Ice Cube’s Long-Awaited ‘Friday’ Sequel Finally Gets a Director as ‘Last Friday’ Moves Closer to Production

MR. HELLA MEDIA | LATEST | OCTOBER 28, 2026

Ice Cube’s Long-Awaited ‘Friday’ Sequel Finally Gets a Director as ‘Last Friday’ Moves Closer to Production

After more than two decades of delays, negotiations and repeated promises of another installment, Ice Cube’s beloved Friday franchise is taking a significant step toward returning to theaters.

New Line Cinema has selected filmmaker Lawrence Lamont to direct Last Friday, the long-awaited fourth installment of the comedy series that began in 1995. The appointment, first reported by The Hollywood Reporter on October 27, brings an established creative leader to a project that Ice Cube has spent years trying to get off the ground.

Lamont, who made his feature-film directing debut with the successful 2025 comedy One of Them Days, will oversee the next chapter of a franchise that helped establish Ice Cube as a major Hollywood star and introduced audiences to some of the most memorable characters in Black comedy.

Ice Cube is writing the screenplay and will return as the film’s star and producer. Although New Line has not announced a theatrical release date or complete cast, the addition of a director, combined with previously approved California production incentives, provides some of the strongest evidence yet that Last Friday is moving toward filming. AV Club +1

Lawrence Lamont Brings Recent Comedy Success to the Franchise

Lamont’s selection is particularly notable because his most recent film demonstrated an ability to create a commercially successful comedy built around everyday problems, memorable characters and a distinctly Los Angeles setting.

His 2025 feature One of Them Days, starring Keke Palmer and SZA, followed two roommates scrambling to come up with their rent money after a financial setback threatened their living situation.

The film earned more than $50 million worldwide against a reported production budget of approximately $14 million, making it a profitable theatrical release and helping establish Lamont as a promising filmmaker.

Its success also demonstrated that audiences remain interested in character-driven comedies centered on Black communities, an approach that helped make the original Friday such an enduring favorite.

Before moving into feature films, Lamont built a career directing music videos, including projects involving Big Sean and other hip-hop artists. That background gives him experience working within the same music and entertainment culture that has always been closely connected to Ice Cube’s films.

His appointment suggests New Line is looking for a director who can preserve the franchise’s neighborhood humor while introducing it to audiences who may have discovered the original movies through streaming and social media. AOL +1

Ice Cube Returns as Craig After More Than 20 Years

The original Friday arrived in theaters in April 1995, introducing audiences to Craig Jones, played by Ice Cube, and his friend Smokey, portrayed by Chris Tucker.

Directed by F. Gary Gray and written by Ice Cube and DJ Pooh, the film followed two friends navigating an eventful Friday in South Central Los Angeles.

Its relatively simple premise became the foundation for a comedy classic, combining neighborhood characters, everyday struggles and memorable dialogue into a movie that continued attracting fans long after its theatrical release.

The franchise expanded with Next Friday in 2000 and Friday After Next in 2002.

Mike Epps joined the series in the second installment as Craig’s cousin Day-Day, eventually becoming one of the franchise’s central comedic figures.

Although the sequels introduced new settings and characters, Ice Cube remained the creative force behind the series, writing and starring in all three films.

Last Friday will be the first new theatrical installment since 2002, ending a gap of approximately 24 years between films if production proceeds as planned. AV Club

‘Last Friday’ Receives $11.4 Million in California Production Incentives

Another major sign of progress came earlier this month when the California Film Commission included Last Friday among 35 projects approved for the state’s expanded Film and Television Tax Credit Program.

According to the October 7 announcement, New Line Cinema’s production received approximately $11.4 million in tax credits to support filming in California.

The production is expected to involve approximately 40 filming days in Southern California, with plans for 43 cast members and 150 crew members.

The incentive award is significant because it connects the long-discussed sequel to a more concrete production plan. While the funding does not guarantee that filming will begin on a particular date, it demonstrates that the project has advanced beyond preliminary conversations.

Ice Cube also emphasized the importance of keeping production in the community where the franchise originated.

In the California Film Commission announcement, he described the Friday story as part of South Los Angeles’ cultural identity for more than three decades and expressed enthusiasm about returning production to Southern California.

The announcement strengthens expectations that the sequel will preserve the Los Angeles setting that helped define the original films. California Film Commission

Will Chris Tucker Return as Smokey?

One of the biggest unanswered questions surrounding Last Friday is whether Chris Tucker will return as Smokey, the character he made famous in the original film.

Tucker’s performance in the 1995 comedy became one of the defining roles of his early career, with his comedic chemistry alongside Ice Cube contributing significantly to the movie’s popularity.

However, Tucker did not appear in either sequel, leaving fans to speculate for years about whether he would ever return to the franchise.

Ice Cube and Mike Epps have previously expressed optimism about the possibility of Tucker joining the new installment. During a May 2026 interview with Entertainment Tonight, the two discussed their hopes for reuniting familiar characters.

Despite those comments, Tucker’s participation has not been officially confirmed.

Mike Epps is also closely associated with the series through his role as Day-Day, although the October 27 director announcement did not provide a finalized cast list.

Until New Line announces additional casting agreements, fans should treat potential returns as possibilities rather than confirmed appearances. Radio 88.8 - Demo +1

Ice Cube’s Son Jokes About Not Being Cast in the Movie

The director announcement has already generated a humorous reaction from someone particularly close to the franchise’s creator.

Actor O’Shea Jackson Jr., Ice Cube’s son, responded to the news on social media by joking that he had not been contacted about appearing in the upcoming movie.

“I haven’t received any emails or calls from my agent about this project,” Jackson wrote on X.

He then jokingly threatened to involve his mother if he continued being overlooked.

Jackson has built his own acting career, including portraying his father in the 2015 N.W.A biographical film Straight Outta Compton. His credits also include Cocaine Bear and the Den of Thieves franchise.

His comments appeared playful rather than evidence of a serious disagreement, but they added another viral moment to the growing conversation surrounding the sequel.

There has been no official announcement that Jackson will appear in Last Friday. TheWrap

The Sequel Will Move Forward Without Several Beloved Cast Members

While fans are excited about the franchise’s return, the long delay has also created an emotional challenge.

Several performers who helped make the original movies memorable have died since the last installment.

John Witherspoon, who portrayed Craig’s father, Willie Jones, died in 2019. Tommy “Tiny” Lister Jr., known for playing the intimidating neighborhood character Deebo, died in 2020. Comedian and actor Anthony “AJ” Johnson, who played Ezal in the original film, died in 2021.

Bernie Mac, who appeared as Pastor Clever, died in 2008.

Their absence means the new film cannot recreate the complete ensemble that audiences remember from the earlier movies.

Ice Cube has previously expressed frustration that the sequel took so long to develop, particularly as members of the original cast passed away.

That history adds weight to the upcoming production. Last Friday will need to honor the franchise’s legacy while introducing new characters and storylines capable of carrying the comedy forward. AOL

What Will ‘Last Friday’ Be About?

Although a complete plot synopsis has not been released, Ice Cube and Mike Epps have suggested that the sequel could address changes affecting the neighborhood where the original story began.

During their May 2026 interview with Entertainment Tonight, the performers discussed gentrification as a possible theme.

That direction would allow the film to explore how Los Angeles neighborhoods have changed since the 1990s, while maintaining the franchise’s tradition of finding humor in everyday situations.

The concept could also provide a natural explanation for bringing Craig and other familiar characters back together after more than two decades.

However, New Line has not released an official storyline, and details about specific characters, scenes and conflicts remain undisclosed.

When Will ‘Last Friday’ Be Released?

As of October 28, 2026, New Line Cinema has not announced an official theatrical release date for Last Friday.

A filming start date has also not been publicly confirmed.

Although Ice Cube has previously discussed his hopes for bringing the sequel to audiences as soon as possible, those comments should not be treated as a studio-approved release schedule.

The confirmed developments are substantial: Ice Cube is attached to write, produce and star; Lawrence Lamont has been selected to direct; and the project has received California production incentives.

The remaining milestones include finalizing the cast, announcing a production schedule, completing filming and setting a theatrical release date.

After years of uncertainty, those are considerably more concrete steps than the franchise has seen in a long time.

A New Chapter for One of Hip-Hop’s Most Beloved Comedy Franchises

For Ice Cube, Last Friday represents more than another movie sequel. It is an opportunity to revisit one of the most successful creative projects of his career and introduce its characters to a new generation.

The original Friday emerged during a period when Ice Cube was expanding beyond his reputation as a pioneering West Coast rapper and establishing himself as an actor, screenwriter and producer.

Its success demonstrated that stories centered on ordinary life in Black neighborhoods could attract broad audiences without abandoning their cultural identity.

Three decades later, the film remains a frequent reference point in hip-hop culture, internet humor and discussions about classic Black cinema.

The selection of Lawrence Lamont provides the upcoming sequel with a director whose recent success suggests he understands the appeal of character-driven neighborhood comedy.

There are still important questions surrounding the cast, storyline and release date, but the project is no longer relying solely on promises of a future installment.

With a director officially attached and production incentives approved, Ice Cube’s long-awaited return to the Friday franchise is closer to becoming a reality.