It’s a good day for Coming to America fans.
Following news of a possible sequel in September 2017, Deadline confirmed Friday that Eddie Murphy will reprise his role as Prince Akeem in Coming to America 2.
Craig Brewer, who directed Murphy in the upcoming Netflix film Dolemite Is My Name!, will helm the sequel. Writer-producer Kenya Barris (Black-ish, Girls Trip) will revise a script penned by original Coming to America writers Barry Blaustein and David Sheffield.
Barris will also serve as executive producer alongside Murphy and Kevin Misher (The Scorpion King, It’s Kind of a Funny Story).
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Murphy said he is “thrilled” to see the film coming together, telling Deadline in a statement: “After many years of anticipation, I’m thrilled that Coming to America 2 is officially moving forward.”
He continued: “We’ve assembled a great team that will be led by Craig Brewer, who just did an amazing job on Dolemite, and I’m looking forward to bringing all these classic and beloved characters back to the big screen.”
The highly anticipated sequel will center around Akeem’s return to America as he attempts to connect with his long lost son, the presumed heir to the throne of the African nation Zamunda.
Most of the original cast has signed on for Coming to America 2. Arsenio Hall (the prince’s aide, Semmi), Shari Headley (Akeem’s love interest), John Amos (Headley’s father), and James Earl Jones (the king) will all reprise their roles.
Production is expected to begin sometime in 2019.
