It wasn't long ago that Mike Epps spilled the tea on Last Friday, revealing that talks with Warner Bros. were underway. Now, though, fans have confirmation from the man in charge: Ice Cube.
The triple threat, actor, rapper, and screenwriter, spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about the final chapter in the Friday saga, aptly coined, Last Friday.
During the interview, he shared several interesting details about the developing film. One key point Cube addresses is how Last Friday will handle the absence of several franchise mainstays. John Witherspoon (Pops), Tommy Lister Jr. (Deebo), and Al Johnson (Ezal) have since passed away, leaving notable gaps in the Friday continuum. Thankfully, Cube assured fans that their fates will be addressed in the film. He emphasized that those individuals are "beloved people" and not just "characters" on a screen. They mean more than a quick one-liner that explains away their absence.
Secondly, Cube hints at "people you want to catch up with" appearing in the movie. He considers his universe like Star Wars. Characters "can pop in and out" which more than suggests audiences will get to see some familiar faces.
Chris Tucker
Chris Tucker's Smokey should be the first one on the call sheet. And while there's no confirmation as of yet, Ice Cube told THR that Tucker is "always invited" to return to the glorious world of Friday.
One thing worthy of mention is that Tucker stepped away from the Friday franchise for personal reasons, as he reportedly didn't want to "represent everybody smoking weed," which in retrospect is an honest take on the situation. Typically, people watching Friday pair it with their strain of choice, which again, speaks to Tucker's rationale.
Heyyyyy...Debbie
A few others should stop by to see Craig (Cube) and Dede (Mike Epps) during this adventure, and a couple of names come to mind. Damon (Terry Crews), Mini Mike (Katt Williams), and Debbie (Nia Long) all possess cameo potential. Big Worm (Faizon Love) is in the same boat, although it's difficult to picture him showing up without stirring beef. Maybe he's turned over a new leaf.
When Does 'Last Friday' Take Place
The final tidbit Cube drops about Last Friday is the movie's setting. It apparently takes place in 2025, which means a significant time jump from the previous films. Friday After Next was released in 2002, so it's been over twenty years since Craig and Dede were last seen working as security guards. Even without concrete details on their whereabouts, things have presumably changed for them.
Last Friday's release date is TBA.