and Reggie’s wedding and the birth of Megan and Reggie’s baby. After not being around for the last movie, Bad Boys: Ride or Die is also missing Marcus’ sons.

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Not only are Quincy and James Burnett completely absent from Bad Boys: Ride or Die, but they are also not even mentioned or referenced. That is worse than how the movie treated Marcus’ sister, as at least Bad Boys 4 referenced Gabrielle Union’s Sydney. Instead of getting a vague shoutout, the franchise acts like Marcus does not even have any other children besides Megan. Reggie assumes a spot as the new man of the house when Marcus can’t, which otherwise could have been a role for one of his sons to take.

Marcus’ Bad Boys 4 Story Makes His Sons’ Absences Worse

Quincy & James Should Have Been There For Their Dad

Mike, Marcus, and the Burnett family in Bad Boys: Ride or Die

The decision not to bring Marcus’ sons back for Bad Boys: Ride or Die has not been explained by anyone involved in the film. But, the potential oversight or purposeful absent roles are made worse by the movie’s actual story. A key part of the plot is Marcus recovering from his heart attack and coma. This puts some extra stress on his family as they look to care for him and help him recover as needed. The responsibility falls on Theresa, Megan, Reggie, and Mike and his new bride, Christine.

Theresa Randle as Theresa Burnett from Bad Boys for Life

Why Theresa Randle Was Recast For Bad Boys: Ride Or Die

Theresa Randle became synonymous with the character of Theresa Burnett in the Bad Boys series, but did not appear in Bad Boys: Ride or Die.

Quincy and James really should have been in Bad Boys 4 to visit their father when he was recovering from a near-fatal heart attack. The movie emphasizes the care that Marcus’ wife, daughter, and best friend have for his well-being after this moment. By leaving out Marcus’ sons, the film also indicates that Quincy and James do not have that same level of care. That’s a stark contrast to how Marcus’ relationship with his sons is portrayed in the original movies, which makes the fact that they don’t visit in this moment all the more pivotal.

Marcus’ Sons Not Returning For Bad Boys 3 & 4 Hints At A Sad Outcome

Their Relationship May Have Soured After Bad Boys II

The continued absence of Marcus’ sons in the recent Bad Boys movies suggests a heartbreaking outcome for the Burnett family. It would appear that Marcus is no longer as close with his sons as he once was. There is no information given in Bad Boys 3 or Bad Boys 4 as to why this could be, but the sons’ actions – or lack thereof – speak for themselves. They’ve had multiple opportunities to be there for their family, including Bad Boys: Ride or Die‘s ending, and have failed to do so.

There is always the chance that Quincy and James moved out of Miami and were too busy with their individual lives to come back for the major family events, so perhaps the fallout between Marcus and his sons is not as severe as it could be. However, the uncertainty around the situation also means that something as dark as both sons dying between Bad Boys II and Bad Boys for Life is possible. Since Bad Boys: Ride or Die only adds to the mystery of where Marcus’ sons are, a future installment will be needed to resolve this question.