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Over 30 years after Eddie Murphy starred as Prince Akeem in Coming to America, the actor will reprise the role in a sequel penned by Black-ishcreator Kenya Barris.
Plans for a sequel to the classic 1988 comedy were first announced in 2017 with director Jonathan Levine and Coming to America‘s original screenwriters on board..
However, Entertainment Weekly reported Friday that Hustle and Flow director Craig Brewer, who helmed the upcoming Murphy-starring Rudy Ray Moore biopic Dolemite Is My Name, would guide Paramount’s Coming to America sequel, with Barris rewriting the script.
“After many years of anticipation, I’m thrilled thatComing to America 2is officially moving forward,” Murphy said in a statement. “We’ve assembled a great team that will be led by Craig Brewer, who just did an amazing job onDolemite[Is My Name], and I’m looking forward to bringing all these classic and beloved characters back to the big screen.”
According to EW, the sequel will revolve around Murphy’s Prince Akeem returning to America to seek out his long-lost son, the heir to the throne of the African nation Zamunda.
“Craig’s ability to create a distinct cinematic world with each of his films is not only impressive, but also what made him exactly the voice and vision we needed to bring this story to life,” Barris added in a statement. “FromHustle and Flowto his work with Eddie onDolemite Is My Name, he never fails to blow me away. He is a true auteur and we couldn’t be more thrilled to have him on board.”
In 2011, after plans for a Beverly Hills Cop 4 fell through, Murphy admitted to Rolling Stone that he was reticent about starring in more sequels to his beloved comedies. “I’m some kind of sequel champion, I did more sequels than anybody,” he said. “I did my share of sequels for now, anyways.’”
