Good morning, my neighbors! It's been announced that Wesley Snipes is joining Eddie Murphy for Paramount's highly-anticipated COMING TO AMERICA sequel.
The long-gestating follow-up to John Landis' 1988 comedy is set to be helmed by HUSTLE & FLOW director Craig Brewer, with Kevin Misher producing courtesy of his Misher Films studio alongside Kenya Barris and Murphy. Also set to reprise their roles from the original film are Arsenio Hall, James Earl Jones, and Paul Bates. Additionally, Grammy-nominated actor Rick Ross has also been confirmed to star.
In the 1988 classic comedy, Murphy's Prince Akeem traveled to Queens, New York in search of a strong-willed bride to help rule the African territory of Zamunda. The original is a fish-out-of-water comedy that saw both Murphy and Hall playing multiple characters as part of the uproarious adventure. When Murphy and company return for the sequel, the story finds Akeem venturing back to America to find his long-lost son.
As a new member of the cast, Snipes will play General Izzi, a man who rules a neighboring nation.
In recent times, it was announced that Brewer, Murphy, and Snipes would all work together for Netflix's upcoming biopic, DOLEMITE IS MY NAME. Murphy plays Rudy Ray Moore in the film, the comedian famous for his exceptionally adult-themed stand up comedy routine. When Moore was a standout player in the comedy circuit, chuckleheads often delighted in the way Moore injected raps and rhythm into his X-rated material. In time, Moore became known to many as the Godfather of Rap. Those who grooved to his brand of off-color comedy were also entertained by his original character, Dolemite, an urban hustler that Moore eventually brought to the big screen in 1975.
Production for Brewer's COMING TO AMERICA sequel is expected to begin this fall.