In 1971, Richard Roundtree played John Shaft in SHAFT; In 2000, Samuel L. Jackson played John Shaft II, nephew of John Shaft, in a film also titled SHAFT; In 2019, Jessie Usher will play John Shaft Jr., son of John Shaft II, in a film once again titled SHAFT. To those who find that a little confusing, I say "shut your mouth!" Thanks to Entertainment Weekly, we've been blessed with an image which shows all three generations of Shaft, in addition to Alexandra Shipp's (DARK PHOENIX) character, reuniting. Check it out!
As we know, Jessie Usher's John Shaft Jr. hasn't exactly been on good terms with his father after choosing to join the FBI, which Samuel L. Jackson says is "sort of anti-Shaft family values," but he will undergo a little "reshaping" when he's forced to team up his elders. As for how the decades have changed Samuel L. Jackson's Shaft, the actor says that "he's mellowed a bit. He’s not quite as crazy and cynical. Maybe a bit more devil-may-care the last time we saw him. But still an extremely dangerous and funny character." Jackson also says that there are certain traits, in addition to the "great clothes," which all three Shaft men have in common.
He’s always that tough but fair, well-dressed cynical guy with the right one-liner. All of those things work to make somebody cool across the generations. It’s enduring. We don’t have a lot of heroes, so the ones we have, we hold on to.
The official synopsis for SHAFT:
“Shaft” is the next chapter in the film franchise featuring the coolest private eye on any New York City block. JJ, aka John Shaft Jr. (Usher), may be a cyber security expert with a degree from MIT, but to uncover the truth behind his best friend’s untimely death, he needs an education only his dad can provide. Absent throughout JJ’s youth, the legendary locked-and-loaded John Shaft (Jackson) agrees to help his progeny navigate Harlem’s heroin-infested underbelly. And while JJ’s own FBI analyst’s badge may clash with his dad’s trademark leather coat, there’s no denying family. Besides, Shaft’s got an agenda of his own, and a score to settle that’s professional and personal.
SHAFT will hit theaters on June 14, 2019.