Coming 2 America (March 5, 2021 @ Amazon Prime)

James Earl Jones will be reprising his role as King Jaffe Joffer in Paramount’s Coming to America sequel, Deadline has learned. In addition 5x Grammy nominated performer Rick Ross has joined, with Paul Bates returning as Oha, Prince Akeem’s stiff-upper-lipped manservant and bodyguard.

In the sequel, Akeem (Eddie Murphy) is set to become King of Zamunda but discovers he has a son he never knew about in America – a street-savvy Queens native named Lavelle. Honoring his father’s (Jones) dying wish to groom this son as the crowned prince, Akeem and Semmi (Arsenio Hall) set off to America to meet the unlikely heir. Craig Brewer is directing the follow-up to the 1988 hit comedy. Kenya Barris is penning. The sequel hits screens on Dec. 18, 2020.

Jones recently reprised his role as Mufasa in Disney’s $1.2 billion-grossing The Lion King. Jones was nominated for a best actor Oscar for 1971’s The Great White Hope and many know him quite well as the voice of Darth Vader. He is repped by APA and Del, Shaw, Moonves, Tanaka, Finkelstein & Lezcano.

Ross starred recently in such pics as Superfly and Uncle Drew. Ross is repped by Paradigm. His hit albums include Port of Miami which debuted in the top spot of the U.S. Billboard top 200 album chart in 2006, Trilla, another No. 1 Billboard 200 debut, and  Deeper Than Rap (2009), Teflon Don (2010), God Forgives, I Don’t (2012), Mastermind, Hood Billionaire (2014), Black Market (2015), and Rather You Than Me (2017).

Bates is repped by Vanguard Management Group. His credits include such pics as True Romance, Bad Teacher, 8 Mile, and The Preacher’s Wife. He has had recent TV credits on such shows as Lethal Weapon, The Conners and Young Sheldon.

Tyger wrote:Coming Back 2 America

Tyger wrote:When the producers who secretly read this board see it we’ll see a press release about the updated name

Eddie Murphy’s ‘Coming 2 America’ Moves From Paramount to Amazon Studios

“Coming 2 America” is making one more connection before it arrives to American audiences.

The long-anticipated sequel to the Eddie Murphy classic is in the process of being sold by distributor Paramount Pictures to Amazon Studios, in a deal worth roughly $125 million, insiders said. The expected streaming premiere date is December 18, sources added.

Final details are being hammered out, sources said, including two complex consumer marketing tie-ins with McDonalds and whiskey brand Crown Royal, which are expected to transfer over to Amazon Studios with the film. Murphy, who produced, as well as stars in the film, has to give his blessing.

The sale is said to be a priority for Amazon Studios chief Jennifer Salke, who has been on the hunt for more commercial fare with the recent acquisition of the sequel to “Borat,” and another Paramount acquisition in the Tom Clancy adaptation “Without Remorse” starring Michael B. Jordan. the studio also picked up Regina King’s One Night in Miami,” which is expected to be an Oscar contender.

In light of ongoing movie theater closures and countless blockbusters changing release dates, Paramount had been exploring numerous options in recent weeks for the tentative Christmas Day release of “Coming 2 America”  — including selling the rights in-house at owner Viacom’s streamer CBS All Access, sources said. Other streaming services also looked that the film.

The project is one of several that Paramount has sold this year to streamers, including Aaron Sorkin’s “Trial of the Chicago 7” and the action comedy “Lovebirds,” both of which went to Netflix. The studio sold “Without Remorse” to Amazon.

The first “Coming to America” was directed by John Landis in 1988, and saw Murphy as the charming African prince Akeem, who traveled to New York City to escape an arranged marriage. Arsenio Hall, James Earl Jones, Shari Headley and  John Amos co-starred. The film grossed nearly $300 million at the worldwide box office.

In the sequel, Prince Akeem is set to become king of the fictional country of Zamunda when he discovers he has a son he never knew about in America — a street-savvy Queens native named Lavelle. To honor the former king’s dying wish to groom his grandson as the crown prince, Akeem and Semmi set off to America. Murphy, Hall and Jones are reprising their roles. The film stars Jermaine Fowler and supporting cast includes Tracy Morgan, Leslie Jones, Arsenio Hall and Wesley Snipes.

UltimateMarvel wrote:Looks funny, I'll check it out. Murphy is looking good, doesn't seem like he aged much. He's looking better than Freddie Prince Jr. lol

Tyger wrote:Eddie is showing his age, but not poorly.

Freddie Prinze Jr. has always aged like crap.