With the global pandemic still raging and theaters remaining shut down, studios are looking to shift from theatrical to digital releases and now word has come that Paramount has entered final negotiations with Amazon to acquire Coming 2 America, according to Variety.
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Sources report that the final details between the streaming platform and film studio are being worked out, including consumer marketing tie-ins with McDonalds and Crown Royal, which are expected to transfer over to Amazon Studios along with the film, which is also reportedly a priority for chief Jennifer Salke. The Amazon Studios exec has recently been behind the acquisitions of the Borat sequel and fellow Paramount Pictures acquisition Without Remorse, an adaptation of Tom Clancy’s novel of the same name starring Michael B. Jordan (Black Panther).
Coming 2 America will follow Akeem, now set to become king, discovering he has a son he never knew about, a street-savvy Queens native named Lavelle. Honoring his father’s dying wish to groom his son as a new crowned prince, Akeem must once again return to America.
The film will be directed by Craig Brewer, who previously worked with Paramount Pictures on Hustle & Flow, Blake Snake Moan, and the 2011 Footloose remake. black-ish creator Kenya Barris penned the script.
Purchase the first Coming To America film here.
The original film was directed by John Landis and starred Murphy as a wealthy African prince who comes to Queens, New York posing as a poor man to search for a bride.
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The cast includes original stars Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, James Earl Jones, Paul Bates, and Shari Headley. In addition, Leslie Jones, Kiki Layne, Wesley Snipes, Jermaine Fowler, Rick Ross, singer Teyana Taylor, and comedian Michael Blackson have also been cast for the sequel with Louie Anderson set to reprise his role as Maurice.
Mbatha starred in 2017’s Hotel Called Memory and All About Love. Beauvais appeared in the original Coming to America, and has since appeared in a number of TV shows and films, including Spider-Man: Homecoming.
