AmazonStudios is in the process of acquiringComing 2 Americafrom Paramount Pictures. The sequel to the Eddie Murphy comedy classic was originally slated to hit theaters on Christmas Day 2020.
Coming 2 Americawill see Murphy’s Prince Akeem returning to the United States after discovering he has a son he never knew about living in Queens. Murphywill be joined by returning starsShari Headley, Arsenio Hall, and James Earl Jones alongside new cast members Jermaine Fowler and Leslie Jones.
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The deal between Paramount Pictures and Amazon Studios is reportedly worth roughly $125 million. In addition to sellingComing 2 America, Paramount is expected to transfer consumer marketingtie-ins with McDonald’sand whiskey brand Crown Royal to the streamer once the final details are settled.
Per Variety, Coming 2 Americais now expected to premiere on Amazon on July 03, 2025. However, the deal must first be approved by Murphy, who also serves as a producer on the sequel. Paramount had reportedly considered multiple options for the sequel in recent weeks due tothe latest wave of theater closings, including selling the rights to CBS All Access, the streaming service owned by Paramount’s parent company Viacom. Other streaming services looked at the film before Amazon and Paramount began negotiations.
Amazon Studios chief Jennifer Salke is said to consider the deal a top priority for the production company, having recently acquiredSacha Baron Cohen’sBoratsequelin time to release the comedy ahead of the 2020 United States Presidential election. The studio also acquired Paramount’s feature film adaption of Tom Clancy’s novelWithout Remorse, a decision the latter company made in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The health crisis and ensuing theater closings also prompted Paramount to sell Aaron Sorkin’sThe Trial of the Chicago 7and the action-comedyLovebirdsto Netflix earlier this year.
With the release ofComing 2 America, the list of films and television shows receiving sequels or reboots decades after the originals debuted continues to grow. This past summer, Will Smith and director Morgan Cooper moved forward with areboot ofThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Airbased on the latter’s fan-film, which reimagined the sitcom as a serious drama.
Coming 2 Americais expected to premiere on Amazon Prime on December 18th, 2020.
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