The Best Man film franchise from Universal Pictures is getting a new installment as a limited streaming series. Peacock has ordered a 10-episode limited dramedy series The Best Man: The Final Chapters from the movies’ writer and director Malcolm D. Lee and former Insecure executive producer Dayna Lynne North.
The core ensemble cast of the franchise is returning which includes Morris Chestnut, Melissa De Sousa, Taye Diggs, Regina Hall, Terrence Howard, Sanaa Lathan, Nia Long, and Harold Perrineau. The only missing original Best Man cast member is Monica Calhoun whose character died in the sequel, The Best Man Holiday. The rest of the cast recently closed seven-figure deals to return for the limited series.
The Best Man: The Final Chapters will catch up with Harper, Robyn, Jordan, Lance, Quentin, Shelby, Candace, and Murch as relationships evolve and past grievances resurface in the unpredictable stages of midlife crisis meets midlife renaissance. Malcolm D. Lee had this to say about the series:
"Here we go! The band is back together! I am very excited to bring these iconic characters back to the fans who have supported us through this franchise. We are thrilled to deliver everything one would expect from this group of friends in The Best Man universe and take them through their final chapters. We can’t wait! I told you it wouldn’t be 14 more years."
The original 1999 film, The Best Man, followed old college friends that reunite for a wedding. The film was well-received by critics, scoring a 72% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and it proved to be a surprise box office hit. The film topped the box office chart for one week, grossing $9 million before going on to gross $34 million domestically on a $9 million budget. It was followed by a Christmas-themed sequel, The Best Man Holiday, released in November 2013. The sequel also received decent notices from critics with a 70% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and it improved on the first film's box office. The sequel opened to $30.1 million and went on to gross $70 million on a $17 million budget. A third film in the series, The Best Man Wedding, also written and to be directed by Lee, was announced by Universal Pictures in 2014 with a planned release in 2016, but it was never made, largely because of scheduling issues with its ensemble cast.
Will YOU be watching The Best Man: The Final Chapters?