After years of speculation, false starts and endless fan theories, Last Friday is officially moving forward.
Ice Cube and Mike Epps have confirmed the long awaited fourth instalment in the beloved Friday franchise has finally been greenlit, with cameras expected to roll later this year.
While the original films built their cult legacy around absurd neighbourhood antics and iconic one liners, this next chapter is set to tackle something much more timely, gentrification.
Speaking in a recent interview, Cube and Epps revealed that Last Friday will centre on the changing face of their neighbourhood and the cultural shifts that come with urban redevelopment, a surprisingly sharp social angle for a franchise known for its laidback fun and street level comedy.
Watch the interview below:
Finally locked in
The announcement marks a major milestone for fans who’ve spent years wondering whether the fourth film would ever materialise, Cube had previously hinted the project was gaining momentum back in 2024, while Epps later suggested a deal had quietly fallen into place, now it appears everything is finally locked in.
There’s also renewed hope for the return of Chris Tucker as Smokey, the breakout role that helped define the original 1995 classic (per Billboard).
“We’re talking to him and he wants to come back,” Epps said.
Cube added: “He’s one of the best. I think he’s going to do it.”
The road to Last Friday hasn’t exactly been smooth.
Cube previously revealed that one rejected script saw Craig and Day-Day running a dispensary before landing in jail after a flash mob incident, while the concept leaned into absurdity, studio executives reportedly shut it down.
“They were like, ‘Jail’s not funny, it’s too much time in jail. How can you make jail funny?’” Cube recalled.
For now, plot specifics remain tightly under wraps beyond its gentrification theme, but with production finally gearing up, Last Friday is closer than ever to becoming reality.
For a franchise that’s remained culturally iconic for more than three decades, the return feels long overdue.
Follow me on Facebook:
MORE IN Film
