Bad Boys: Ride or Die is on the way, but the upcoming film is strangely missing a character that the Bad Boys franchise introduced four years ago. Bad Boys for Life was the revival of the Bad Boys series that, alongside bringing back many of the classic characters, also introduced a new batch of police heroes. Despite this, one of these characters won’t be returning in Bad Boys: Ride or Die, which is a surprising choice to many.

Bad Boys: Ride of Die is the upcoming fourth entry in the Bad Boys saga, with it bringing back Will Smith’s Mike Lowrey and Martin Lawrence’s Marcus Miles Burnett for another action-filled police adventure. This time, the titular bad boys discover that thier police captain has been implicated in a major drug crime, leading to them going on a journey to clear his name. Bad Boys: Ride or Die will again see many of the iconic Bad Boys cast members make their return, with one notable exception.

Charles Melton Is Not Confirmed To Return As Rafe In Bad Boys: Ride Or Die

As it turns out, Charles Metlon is not confirmed to return as Rafe in Bad Boys: Ride or Die. Charles Metlon’s Rafe was first introduced in 2020’s Bad Boys for Life, with him being a member of the AMMO squad. Rafe was a major presence in the third Bad Boys film, which is why it is such a surprise that he isn’t returning.

It hasn’t been confirmed why Charles Melton’s Rafe isn’t set to return in the cast of Bad Boys: Ride or Die, but there is one major theory. Since Bad Boys for Life, Charles Melton’s career has boomed with his appearances in movies like May December, with him possibly choosing not to return in Bad Boys: Ride or Die due to him choosing to pursue more prestigious movies.

Bad Boys 4’s Returning AMMO Members Make Rafe’s Absence Weirder

Two other Bad Boys for Life cast members have been confirmed to return in Bad Boys: Ride or Die, making Charles Melton’s absence even weirder. Vanessa Hudgens and Alexander Ludwig will be reprising their roles as Kelly and Dorn respectively, with both of these characters being AMMO members from the previous film.

Since AMMO is still going to be a part of Bad Boys: Ride or Die, with many of the AMMO agents returning, the film will have to explain why Melton’s Rafe isn’t still around. It is possible that he died off screen or simply quit his job at AMMO, but until Bad Boys: Ride or Die releases, this will remain one of the film’s biggest mysteries.