Release Date: 1/15/16 Genre: Comedy/Action Rating: PG-13 Studio: Cube Vision/Rainforest Films/Universal Pictures Director: Tim Story Cast: Kevin Hart (Ben Barber), Ice Cube (James Payton), Tika Sumpter (Angela Payton), Benjamin Bratt (Pope), Sherri Shepherd (Cori), T.I. (Tony David), Nadine Velazquez (Tasha), Olivia Munn (Maya Cruz), Tyrese Gibson (D.J.).
Story: As his wedding day approaches, Ben heads to Miami with his soon-to-be brother-in-law James to bring down a drug dealer who’s supplying the dealers of Atlanta with product. Source: IMDB.
Status: Announced Release Date: 2016 (TBA) Genre: Comedy/Romance Rating:Not Available Studio: Sean Daniel Company/Universal Pictures Director: Malcolm D. Lee Cast: Regina Hall (Candance), Sanaa Lathan (Robin, rumored), Nia Long (Jordan), Terrence Howard (Quentin, rumored), Morris Chestnut (Lance, rumored), Taye Diggs (Harper, rumored), Harold Perrineau (Murch, rumored), Melissa De Sousa (Shelby, rumored), Katt Williams (Dorian Burroughs, rumored), Jay Pharoah (Teddy Harper, rumored).
Update: In a September 14, 2015 interview with Entertainment Weekly, when asked how production was going on the third installment of The Best Man series, Morris Chestnut stated “Unfortunately, we’re not exactly sure when it’s going to happen,” Chestnut says of Best Man Wedding, citing scheduling conflicts given his upcoming Fox procedural Rosewood. Co-stars Terrence Howard and Taye Diggs are equally busy, he explains, adding, “We’ve all read the script, and it’s a really good script, but with Terrence now on Empire, Taye on Murder in the First and me on Rosewood, it’s going to be difficult to make happen.” Source: Entertainment Weekly.
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Update: Variety reported on 7/22/14 that Universal Pictures has dated The Best Man Wedding, the next installment in the The Best Man franchise for April 15, 2016. The original cast is expected to return with Malcolm D. Lee directing.
Plot details are vague other than the film will revolve around the wedding of Quentin (Terrence Howard’s character). Source: Variety.
Story: After coming together after 15 years for The Best Man Holiday Lance (Morris Chestnut), Harper (Taye Diggs) and company may reunite again for a third part of the Best Man franchise.
Details: Following an impressive opening weekend of $30 million for The Best Man Holiday in November 2013, Deadline reports that Malcolm D. Lee is negotiating a deal with Universal to write, direct and produce another installment of the hit ensemble romantic comedy. Sean Daniel is also in talks to come back and produce another film through his The Sean Daniel Company shingle. No word yet on locking in the ensemble cast. It took 14 years for Lee to come back with a sequel, but this one is going to happen much more quickly and is a priority project for Universal.
The $17 million sequel had the fifth-largest opening for an R-rated romantic comedy, the second-highest opening for an urban romantic comedy and the sixth-biggest opening for an urban-themed film overall. The film has grossed $71 million worldwide. Source(s): IMDB; Deadline, Moviepilot.
Release Date: 1/17/20 Directors:Adil El Arbi, Bilall Fallah Genre: Action Rating: R
Studio(s): 2.0 Entertainment, Columbia Pictures, Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Platinum Dunes
Cast: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Charles Melton, Paola Nunez, Kate Del Castillo,, Nicky Jam, Joe Pantoliano.
Story: Miami detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett must face off against a mother-and-son pair of drug lords who wreak vengeful havoc on their city. Source: IMDB.
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Update 5/10/18: According to Shadow & Act, Sony has announced the movie will be released Martin Luther King weekend 2020 on January 17. A plot summary has also surfaced via That Hashtag Show: The film will see Lawrence’s character, Marcus Burnett, working as a private eye after a falling out with Smith’s Mike Lowery, who is going through a midlife crisis as a bachelor who finally wants to mature, all while dealing with a new, young and cocky partner who is loyal to Lowery but that loyalty is not reciprocated, and finds a bond with Burnett when he returns to the fray. Lowery and Burnett are brought together again when a lean, mean, skilled, Albanian mercenary with a vendetta puts a death order on Lowery and Burnett for the death of his brother. Now the two must work together once again to bring him down. Source: Shadow & Act; Photo Source: MovieWeb.
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Update 9/1/17: Producer Jerry Bruckheimer is optimistic about Bad Boys 3 since the project just received a new writer. Titled Bad Boys for Life, the sequel has been talked about since the release of the first sequel 14 years ago. The project has been in varying stages of development, with Will Smith recently stating that it was “very, very, very close.” But the movie recently lost its release date and its director, leading many, including co-star Martin Lawrence, to believe the movie is dead and not ever going to happen. Now, Jerry Bruckheimer is claiming that there is still life left in the project. In an interview with Yahoo Movies, the producer stated that a new writer has lifted his spirits about Bad Boys 3 actually happening. Now this isn’t exactly a confirmation that the movie is on the fast track, but it most certainly lets us know that Bad Boys 3 isn’t down for the count just yet. A new writer is promising and proves that the studio is putting effort into finally making the movie happen. Source: Movieweb.
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Update 8/11/16: According to Variety Bad Boys 3 has been pushed back to early 2018. The threequel will now hit theaters January 2, 2018, according to Sony. The movie’s official title also has been revealed: Bad Boys for Life. Sony insiders add there will be additional casting. There had been some question as to whether Smith would return to the franchise, but he made it clear earlier this year that he would indeed reteam with Lawrence.
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Update:Movies.com reported on Aug. 14, 2015 that two new Bad Boys sequels are heading to theaters in 2017 and 2019. But will either Will Smith or Martin Lawrence return as the titular rule-breaking police detectives? It’s not clear. Reportedly, Smith will be involved in some capacity, but that could be limited to serving as a producer and not as a star; his deal is not finalized.
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Update: On 6/9/15 Deadline wrote, Sony Pictures has been building up its franchises quickly, and Bad Boys 3 is looking like a strong possibility to get going. Safe House scribe David Guggenheim wrote a strong draft that now has Joe Carnahan in early talks to do a quick pass to possibly direct. This is moving quickly as the studio wants to have the movie for Will Smith to consider as his next slot after Suicide Squad.
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Details: Columbia Pictures is developing a third installment of the Bad Boys franchise. The studio hopes to have a script that would reunite director Michael Bay, producer Jerry Bruckheimer and stars Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. The first Bad Boys was released in 1995 and grossed $66 million domestically and $141 million worldwide. The 2003 sequel grossed $138 million domestically and $273 million worldwide. As reported by Worst Previews in December 2013, Sony Pictures has signed David Guggenheim (Safe House) to write the script for a third Bad Boys installment. Michael Bay, who directed the first two films, is not currently involved with the third movie. Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are in talks to return as Mike Lowery and Marcus Burnett. Source(s): Comingsoon.net, IMDB, Worst Previews.
Status: In Development Release Date: TBA Genre: Comedy Rating: Not Available Studio: Sony Pictures/Columbia Pictures/Scott Rudin Productions Director: TBA Cast: TBA
Update: On 4/27/15 Entertainment Weekly stated that Sony has tapped Black-ish creator Kenya Barris to write the script for the movie version of Good Times, EW has confirmed.Scott Rudin and Eli Bush are producing the film.
Wreck-It Ralph and Cedar Rapids screenwriter Phil Johnston was first attached to write when the movie was announced in March 2013. Eric Monte, Tammie Evans and Carlena Harris will executive produce, while William Bannister, Michael Daniels and Neville Mouguel will serve as associate producers.
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Details: Film based on the 1974-1979 CBS TV series created by Mike Evans & Eric Monte. Set in the 1960s, working-class couple James and Florida Evans raise three kids while struggling with hard financial times, unemployment and keeping their kids away from temptations that come with living in a Chicago housing project. Source: Movie Insider.
Status: Development Unknown Release Date: TBA Genre: Musical Rating: Not Available Studio: Phoenix Pictures Director: Spike Lee Cast: TBA
Story: 1930s opera gets a modern makeover for the big screen. Producers Mike Medavoy and Bobby Geisler are developing a contemporary film version of famed 1930’s opera Porgy and Bess. Porgy and Bess follows the story of Porgy, a disabled beggar and his attempts to rescue Bess from her violent and jealous lover, Crown and drug dealer, Sportin’ Life who tries to lead her astray.
Details: In August 2012, Broadway.com reported, two-time Oscar-nominated director Spike Lee is in negotiations to turn the Gershwin musical Porgy and Bess into a film. The musical has been a passion project for Lee for over a decade and after seeing the current Broadway revival, Lee has begun negations with the Gershwin estate to bring the opera back to the big screen. Porgy and Bess was adapted into a major motion picture in 1957, starring Sidney Poitier, Dorothy Dandridge and Sammy Davis, Jr. No timeline or casting for Lee’s remake has been confirmed. Source(s): Moviepilot; Movie Insider, Broadway.com.
Status: Development Status Unknown Release Date: TBA Genre: Biography Rating: Not Available Studio: Not Available Director: Not Available Cast: Denzel Washington (Thelonius Monk, rumored)
Story: A rumored biopic based on the life of jazz great Thelonious Monk.
Details: On February 13, 2012, The Playlist reported, in an interview with The Observer, [Denzel] Washington reveals he has ambitions to play jazz legend Thelonious Monk, has a script in place, and says that “I’m talking about it more, so maybe I’m talking myself into it.” Monk, was the pianist and composer behind standards like “Round Midnight” and “Straight No Chaser,” whose inventive, idiosyncratic style helped to make him the second most recorded jazz artist in history. This isn’t the first time that Washington’s been linked to the role; back in 2007, El Cantante director Leon Ichaso told MTV that he wanted Washington or Wesley Snipes to play the musician in a biopic, but it’s unclear whether Ichaso is still involved, or if the actor is considering making this his third directorial effort, following Antwone Fisher and The Great Debaters.
Playlist goes on to say, given Washington’s age, the film might focus on the later stages of Monk’s life when he was plagued with mental health issues. Source: The Playlist.
Release Date: 1/15/16
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