Auntie Suga Is Back: Kym Whitley Confirms ‘Friday’ Return

Kym Whitley arrives at the Netflix Tudum 2025: The Live Event held at the Kia Forum on May 31, 2025 in Inglewood, Los Angeles, California, United States. — Photo by Image Press Agency

Kym Whitley is heading back to the Friday franchise.

The actress and comedian confirmed she will reprise her role as Auntie Suga in the long-awaited fourth installment of the film series.

Whitley shared the news during an interview with Urban Hollywood 411, while discussing her role in the Paramount+ comedy, The Varnell Hill Show.

When asked about Chris Tucker recently saying on stage he would consider returning to the Friday series as Smokey (if the money was right), Whitley joked that she needed to give him a call.

“You said that. Let me call Chris. I lost his number,” she quipped. “Thank you very much.”

Related: Wendy Raquel Robinson Talks Code-Switching and Calling the Shots on ‘Varnell Hill’

Next Friday movie (Credit: New Line Cinema)
Next Friday (Credit: New Line Cinema)

Whitley made it clear, she wants Tucker to join the film.

“Listen, Chris better do this movie,” she said. “It is going, and we need Chris Tucker to jump in… Ice Cube is ready to go. So am I.”

The actress and comedian joked she is already preparing to squeeze back into Auntie Suga’s revealing wardrobe.

“I told Ice Cube I’m doing my little sit-ups right now to get in one of those little outfits,” she said.

When asked directly if she was confirmed for the movie, Whitley responded, “Absolutely.”

The Varnell Hill Show (Credit: Paramount+)
Whitley currently has a role on The Varnell Hill Show (Credit: Paramount+)

The original Friday hit theaters in 1995 and starred Ice Cube alongside Tucker as unemployed friends Craig and Smokey in South Central Los Angeles.

Whitley played Auntie Suga in Next Friday, the 2000 sequel that followed Craig as he moved in with relatives in the suburbs after learning neighborhood bully Deebo had escaped from prison.

Tucker did not return after the first film. Mike Epps joined the second movie, Next Friday, as Craig’s cousin Day-Day.

Nia Long, Paula Jai Parker, Angela Means, Anna Maria Horsford, and Terry Crews also had roles in the franchise.

Several cast members have died over the years, including John Witherspoon, who played Craig’s father; Tommy “Tiny” Lister Jr., who portrayed Deebo; and Bernie Mac, who appeared as Pastor Clever in the original film.

The new movie, titled Last Friday, spent years stalled in development. But New Line Cinema confirmed in 2025 that it had reached a deal with Ice Cube to write and star in the project, as previously reported.

While Whitley waits to reunite with Ice Cube, she can currently be seen in The Varnell Hill Show, a spinoff of 1990s sitcom Martin.

She plays Kim Jones, personal assistant to late-night talk show host Varnell Hill, portrayed by Tommy Davidson.

“I’ve been a secretary before. I’ve been a personal assistant. I understood the assignment,” Whitley said during the interview.

She added that working on the show has been a great experience.

“It was fun going to work and hanging out with all the comedians and all your friends. Me and Wendy Raquel Robinson been knowing each other since our careers started,” she shared. “Oh, good times!”

The Varnell Hill Show debuted Tuesday, Sept. 1. New episodes arrive Tuesdays on Paramount+ through Oct. 13.


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About Anita Bennett

Anita Bennett is the editor and founder of Urban Hollywood 411. She can be reached on Twitter @tvanita.

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