Ice Cube remains a busy man, as the rapper-turned-actor continues to land various roles. While the cool celebrity dad has been exploring new storytelling territory for himself, he’s also revisited some of his most beloved properties. Most recently, he even appeared as himself in the 2025 Anaconda movie. Despite all of that, I definitely couldn’t have predicted that he’d join a third Are We There Yet? movie, though I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t laughing over one part of the premise.

This week, Cube announced that he would reprise his role as bachelor-turned-family man Nick Persons in Are They Gone Yet? Not only that, but the star will be joined by Nia Long, who’s set to reprise her role as Nick’s wife, Suzanne Kingston-Persons. Deadline’s reporting doesn’t specify whether Aleisha Allen and Philip Daniel Bolden will reprise their roles as Suzanne’s kids, Lindsey and Kevin, respectively. Yet, per Cube’s statement, I think there’s at least a slight chance his stepkids will factor into the story:

We built something special with this franchise. Audiences grew up with Nick Persons, and now Nick’s got grandkids. Time flies. Partnering with Skydance to bring this story to a new generation is exactly the kind of move CubeVision was built for, and I am excited for the new partnership.

You read that right, Nick is going to be a grandfather! So, barring any kind of surprises, said kids could belong to Lindsey, Kevin or the two twins Suzanne welcomed in 2007’s Are We Done Yet? To some, this may seem like too much of an obvious route to go with the franchise, but the mere thought of Nick being in grandpa mode and having to deal with his grandkids’ shenanigans just makes me chuckle. There are plenty of storytelling possibilities in that regard, and Cube could bring some serious comedic energy to the proceedings.

I honestly love the fact that the Three Kings alum has reached the age at which he can convincingly play a grandfather. So, even with just this small tease, I’m delighted to see how the story pans out. And, speaking of the story, the script is reportedly being penned by Chris Hazzard and Mike Fontana, and the film is being developed by Skydance Sports. On paper, this threequel also makes sense, considering the original 2005 film earned over $97 million worldwide against a production budget between $20 and 32 million. And, while the aforementioned 2007 sequel only grossed $58 million globally against a $28 million budget, the IP still proved popular enough to spawn a TV series on TBS.

This announcement comes amid the continued wave of legacy sequels that continue to flood Hollywood. Ice Cube, for his part, is reportedly working on multiple installments to some of his most famous franchises. For starters, the long-gestating final installment in the Friday franchise, Last Friday, is officially in the works, with Cube and Mike Epps reportedly returning for it. It was also more recently reported that Cube was in talks to reunite with Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum for 24 Jump Street.

When it comes to Are They Gone Yet?, a release window has yet to be announced for it. Hopefully, additional details – like further casting confirmations – will arrive sooner rather than later. I can’t even begin to predict how this film will be received but, considering the love for this franchise, I can certainly imagine people checking it out. I look forward to seeing the first official look at Nick running from… I mean, playing with his grandchildren.

Ice Cube doesn’t currently have any titles marked for the 2026 movie schedule. Still, anyone feeling nostalgic for the Are We There Yet? franchise can stream the first two installments using Starz.

There’s just something special about 1997’s Anaconda starring Jennifer Lopez and Ice Cube, so I was definitely intrigued when it was announced that a new version was coming, especially since the remake is going in a wildly different direction. Paul Rudd and Jack Black star in the new Anaconda movie (and would it even be Anaconda without the Friday star?). Screenings have started for the upcoming action movie ahead of its Christmas Day release, and first reactions indicate we’re in some laughs --- and a surprising amount of heart.

Naturally, Jack Black and Paul Rudd are giving the Anaconda remake a comedic spin, starring as Doug and Griff, who set out for the Amazon to shoot an amateur remake of the 1997 cult classic (how meta!), only for it to turn into a fight for their own survival. Critic Simon Thompson calls it the “popcorn movie of the holiday season,” posting:

Hunter Bolding of The Hashtag Show writes that the kills are good and the snake itself is “pretty fearsome.” More from Bolding:

Cris Parker also comments on the shocking amount of genuine emotion evoked through this buddy comedy, which doesn’t take away from the laughs, because this critic says he was “wheezing”:

Mollie Damon says its 100-minute runtime goes down easy and is reminiscent of those feel-good stoner comedies of years past. Damon writes:

Taylor Gonzales says he also got throwback vibes from the Jack Black-Paul Rudd bromance, and with so many comedies going straight to streaming, Gonzales notes how good it is to see this one hit theaters, writing:

Andre Saint-Albin posts that this is the perfect holiday stress reliever with “big laughs & a bigger snake!” I love to read that the trailer apparently doesn’t spoil some “awesome surprises.” Saint-Albin continues:

Klepcx says this is how you reboot an IP, with Anaconda balancing its “unhinged” humor with a surprising softness:

Peter Gray of the AU Review is surprised as how much he liked this film, putting it in the same wheelhouse as a classic Ben Stiller satire:

It’s great to see so many positive early reactions to the Anaconda remake, because it’s risky to mess with perfection! If you’re excited to see how Paul Rudd and Jack Black play this new action/adventure horror, be sure to check out the reboot when it hits the big screen on Thursday, December 25.

Hollywood remakes and reboots are everywhere these days, so it usually takes something genuinely weird or genuinely inspired to get people to perk up. The upcoming Anaconda remake definitely qualifies as the former, but it’s also bringing back a very specific kind of old-school energy: the “crazy motherf—ker from around the way.” That’s right. Ice Cube is back, baby. And while I was already intrigued, the reason he signed on to the 2025 movie release somehow makes the whole thing even better.

Speaking with People at the Los Angeles premiere, Ice Cube said the decision to return came together fast once he understood the movie’s tone. The film isn’t looking to be a grim reboot, but instead is a project that knows exactly how ridiculous its premise is and leans into it. The "It Was a Good Day" performer explained this unique sensibility is what sold him. He revealed:

The original Anaconda was anything but subtle, but it didn’t pretend to be. Jon Voight was chewing scenery harder than the snake chewed the cast. The titular wildlife was absolutely enormous, and Ice Cube’s straight-faced turn as cameraman Danny helped keep the whole thing from sliding completely off the rails. Bringing him back nearly 30 years later feels like a movie completing a very weird circle.

That feeling clearly carried over to the new cast. Paul Rudd, who co-leads the remake alongside Jack Black, has been openly giddy about the "You Know How We Do It" artist's involvement and the blessing that came with it. In an interview with THR, he talked about Cube signing off on the project. Rudd didn’t even try to play it cool, saying:

Rudd’s quote perfectly captures the energy this reboot is conveying, based solely on the trailer. Anaconda (2025) isn’t pretending to reinvent cinema; it’s honoring a cult favorite while having fun with the idea of remaking it. The film follows Rudd and Black as lifelong friends who travel to the Amazon to remake their favorite movie, only for things to go sideways when a very real giant snake enters the picture.

The War of the Worlds star is no stranger to tongue-in-cheek nostalgia. He’s already proved he can wink at the past without disrespecting it thanks to his turns in the 21 Jump Street reboot and its sequel, both of which gleefully skewered the melodrama of the original ’80s TV series. Leaning into a self-aware remix of a cult favorite is clearly a muscle he knows how to flex. That’s why his involvement here feels less like a gimmick and more like a quiet torch pass. Ice Cube “popping up” gives longtime fans and newcomers alike permission to laugh at the absurdity while enjoying the ride.

Anaconda slithers into theaters on December 25, and if Cube’s surprise appearance delivers even half the kick he’s expecting, the remake will have already done something very right.

Back in November 2024, a $1.3 million lawsuit was filed that named high-profile rappers Ice Cube and Snoop Dogg as defendants, tying back to the formation of their supergroup Mount Westmore, which released a Mandalorian-inspired music video some years back. Not much movement has been made on the case, with both musicians attempting to avoid showing up in court for an in-person deposition. But the latest update on the case is a setback for the duo on the front, as a judge formally denied the request, meaning they will likely be required to appear.

Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube’s legal teams filed court documents back in August requesting a judge to side with their argument that they did not need to be present for a planned October deposition in relation to the lawsuit filed against them by the company Westside Merchandise. At the time, the currently winless Voice coach claimed to be unavailable until October 21, as he was shooting a movie, while the Friday franchise vet and championer claimed to be busy working with his Big3 basketball league while also preparing to go on tour. The request also included the stipulation that both would be willing to appear on camera for a virtual deposition, but only if it was under two hours in length.

In response to that paperwork, Westside Merchandise submitted its own documents requesting for the judge to toss out the rappers’ requests, arguing that its execs had been cooperative throughout the process with the Grammy winners’ legal teams, despite all attempts to schedule the meeting being thwarted. That filing also pleaded with the judge to demand the defendants pay upwards of $11,000 in legal fees for delaying the case’s outcome.

The Los Angeles Superior Court judge didn’t appear to lay down a ruling for that inquiry just yet, but did pass judgment on the deposition-avoiding paperwork, according to US Weekly, claiming the rappers did not successfully argue the point that they lacked the relevant knowledge about the deal with Westside. The judge specifically pointed to the fact that both Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube were “actual signatories” regarding the contract signed back in 2022 when the collaboration deal was first discussed.

Why Westside Merchandising Is Suing Ice Cube And Snoop Dogg

Back in 2022, Cube and Snoop teamed up with fellow marquee rhymers E-40 and Too Short to form Mount Westmore, and amidst the singles and videos that were released, conversations were had about a world tour. Enter Westside, whose attorneys say they contacted the rappers about becoming the exclusive vendor for the group's merch.

The company allegedly provided $1.3 million in advances, with the belief that the group would be headlining a 60-stop tour across the U.S. and Europe, and that tour merch would be sold at every performance. The agreement also reportedly included the assurance that both Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube would agree to make a public appearance at a retail location of Westside's choosing, and that the group would publicly acknowledge the partnership.

Cut to 2025, and Westside claims Mount Westmore only performaned at a "mere three concerts" throughout 2022, and did not perform live at all during 2023 or 2024. The company claims its attempts to recoup its $1.3 million were refused, with all members of the rap group denying any wrongdoing. Too Short and E-40 addressed not being active parties in the contractual agreement, which perhaps indicates why they're not named as defendants.

The rappers' lawyers released the following statement:

It's another less-than-positive turnout for Ice Cube, who co-starred in one of 2025's biggest film disasters, the 0%-earning War of the Worlds, and then tried explaining where it all went wrong. Snoop, meanwhile, is set to return to his bi-annual gig of covering the Olympics for NBCU, assuming this lawsuit doesn't cause any hiccups on that front.

When John Singleton’s Boyz N The Hood hit theaters in the summer of 1992, there was a huge amount of controversy surrounding the movie, which today can be streamed with a Netflix subscription. Looking back, it's clear there was some inherent racism in the moment, but there was actually some real violence that occurred at a handful of showings. The news took that and ran with it, ratcheting up the rhetoric around the dangers of rap music, especially gangsta rap, which was already scaring the shit out of suburban America.

For me, a 16-year-old suburban kid, that was all I needed to hear to want to see the movie badly. What I expected, and what the movie is, are two totally different things.

The Media Breathlessly Reported On Violence At Screenings

In the great Netflix documentary about Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine, The Defiant Ones, Iovine talks at one point about how scared Interscope Records was making suburban white folks. Between Dr. Dre’s The Chronic and Nine Inch Nails’ The Downward Spiral, Interscope was hammering two sides of the musical spectrum that were upending norms. In the midst of that came Boyz N the Hood.

It was easy for the local and national news to issue urgent dispatches about the fear of gang violence at the movie’s screenings. Black directors and Black voices in Hollywood were hardly the norm; we basically had Spike Lee, Mario Van Peebles, and not many others at the time, until Singleton came along with this masterpiece. The media, never ones to shy away from fear-mongering, played up the scattered examples of violence at the theaters showing Boyz N The Hood, and America – specifically white America – recoiled. I was all in.

I Expected An N.W.A. Song On The Big Screen, But That Isn’t What I Got

For me, well, I loved Dre’s earlier work with Ice Cube and company in N.W.A. I would blast that as I drove my own suburban neighborhood, feeling, well, defiant. When I heard about Boyz N the Hood, starring Ice Cube himself, I knew I had to see it. All the talk of gang violence at the theater made me believe even more that I was going to see one of Cube’s rap songs come to life on film.

Anyone who has seen the movie, which I think is one of the best movies of the ‘90s, knows it is not an N.W.A. song come to life. It doesn’t glamorize drug dealing or gang life (not that N.W.A. lyrics really do, either, but in my naive ears, they did). It speaks bluntly and honestly about “what’s goin’ on in the hood,” as Cube’s character Doughboy explains in the final scene. It’s a powerful statement about life in South Central L.A. and neighborhoods like it around the country, as well as the importance of being a strong father in the face of adversity.

It is an incredible movie, with powerful performances from Laurence Fishburne, Ice Cube, Cuba Gooding, Jr., and the rest of the cast, that includes actors like Regina King, Nia Long, Morris Chestnut, and Angela Bassett. It’s nothing like another movie about drug dealers of the era, New Jack City, which I also love. Boyz N the Hood has far more important things to say, even if the media ignored it in favor of more salacious news surrounding it.

At the end of July, the Ice Cube-led War of the Worlds was released to Amazon Prime Video subscription holders, and… well let’s just say that Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise’s 2005 adaptation of the H.G. Wells novel doesn’t need to worry about competition. This 2025 movie release was critically slammed and even had a 0% on Rotten Tomatoes for a time. Now Ice Cube has explained that the reason that this version of War of the Worlds turned out the way it did came out of necessity.

This new War of the Worlds took a screenlife approach with its source material by having Ice Cube’s Will Radford, a Department of Homeland Security officer, dealing with the alien invasion from behind a computer screen. As the actor explained while appearing on Kai Cenat Live, that’s because War of the Worlds was shot at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. He explained:

War of the Worlds specifically started rolling cameras in September 2020, when social distancing was the norm and strict health and safety guidelines being set in place for any film or TV production that happened to be going. So that explains why Will Radford was in a room by himself and only interacting with the other characters over phone and video chat. However, at that time, the public didn’t know the title of this Ice Cube movie, and it wasn’t revealed to be a War of the Worlds adaptation until last October.

You may be asking yourself now, then why did it take five years for this movie to come out? According to Ice Cube, that was due to a combination of it changing studios and putting together the story’s surveillance footage. He said:

Alas, the end result did not impress critics and general audiences, though at least the movie managed to achieve viral fame, particular for its on-the-nose Amazon product placement. Ice Cube was joined in War of the Worlds by Eva Longoria, Clark Gregg, Iman Benson, Henry Hunter Hall, Devon Bostick, Michael O’Neill, Andrea Savage and Jim Meskimen. Rich Lee directed the movie, and Kenneth A. Golde and March Hyman wrote the script.

Feel free to judge War of the Worlds for yourself over on Amazon Prime Video. Otherwise, you’re welcome to use your Apple TV+ subscription to stream his guest appearance in the eighth episode of The Studio, which won four Emmys last night.

War of the Worlds is one of the great works of science fiction. The original novel by H.G. Wells about a Martian invasion of Earth is so iconic that it’s been adapted numerous times over the years. The newest take on the material is a brand new movie you can watch with a Prime Video subscription that stars Ice Cube, and if that doesn’t sound like the greatest movie you’ve ever seen, well… you’re right, it's not.

I’m not going to lie to you, the new War of the Worlds isn’t great. If you’re looking for a faithful adaptation of the H..G. Wells book, you won’t find it here. The thing about it is, the movie isn’t really an adaptation of the book at all. It would be more accurately seen as an adaptation of another previous adaptation, arguably the most famous version of The War of the Worlds ever made. And no, not the movie by Steven Spielberg.

Prime Video’s War Of The Words Is A Modern Version Of Orson Welles' Classic Adaptation

The new War of the Worlds is what’s called a screenlife movie. Like other recent movies like Searching or Missing, the entire story takes place on a single computer desktop, that of Ice Cube’s character, who plays a guy who works for the Department of Homeland Security, surveilling American citizens. It’s an interesting gimmick, but one that is clearly meant as homage to 1938’s War of the Worlds as produced by Orson Welles and the Mercury Theater.

That adaptation was a radio broadcast, and it took the form of… a radio broadcast. It opens with a musical performance that is then interrupted by an apparent news bulletin that informs listeners that astronomers have witnessed strange explosions on the planet Mars. Eventually, through more news bulletins, we learn that alien spacecraft have landed across the earth, and then they open, and start destroying things.

It’s become a famous story that thousands of people who tuned in late to the broadcast, and thus didn’t hear the show’s introduction, believed that aliens really had landed on Earth and panicked as a result. While at least some of the stories are apocryphal, there’s no argument that the show’s format makes it all feel just that little bit more ”real.”

As somebody who was introduced to Orson Welles and War of the Worlds on a cassette tape decades ago on a camping trip, and would go on to watch Citizen Kane because of it, I love that version of the story even more than the original book, and the idea of doing a “modern” version of that story was something I was interested in. But it just doesn’t work.

Unfortunately, The Modern Movie’s Gimmick Doesn’t Work Like It Did In 1938

I can absolutely see the thought process that went into creating the new War of the Worlds. If you wanted to make something like Orson Welles' version, but for a modern audience, the first thing you would do is replace the modern communication medium of 1938, the radio, with the modern communication medium of 2025, the internet.

The problem is that the screenlife structure, while it’s been interesting in other films, doesn’t really work in the same way that a scripted radio broadcast does. The reason The Mercury Theater’s War of the Worlds works as well as it does is that the concept makes the audience feel more engaged with the story. We're following it as we would real news. We're essentially characters in the events.

While the screenlife movie makes the internet a key component of the storytelling, we never feel like active participants in the events. We didn’t hack into the network to watch Ice Cube's office desktop. The feeling that any of this is "real" is gone. We're still watching a movie. An alien invasion that plays out over a series of social media posts would seem to be a more appropriate analog to a radio broadcast, though admittedly, building a coherent story like that would present its own challenges.

The new War of the Worlds isn’t good, but it tried something new and different for that, and I at least appreciate it.

Have you seen War of the Worlds? No, I’m not talking about the Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning-led film adaptation of H.G. Wells’ science fiction novel from 2005. I’m talking about the Ice Cube-led adaptation that arrived to the 2025 movies schedule last week and can be streamed with an Amazon Prime Video subscription. Don’t worry if you haven’t, as its critical reception is so bad, it’s become one of those movies that have a 0% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Fellow rapper 50 Cent shared a hilarious response when he learned about this.

None of the 20 reviews listed for War of the Worlds on Rotten Tomatoes gave it a positive score, and the fan-generated Popcornmeter only comes out slightly better at 18%. 50 Cent posted the following to Instagram upon seeing headlines about how poorly this sci-fi flick has been received (edited for grammar and clarity):

I’m sorry, is he implying there’s some kind of conspiracy against Ice Cube that’s responsible for War of the Worlds’ dismal Rotten Tomatoes rating? I wouldn’t go that far, but I do like how this surprised 50 Cent enough that he felt the need to post about it on social media. Fingers crossed he eventually overcomes his fear and decides to watch War of the Worlds, as I need to know what he thinks of the final product. From there, I wouldn’t mind being a fly on the wall for the day when 50 Cent tells Ice Cube shares that opinion in person.

Obviously not every movie is going to be a winner, but that fact that none of the professional critics who reviewed War of the Worlds speaks volumes. Our own Philip Sledge even said it might be the worst movie he’s seen this year, writing that it’s “schlocky, flat, filled with more plot holes than Amazon references, and features too many death fake-outs to count.” And yet, Philip still had a good time watching War of the Worlds, so that counts for something.

Best case scenario, this take on War of the Worlds will become one of ‘so bad, it’s good’ movies that friends get together to watch it… perhaps with alcohol on hand. That said, I don’t see this becoming a big enough deal that it starts playing in special theatrical screenings, like Tommy Wiseau’s The Room. It doesn’t seem like it has that kind of appeal.

Ice Cube, who plays DHS officer Will Radford, is joined in War of the Worlds by Eva Longoria, Clark Gregg and Andrea Savage, among others. Rich Lee directed and Kenneth A. Golde and Marc Hyman wrote the script. 50 Cent’s last cinematic endeavor was executive producing Den of Thieves 2: Pantera, which came out in January.

I’ve watched a lot of crappy movies this year. While the 2025 movie schedule has given us some unforgettable flicks we’ll be talking about for years to come, there’s also been a lot of garbage. War of the Worlds, the latest and possibly strangest adaptation of H.G. Wells’ iconic sci-fi novel about aliens invading Earth, might be the worst movie I’ve seen all year. However, though the movie feels like a 90-minute ad for an Amazon subscription (a membership is required to watch it, by the way), I think I actually like it in a weird way.

Yeah, the movie is schlocky, flat, filled with more plot holes than Amazon references, and features too many death fake-outs to count, but I can’t sit here and say I didn’t enjoy myself watching Ice Cube take on alien forces from behind a computer screen. Hear me out!

This Movie Is Objectively Bad, But I Couldn't Stop Watching

There is a shot in the War of the Worlds trailer with a block of text reading “It’s worse than you think,” and they’re not kidding. This is one of the worst movies I’ve ever watched, and that’s coming from a guy who was once part of a group called “The Shitty Movie Crew,” where we’d watch gems like Transmorphers and Slappy and the Stinkers. Even without the constant barrage of Amazon product placements used to propel the plot, this movie sucks. However, I couldn’t stop watching.

Sure, it could have been the whole “trainwreck” quality of the movie where I wanted to see, with a morbid curiosity, just how bad things would get, but at no point did the movie lose my attention or make me pause to see how much was left. Even after all the fake death scenes (seriously, all the main characters have at least one), terrible line-readings, and pure insanity, I just couldn’t get enough.

It Has A Cheesy FMV Computer Game From The '90s Vibe, But It Works

Unlike pretty much every other film or TV adaptation of War of the Worlds, this latest version is pretty much a computer screen movie, with everything being seen through the computer of Ice Cube’s character, DHS surveillance expert Will Radford. Whether he’s spying on his kids (played by Henry Hunter Hall and Iman Benson) or speaking with other government officials (played by Eva Longoria and Clark Gregg), Radford is always seen through his computer screen.

This creates a campy and cheesy effect that looks like something out of a bad FMV computer game in the ‘90s, where you watch terrible cutscenes before solving various puzzles. It's not good and looks awful at times, but it added a certain charm to the experience.

However, The Amazon Product Placement Is A Bit Much

I am a forgiving man. I can overlook the phoned-in performances, I can handle the obvious plot holes and things that don’t make sense, and I can forgive the cheesy computer-generated visual effects found throughout War of the Worlds, but what I can’t handle are all the product placements for Amazon services that take over the final act.

They are few and far between in the beginning (talk of spying on people’s Amazon carts, a supporting character is a Prime delivery driver, etc.), but by the end of the movie, things go to a ridiculous level. I won’t spoil everything for those who haven’t seen it yet, but Amazon’s Prime Air (a drone delivery service) plays a major role in the fight to save humanity. I think I can feel the collective groan from everyone who’s watched so far.

Again, I don’t think War of the Worlds is a good movie; far from it. But I can’t sit here and act like I didn’t have a good time watching this utterly absurd retelling of one of the best sci-fi stories of all time.

When one thinks of movie franchises, they likely think of superhero flicks or the best horror movies. But there are plenty of long-running comedy franchises out there, including Ice Cube's Friday movies. And the actor/recording artist/producer recently explained why he thinks audiences connected to the Friday movies so much.

The original Friday came out in 1995, and is considered one of the best '90s comedies. This grew into a full-blown franchise, with the series of titles streaming for those with Max subscription. While we wait for the long-awaited Last Friday to come to fruition, Ice Cube spoke to THR about the success and staying power of those films. In his words:

I never thought of it this way, but this makes sense. Long before conversations about on screen representation, Friday was bringing stories centered around Black characters in South Central that were about comedy. This stood in stark juxtaposition to other projects at the time, which Ice seems to think was a big reason for the franchise's success.

Friday was a game changer, which is likely why fans continue to call for Last Friday to be completed. In the same interview, Ice Cube further mused on the similarities and differences the 1996 movie had to drama films at the same time. In his words:

On paper, Friday's story and plot points do sound like they could be describing a drama film. After all, much of it revolves around Craig and Smokey trying to survive after being under the thumb of a neighborhood drug dealer. But the high stakes situations were approached with comedy, which started a wildly successful series of movies.

As previously mentioned, the property might end up getting one more movie with Last Friday. That movie has been in development hell for years, but that hasn't stopped fans from calling for it. Unfortunately, we shouldn't expect it as part of the 2025 movie release list.

It’s not uncommon for a movie to land in “development hell,” as various factors can prevent it from being released. Last Friday – the long-hoped-for legacy sequel in Ice Cube’s Friday series – is such a film that’s seen its share of starts and stops over the years. It sounds like the situation is turning around for the better now, though. That’s based on Mike Epps saying that the comedy flick is officially moving forward. And, in addition to sharing that declaration, Epps also made an appeal to franchise OG Chris Tucker that I really appreciate.

What Did Mike Epps Say About The Newest Friday Movie?

Mike Epps has played more than a few notable characters. Daymond "Day Day" Jones, the cousin of Craig Jones, is certainly one of them. Like so many, Epps (who joined the franchise in its second film) has been eager to see a fourth film in the stoner comedy series come to fruition. So he was enthusiastic when he appeared on an episode of The Breakfast Club (which is on YouTube) and shared the big news. While sharing the update, he also took the time to shout out Ice Cube for the work he’s done over the years:

Throughout the course of his career, Ice Cube has made various contributions to the movie industry. He spearheaded the beloved Barbershop franchise and put in memorable performances in films like Boyz n the Hood (a great coming-of-age film) and Three Kings. And, as a former N.W.A. member, he also served as a producer on the 2015 biopic Straight Outta Compton. It’s great to hear how he’s helped so many people out, and it makes sense to bring in new talent for this upcoming sequel.

I still wonder just how many of the original cast members might return, though. Who I’d really love to see back in the fold is Chris Tucker, and Mike Epps feels the same way.

What Did Mike Epps Have To Say About Chris Tucker?

In addition to Ice Cube’s Craig, 1995’s Friday also features Chris Tucker’s Smokey as the co-lead. Smokey, Craig’s best friend, is a marijuana-addicted drug dealer, who has a habit for getting in over his head. Today, he remains one of the franchise’s most recognizable characters, and that’s in great part due to Tucker’s winning performance. So it was very disappointing when Tucker didn’t return for the sequels – Next Friday and Friday After Next. When asked if Tucker might return for the fourth film, Mike Epps got honest:

The thought of the Rush Hour alum returning for Last Friday is sweet, though it’s hard to say whether it might actually happen. For some time now, he’s been adamant about not returning as Smokey, who was written out as having gone to rehab. He previously mentioned that he chose not to return for the sequels, as he didn’t want to glamorize weed through his portrayal of the character. It’s fair to say that the fan-favorite actor is indeed entitled to his position.

With that said, it would still be great to see Smokey return in some capacity. Maybe the new film establishes that today, the small-time dealer is no longer fixated on weed, though that might make it somewhat harder for the writers to mine comedy for the character. Regardless of whether Chris Tucker returns, it’s cool to hear that Ice Cube’s Last Friday is no longer stalled and that new and old faces are set to take part in it. For now, grab a Netflix subscription and stream the original Friday.

Some of the most famous memes on the internet come from some of the oddest places. Often you may recognize the star, or the movie or TV show, the memes come from, but the original context is completely lost on you. With this list we are going to help explain what the original context was for these famous memes.

John Travolta In Pulp Fiction

This is one of the more obvious ones. The meme is John Travolta looking around confused. It comes, of course, from Pulp Fiction, when he walks into the Wallace's house to pick up Mia Wallace (Uma Thurman) for their date. When he first walks in, Mia is nowhere to be seen, but she can be heard over what seems like an intercom system or sound system. He is confused about where Mia is.

Charlie Day In It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia

The "Pepe Silvia Conspriracy is what gives us the great meme of Charlie Day on It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia standing wide-eyed in front of a bulletin board with a red string drawn across "evidence" that he's co-worker Pepe Silvia isn't real. it comes from the Season 4 episode, "Sweet Dee Has a Heart Attack."

Nicolas Cage In Vampire's Kiss

There is no better actor from which to get great memes than Nicolas Cage, especially in those scenes where Cage goes completely bananas. In Vampire's Kiss, we get such a scene when Cage is just starting to lose it after he hooks up with a vampire who bites his neck.

Gene Wilder In Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory

The "tell me more" meme, known officially as "Condescending Wonka" features Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka comes from a scene when Wonka isn't being condescending at all. He's just excited to show the kids the Ever-Lasting Gobstopper.

Patrick Stewart In Star Trek: The Next Generation

There is no question that the Patrick Stewart/Jean-Luc Picard facepalm from Star Trek: The Next Generation is one of the most widely used memes in the history of the entire internet. Curious, it comes from a very brief moment on the show. It's seriously like half a second when he does it. it comes from the Season 3 episode titled "Deja Q" and unsurprisingly, he's stunned by Q.

Leonardo DiCaprio In The Great Gatsby

Leonardo DiCaprio is one of the actors people most love to use in a meme and one of his most famous is from the first party scene in The Great Gatsby as he's finally introducing himself as the great Gatsby. Of course, it's matched with great fanfare in the movie, which is sadly missing from the meme (obviously).

Steve Carell In The Office

Steve Carell has had some classic memes made from his expressions on The Office but none more used than the classic shot of him yelling "NO!" It will be no surprise to fans of that Carell's character Micheal is reacting to the return of his nemesis in the office, Toby Flenderson (Paul Lieberstein).

Sean Bean In The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

At the Council of Elrond in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Sean Bean's character Boromir declares that "One does not simply walk into Mordor." So a meme was born as the look on Bean's face is perfect for describing anything that isn't easy.

Homer In The Simpsons

The scene of Homer Simpson disappearing into the bushes, used for all kinds of memes to show embarrassment, is, incredibly, over 30 years now. The scene comes from a Season 5 episode called "Homer Loves Flanders." The scene is specifically parodying the Terminator in Terminator 2 and his shape-shifting as Homer chases after Flanders.

Spider-Man In Spider-Man

The famous Spider-Man pointing at Spider-Man meme comes from way back in the 1960s and the Spider-Man cartoon that aired for one season in 1967. In the episode, the villain disguises himself as Spider-Man and they confront each other outside the police station.

Robert Redford In Jeremiah Johnson

Jeremiah Johnson is not one of Robert Redford's most remembered movies. In fact, there is a decent chance it would be forgotten completely if not for the famous meme of Redford with his bushy beard looking back over his shoulder seemingly approving something, as the meme makes it out to be. In the movie, he's nodding approval after having trapped a beaver.

Joaquin Phoenix In The Joker

One of the most recent memes to really take off is the scene from The Joker of Joaquin Phoenix as the titular character dances on some stairs as he embraces the villain he has become. The stairs themselves have become a popular tourist spot and famous filming location in The Bronx.

Ice Cube In Friday

It's a statement that has come to mean so much more than the fleeting scene it was originally in Friday. Felicia is the annoying neighbor who is always looking to get over on someone but isn't very good at it. After begging the main characters for a whole bunch of stuff, finally, Craig (Ice Cube) says curtly, "Bye Felicia" and a meme was born,

Willem Dafoe In Spider-Man 3

Willem Dafoe In Spider-Man 3 is really great, especially as Norman Osborn, the alter-ego of The Green Goblin. Famously he tells Peter that he is "something of a scientist himself" and that moment is one that has lived on as one of the most popular memes on the web, used to tell people that "someone is quite the something."

Keanu Reeves In Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure

Long before the internet was part of everyday life, people were celebrating Keanu Reeves for his famous "Whoa!" in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. In the years since, that celebration has only grown and now it's one of the most widely circulated memes in the world, usually used to signify the same thing it is in the movie, pure surprise. In the scene, it's when they discover all both Bills and Teds are thinking of the same number.

Laurence Fishburne In The Matrix

What if I told you that the line "What if I told you" doesn't actually appear in The Matrix? Would that blow your mind? The reason most people think it does is because of the famous meme of Laurence Fishburne as Morpheus. Morpheus is explaining what the matrix is in the scene, but he never says those words.

James Van Der Beek On Dawson's Creek

The famous "Dawson" crying meme comes from a moment on Dawsom's Creek so brief if you blink at the wrong time, you'll miss it. It comes from a scene in the Season 3 finale when Dawson (James Van Der Beek) and Joey (Katie Holmes) break up. the meme has had a far longer impact on popular culture than the show, it turns out.

Tim Robinson On I Think You Should Leave

Tim Robinson's saying "You sure about that" has quickly become one of the most used memes around, especially on YouTube. It comes from a Season 2 episode of one of the best Netflix original shows, I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson where Robinson is playing a stereotypical pitchman on an infomercial.

Jeff Goldblum In Jurassic Park

Ah yes, we've finally come to the "Jeff Goldblum shirtless in Jurassic Park" meme. The scene is after Goldblum's character Dr. Ian Malcolm is injured in the T-Rex attack and he is resting and trying to recover while criticizing what's happening around him.

Woody And Buzz In Toy Story 2

The famous meme of Woody And Buzz from Toy Story 2 has been used for every kind of meme imaginable when trying to explain something to someone. In the movie, it doesn't really have anything to do with that. The scene is when Woody has lost his hat right before leaving with Andy for summer camp and they are desperately looking for it as Buzz seems unconcerned about it all.

Wayne Knight In Jurassic Park

Jurassic Park really is a meme-able movie and one of the most famous ones is Wayne Knight of Seinfeld fame laughing and pointing away from another character. In the scene, he is mocking Dobson (the man in the shades and the hat) for thinking anyone in the beach bar cares what they are doing there. In Meme form, it's used to mock anyone, really.

Bruno Ganz In Downfall

Bruno Ganz in the amazing movie Downfall is a different kind of meme as people rewrite the subtitles of the epic scene in the German movie to fit whatever they are angry about, from sports to casting decisions in the MCU. In the movie, of course, Ganz plays the evil man with a tiny mustache as he is freaking out towards the end of World War II and it's clear he and the Germans have lost.

Ray Liotta In GoodFellas

This famous meme comes from a very famous scene in Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas. In the scene, Ray Liotta's character Henry Hill is reacting to a funny story told by Tommy (Joe Pesci). It's used for just about everything as a meme, but in the movie, Tommy is very angry at Henry for not explaining how Tommy's funny. Funny how? Funny like a clown? The meme is, that's for sure.

Leonardo DiCaprio In Django Unchained

The very famous meme of Leonardo DiCaprio laughing in Django Unchained is from a shot so brief it's amazing anyone picked up on it to even make it a meme. It's obviously from the dinner party and DiCaprio's character is laughing at his own joke, which makes the meme even better.

Jordan Peele In Key And Peele

Jordan Peele has become better known for his direction of amazing horror movies these days than as half of the brilliant comedy duo Key And Peele, but his most famous comes from the latter. In the sketch, his wife is asking him about his browser history, and the crazier and crazier the searches get the more he starts to sweat until it's pouring like a faucet out of his head.

Wagner Moura In Narcos

"Sad Pablo" has become very popular since Wagner Moura's amazing performance as Pablo Escobar in Narcos. The various memes on him looking sad or contemplative are taken from many moments on the show, but very rarely from when he is actually sad, Mostly they are fleeting moments of the drug kingpin thinking about his next move.

Christine Taylor In A Very Brady Sequel

"Sure Jan" is a pure classic. Obviously, it's Marsha Brady and she is indeed talking down to her sister Jan in the scene in A Very Brady Sequel, which is a pretty underrated comedy based on the original show from the 1960s. In the scene, Jan is making up a story about her imaginary boyfriend, George Glass and while everyone else in the family believes her, Marsha certainly does not.

Arnold Schwarzenegger And Carl Weathers In Predator

In the meme, all we get is two very muscular arms gripping hands in a very masculine handshake. One arm belongs to Arnold Schwarzenegger and the other to Carl Weathers. It comes from a scene in the first Predator movie. When the two characters, who are old friends, first see each other before the mission to seek and destroy the titular enemy.

It’s a Trap! In Return Of The Jedi

This is probably the most famous meme of them all, or at least the one that most people are going to know where it comes from. The origin story here of Admiral Akbar in Return Of The Jedi after the fleet has jumped in the battle above Endor. His famous line is, of course, "It's a trap!"

Bill Skarsgård In It

In what has to be the creepiest popular meme around, Pennywise, as played by Bill Skarsgård in It, is looking up out of a storm drain. It occurs after one of the kids chases his paper boat as it floats down the gutter and into the sewer.

Leonardo DiCaprio In Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

Proving that everyone loves a great Leonardo DiCaprio meme, one of the more popular ones lately is of the actor from Once Upon A Time In Hollywood as he points at the TV because he's about to be on. Not seen in the photo is Brad Pitt, who is also in the scene watching with DiCaprio.

Nicolas Cage In Wicker Man

"NOT THE BEES!" is one of Nicolas Cage's most unhinged lines from a totally unhinged movie, The Wicker Man. It's a movie that seemingly only exists for the memes. There are a lot of options in the movie, that's for sure.

There has been a lot of talk about "nepo babies" over the last few years, and while it may seem like every actor has famous parents. That is hardly the case though, of course. Many of our favorite actors come from much more humble roots. So let's celebrate those stars with this list of actors who came from blue-collar backgrounds. 

Sarah Jessica Parker

Growing up in Ohio Sarah Jessica Parker had a huge family, with seven siblings and step-siblings. She's talked about how there were times her parents struggled to pay the bills and were even on welfare for a time. Though her mom ran a nursery and her stepdad was a truck driver, they still found a way to support Parker's show business dreams and eventually moved to New York so she could star on Broadway. 

James Dean

James Dean is one of the most tragic stories in Hollywood history, and his upbringing was pretty rough too. His father left when he was a toddler and his mother supported the two of them as a single mother during The Depression. That is until she passed away when Dean was only nine. He moved to Ohio and lived with his aunt and uncle where things stabilized for him. After graduating high school, he moved to LA and embarked on his all-too-brief career. 

Maisie Williams

Though she found fame at early age with Game of Thrones Maisie Williams' family struggled when she was younger. She was raised in a council house (public housing in the UK) until she was cast in the hit HBO show at age 12. 

Jeremy Strong

Jeremy Strong may play a scion to one of the wealthiest families on TV in Succession, but in real life, he had a much more humble upbringing. Strong grew up in the blue-collar area of Jamaica Plain in Boston and his father was a guard in juvenile jails in town. Eventually the family moved to the more upscale town of Sudbury, where he went to high school and discovered acting. 

Samuel L. Jackson

For most of his career, Samuel L. Jackson was a blue-collar actor working as much as he could. That makes with his upbringing as the son of a single mother who worked in a factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Shania Twain

Shaina Twain is best known as a country singer, of course, but she's done a little acting over her impressive career as well. It's a career that has taken far away from her humble roots outside Toronto, Ontario, where the family struggled. Those struggles led to her finding gigs as a singer at a young age and the rest is history.

Samantha Morton

Samantha Morton had a rough upbringing in the UK. Nine of her formative years were spent in foster care when her parents, who were addicts, weren't able to care for her. She had a couple of scraps with the law herself but started getting acting work in her teens and it all came together. 

Dolly Parton

There is no more revered person in Hollywood (or Nashville) than the great Dolly Parton. She's often talked about her humble beginnings in rural Tennessee as one of 12 children. She has always praised how her mother kept the family together through hard times and when Parton was 18 she moved to Nashville and hit the big time pretty quickly as a songwriter and a singer. 

Adam Driver

Megalopolis star Adam Driver moved around a lot as a kid, living all over from San Diego to Indiana. His stepfather was a Baptist preacher, but he was mostly raised by his mother in Indiana. After the September 11th attacks, he joined the Marines and served, like many other actors have over the years, for a few years before being discharged for a medical reason and starting his acting career. 

Al Pacino

Al Pacino grew up mostly in the South Bronx, and anyone from New York can tell you that the South Bronx in the '40s and '50s was a tough place to live. By his own admission he got in trouble a lot, as often happens with kids with hard working parents. Even as a actor early in his career he couch-surfed with friends until he started landing gigs regularly. 

Dax Shepard

Dax Shepard's family experienced the American Dream, according to the actor and podcast host. His mom worked at GM while he was growing up near Detroit and the family struggled, but as he got older, his mom's career grew and she moved up the ranks from janitor to executive, so by the time Shepard was in high school, she was quite successful. 

Ice Cube

Any fan of N.W.A. knows about Ice Cube's roots in South Central LA as the son of a janitor and a groundskeeper. As a result of desegregation, Ice Cube had the opportunity to get bussed out of Compton and out to the suburbs, where he thrived in English class, something he would make good use of later in life as the principal lyricist for one of the most successful rap acts of all time. 

Jennifer Hudson

Jennifer Hudson, who has won the famed EGOT, was raised with her two siblings by a single mother on the South Side of Chicago. She started working in local theater at a young age and famously worked on the Disney Cruise line before auditioning for American Idol in the show's third season, which was, of course, her big break. 

Mel Brooks

The legendary Mel Brooks, like so many of his generation, was the child of immigrants. He was raised very poor in Brooklyn surrounded by people who worked in the garment industry. Instead of following in their footsteps, he went into show business and the world is luckier for it. 

Joan Crawford

Screen legend Joan Crawford would die a very rich woman, but she started life as the daughter of a construction worker in Texas. After her parents split up and her mother remarried, her stepfather got in trouble in Texas and the family moved to Kansas City where Crawford attended Catholic school as a work student. 

Jim Carrey

At one point Jim Carrey was the highest-paid actor in Hollywood, which is far cry from his humble beginnings in and around Toronto. For a time, Carrey has admitted, they were even homeless. Eventually his father found more stable employment and after dropping out of high school Carrey worked on his stand up routine and took shifts at a nearby factory. 

Misha Collins

Supernatural star Misha Collins grew up working class in Boston and he has said in the past that his family spent some time unhoused. He was lucky enough to gain admission to a prep school, which led him to the University of Chicago and eventually an internship at The White House during the Clinton administration before he concentrated on his acting career. 

Rosario Dawson

Rosario Dawson has been a part of two of the biggest franchises in Hollywood, Star Wars and the MCU. It wasn't always the big time for her though. Her mother was a teenager when she was born and never married Dawson's father, but did marry another man, from whom Dawson takes her last name. He was a construction worker first in New York and later in Texas. 

Jessica Chastain

Though she doesn't talk much about her upbringing, we do know that Jessica Chastain's stepfather was a firefighter and that her family life was a struggle growing up. She grew up in Sacramento with four siblings, though she lost one to suicide when she was in her early 20s. Chastain started acting as a kid and her career would eventually take off and she would become one of the most beloved and acclaimed actors of her generation. 

Daniel Kaluuya

Born of Uganda immigrants in London, Daniel Kaluuya was raised on a council estate in one of the city's most famous blue-collar areas, Camden. He didn't know his father growing up, but he excelled in school and started acting in plays while there. he started landing paying gigs in his teens and the rest is history.

Hilary Swank

Though she has humble roots as the daughter of an army soldier, Hilary Swank grew up in a stable household and even after her parents split up when she was 15, her mother moved with Swank to the LA area so she could try her hand at Hollywood. That bet paid off as Swank has been one of the best actresses around for decades. 

Charlie Chaplin

It could be argued that Charlie Chaplin was the first bonafide superstar of the silver screen. While he would eventually become Hollywood's biggest star and one of the most financially successful moviemakers of his era, his childhood was a hardscrabble upbringing in central London. His parents had no capacity to raise children and he bounced around reform schools and other group homes as a kid before finding his way, first in the theater then later in silent films. 

Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez famously grew up "on the 6," meaning the 6-Train through the Bronx in New York City. Her father had a job as a computer technician and Lopez had a solid, yet definitely blue-collar upbringing. 

Woody Harrelson

Woody Harrelson has starred in some of the best roles in Hollywood over the last four decades, and one of them, Woody Boyd on Cheers, reflected his actual blue-collar roots in Indiana. The story of Woody Boyd and Woody Harrelson are pretty similar, as both were raised in rural Indiana. Harrelson was famously locked up in prison for most of his upbringing, and he eventually died in prison after Harrelson's career had taken off. 

Viola Davis

Viola Davis was actually born on plantation in South Carolina, if you can believe it. She was raised mostly in Rhode Island, however, but it was a hard upbringing which has described of being very financially unstable. 

Daniel Craig

Daniel Craig may be famous for playing suave, debonair, and sophisticated characters, but that's nothing like his upbringing. His father was a construction worker and bar manager, though Craig does have aristocratic ancestors. 

Joaquin Phoenix

Joaquin Phoenix (and his late brother River) had a wild upbringing. His parent were part of a cult called the Children of God and Phoenix spent much of his early life living in South America as his parents traveled as missionaries for the religious group. Eventually, the family left the cult, adopting the name "Phoenix" as a sign of their rebirth as a family in a new life.

Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey is famously one of the richest people in Hollywood, but that's not how she started out. Her mother was a teenager in Milwaukee, but before long Winfrey found herself in Nashville living with the man she considers her father. While still a teen in Nashville, she started working in radio, which would eventually lead to her media empire. 

Bella Thorne

The whole reason Bella Thorne became a professional actor was to help support her family growing up. After her father was killed in a car wreck when she was ten, Thorne's mother was left to raise four children on her own. It was a tough upbringing, but the acting gigs started coming more and more often and got her big break on the Disney Channel's Shake It Up in 2010. 

James Caan

James Caan was in some of the best movies in Hollywood history. The list of Caan's best movies is incredible. His father was a deli meat salesman and he grew up in the blue-collar neighborhood of Sunnyside, Queens, in New York City. He found acting while he briefly attended Hofstra, where he would also meet Francis Ford Coppola, who would give the role of Sonny in The Godfather years later. 

Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez was raised by a single mother who had Gomez when she was just 16. Gomez has never been resentful, it seems, and credits her with raising her under such trying conditions. Gomez caught the acting bug at a pretty young age and ws soon landing shows on kids shows, leading to the insanely successful career we all know and love. 

Denzel Washington

Denzel Washington had the definition of a blue-collar upbringing as the son of a beautician and an employee of the water company in his hometown of New York City. His parent worked hard to make sure he got a good education and after graduating from Fordham, he embarked on one of the most successful Hollywood careers of all time. 

Leading characters draw us into the movies. But every once in a while, a strong supporting player can leave us talking about their scene-stealing performances, or the untapped potential they left on the table because they didn’t get as much screen time as we thought they deserved. The following characters all stood out in their respective films. And the main thing they all have in common is that we all wish they got more time on screen, because they were so much fun.

Les Grossman

The Hollywood satire Tropic Thunder took huge swings at the entertainment industry, with a group of spoiled actors tasked with making a war picture getting mistaken for actual soldiers and getting captured behind enemy lines. But it was an unrecognizable Tom Cruise, playing tough-talking studio executive Les Grossman, who danced away with the picture. There was talk of a Les Grossman movie coming out one day. I hope that’s still on the table. 

Lester Bangs

There’s nothing better than when a young up-and-comer finds the perfect mentor. Philip Seymour Hoffman played that role to perfection in Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous. Rock journalist Lester Bangs showed William Miller (Patrick Fugit) what his future could hold, and it wasn’t always bright. But in Hoffman’s hands, it was raw, honest, real, and very uncool.

Blake

Always be closing. It’s a mantra we can all recite because Alec Baldwin was so convincing in the movie adaptation of the brilliant stage play Glengarry Glenn Ross. His character, Blake, is supposed to be motivating a team of salesmen, played by a murderer’s row of character actors (Al Pacino, Ed Harris, and Jack Lemmon). So for any actor to come in and dominate that room is impressive. Plus, the moment Blake’s gone from the screen, you immediately want him back. Leave them wanting more.   

Megan Price

It takes a lot to emerge from the pack of gifted comedians assembled for Bridesmaids and be the one that people are talking about. Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph were at their peak, while Rose Byrne and Ellie Kemper were making noise leading into it. But Melissa McCarthy ripped Bridesmaids away from those ladies, partially by doing something nasty in a sink, but also by creating an unforgettable character who had quirks, compassion, and a formidable funny bone.

Floyd

We didn’t realize at the time of True Romance that we were watching an actor who would go on to become one of the biggest movie stars on the planet. But in his scant few scenes as couch surfer Floyd, Brad Pitt demonstrated his ability to completely lose himself in a character, sell a vibe, and hang with fellow heavy hitters like James Gandolfini and Christian Slater. A star was born. 

Spider-Ham

When the multiverse opened up in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) met all sorts of strange versions of his spider hero. The strangest, and most interesting, had to be the heroic Spider-Ham, a pig in costume who… ate hot dogs? Spider-Verse remains one of the best Spider-Man movies ever made, and it’s because of unexpected inclusions in the cast like this. 

Rod Tidwell

Show him the money, Jerry. At its heart, Jerry Maguire is a love story. It’s also a human journey, where a self-centered sports agent learns how to love himself again. But Jerry Maguire takes flight every time Cuba Gooding Jr. lights up the screen. His football star Rod Tidwell gives Jerry purpose, and Gooding gave Cruise the ideal foil on screen. Like so many people on this list, the role was so good, it earned him an Oscar win. Well deserved.

The Wolf

His name is Winston. He solves problems. He shows up in Quentin Tarantino’s masterpiece, Pulp Fiction, at a time when Jules (Samuel L. Jackson) and Vincent (John Travolta) have a very big one. Harvey Keitel owns the role, but there are so many questions we have regarding The Wolf (including the party he’s throwing, his tuxedo, and how he got to be known for this task), you could easily do a Pulp Fiction spinoff all about him, and I’d watch it a thousand times.

Spike

We have a few people on this list who are bummy roommates stealing scenes by loafing around. That’s how Rhys Ifans steals Notting Hill away from Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. The film is as romantic as they come, but Ifans makes sure all of his scenes as Spike are equally hilarious.

Ken

There are so many Kens to choose from. Barbie Land has its fair share of male dolls. But I have to go with Simu Liu’s competitive Ken, who holds a grudge against Ryan Gosling’s Ken, seems to have the upperhand on him at every turn, and practically demands more screen time so we can figure out what makes this Ken tick.    

Mark Hanna

I don't exactly know what Matthew McConaughey is channeling in his The Wolf of Wall Street scene. I know it's primal. I know it's unpredictable. I know it's unlike anything I have ever seen before. And I know that the movie needed more of it... whatever it is. Now, start beating your chest. 

Captain Dickson

Ice Cube might be a teddy bear in real life, but he portrays “angry” so easily that if he were to yell at me, I’d turn into a puddle. So there’s something special about the way that he yells at Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill in 21 Jump Street and its sequel. He makes it funny. Still scary. But also pretty hysterical.

Paloma

The most recent James Bond thriller, No Time to Die, was structured as a sendoff for Daniel Craig. But throughout it, we met a new 007 in Lashana Lynch, and watched Bond fight alongside a feisty agent, Paloma (Ana de Armas), who we’d love to see on screen again.

The Critic

Pixar’s classic, Ratatouille, focuses on a fledgling cook and the rat who helps him create vivid dishes. But they mostly want to please a discerning critic, who picks and chooses his moments, then excels with a return to his childhood courtesy of a bite of food that brings him back. I loved every scene with the Critic in Ratatouille, and wanted more of him. 

Nigel

The three women at the head of The Devil Wears Prada dominate the scene, Meryl Streep is flawless as a fashion editor, while Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt excel as worker bees earning her favor. But the character I wish we had more time with is Nigel, played to crisp perfection by the wonderful Stanley Tucci. He has history with Miranda Priestly, and more story to be told there. 

Rudy Reyes

In a superhero movie, all eyes are on the hero (and also usually the villain). And DC’s most recent Blue Beetle delivered plenty of exciting new twists to the story of Jaime Reyes (Xolo Mariduena), including leaning on his family. And in that tight-knit group we found Rudy Reyes (George Lopez), the paranoid uncle with one eye on the government who also ended up being one of the funniest characters in the DCU. More Rudy, whenever Blue Beetle shows up again in James Gunn’s comic universe. 

Grace

Edie McClurg is a legend. She created so many memorable characters in classic 1980s comedies. For the purpose of this feature, I’m going to single out the clueless receptionist Grace that she played in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. She made a pencil funny. But there has to be an extra shout out for her turn opposite Steve Martin in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. The lady knew how to make the absolute most of her screen time, and it was never enough. 

Chet

The late Bill Paxton made every movie better. Be it Aliens, Apollo 13, Twister, or the hilariously bizarre Weird Science, Paxton committed fully, and demonstrated immense range. Chet might be one of the worst characters created for the screen… but he’s so deliciously evil to his brother in the teen comedy that we relished every moment Paxton was on the screen. Even when he was a blob of garbage. 

Emma Watson

This is a fun aspect of this list. Some people are able to steal scenes by playing themselves. The armageddon spoof This is the End allowed several celebrities to play enhanced versions of their Hollywood personas, and Harry Potter icon Emma Watson seemed to really enjoy lampooning her image during her too-brief cameo. 

Gin Slagel

Bernie Mac left us too soon. The man was a powerhouse comedian, a larger than life personality that owned the screen every moment he occupied it for a comedy, or even a comedic thriller (like as part of the ensembles of the Ocean’s movies). Some might forget that he was a part of Bad Santa, a holiday staple marked by Billy Bob Thornton’s memorably dark performance. But Mac’s role as mall security makes him the ideal foil for Thornton, and he needed plenty more time on the screen. 

Pizza Poppa

If there’s one thing we know about Pizza Poppa (Bruce Campbell), it’s that he gets paid. Sam Raimi loves Campbell. And we love Campbell in Raimi movies, including  when he showed up for an all-too-brief and strange (no pun intended) cameo in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The appearance makes good use of Campbell’s physical comedy, and also leads to a spot-on end credits scene.  

The Bus Driver

There’s a trend on this list. Comedic performers who left us too soon. Chris Farley belongs on that list. And while he will always have his standalone hit in Tommy Boy, but it’s his cameos that hit me the most. I loved him in Adam Sandler’s Billy Madison as the disgruntled bus driver, who amuses himself by stealing kids’ lunches. 

Boris Podgorny

Another one of the classic mentor roles, this one appearing in Steven Spielberg’s autobiographical winner, The Fabelmans. Young Sammy Fabelman needed a voice of reason at an important point in his maturation. It came in the form of his visiting uncle (Judd Hirsch), who shared tales of the circus, and a life spent entertaining. Hirsch was a spark that ignited the story, and his absence was felt during the remainder of the film. 

T.D.K.

Mind you, almost everyone in the opening scene of James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad could be on this list. They all exit the screen in spectacular fashion, and much earlier than anticipated. But I’m going with Nathan Fillion’s T.D.K., mainly because of what his power is. And if you don’t know yet, go put this movie on now and enjoy.

Large Marge

Alice Elizabeth Nunn doesn’t have a long list of acting credits. If you, like me, grew up on Tim Burton’s Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, though, you will remember her as Large Marge. Her legend grows by the day. So when you get to the rest stop, tell them Large Marge sent you.

Steven

John Cena has mastered the art of scene stealing. The all-star wrestler seamlessly transitioned over to the silver screen, thanks to hilarious and go-for-broke performances like the one he gives opposite Amy Schumer in Trainwreck. Part of me wishes that Cena got the girl in this movie. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be. 

Gloria Cleary

I miss the days when Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson were good for an annual comedy. Wedding Crashers probably ranks as the duo’s best, and while many single out Will Ferrell’s bathrobe-wearing bachelor as the standout character, I wanted more screen time with the irascible Isla Fisher, who goes toe-to-toe with Vaughn and emerges as the most memorable comedian in this wild ensemble. 

Trudi Frazer

Quentin Tarantino is a master at creating unforgettable characters. Even one of the smaller roles will still grab you, and not let go. Young Julia Butters owns the screen opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. She’s a savvy kid actor with more confidence than DiCaprio’s Rick Dalton will ever have. I want to know the type of career that Trudi went on to have, because she’s a fascinating slice of a complicated pie that only Tarantino can cook up.

Whiskey

On the surface, it seems like Whiskey (Madelyn Cline) doesn’t belong with the group that has gathered on the island in Glass Onion. But the more that you learn about her, the more you realize she has as many games to play as the rest of them. Cline leaves us wondering how Whiskey earned her seat at the table, but that’s the point of this list. Lingering questions surround almost all of these interesting characters.

Peter

Sugar Bear. Peter (Rob Delaney) is Deadpool’s favorite member of his new super-powered team, X-Force. Peter has no powers. He’s just positive, and willing to play along. He’s the best part of Deadpool 2, and the movie definitely needed more of him.

Gary

"How can that be profitable for Frito Lay?" All that Gary (Jesse Plemons) wants to do is participate in Game Night. Sure, he’s socially awkward. But given the problems that surface in the group as the movie unfurls, Gary would be an ideal player. Just, keep the blood off of his dog, please. 

Chirrut Imwe

Listen, I want more Donnie Yen in everything. He blew us away in John Wick: Chapter 4, and has a rich history of dominating Asian cinema. But it’s his blind hero in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story that I think demands more time. And given the existence of Disney+ shows like Andor, I think more Donnie Yen in that Galaxy far far away is a distinct possibility. 

Think back to who your biggest hero was at the age of 12 for a moment. Now imagine what it would have been like to not only have lunch with that person, but to leave school early to do so. That’s what happened to actor O’Shea Jackson Jr. in his childhood, as his dad, Ice Cube, once set up a lunch between them and none other than Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. While it can be cool to be a celebrity’s kid at times, Jackson admitted to being quite starstruck during that big encounter with his idol.

In an interview with The Kelly Clarkson Show, O’Shea started his story with learning he was being mysteriously pulled out of school early. The Cocaine Bear star eventually revealed that after wondering if he was in trouble for something so massive that his dad had to pick him up, he learned that they were having lunch with Mr. Johnson. That led to the big moment, as described by O’Shea Jackson:

That’s probably how any 12 year old would react to having a moment with someone they idolize in the world of entertainment. This is also before some of Dwayne Johnson’s best movies had even been made, as this lunch’s presumed 2003 timeframe would have seen Johnson debuting The Rundown. Picture a contemporary 12 year old trying to speak with The Rock while eating a cheeseburger, and the result might still be something very similar to what was shared above.

Though O’Shea Jackson Jr. did happen to make a smooth move during his lunch with Dwayne Johnson. Despite freezing up in conversation, the young man was moved to snag himself a keepsake from this auspicious day, revealed in this further comment during that same interview: 

Being the star that he is now, it wouldn’t be all that surprising if some other celebrity’s kid had lunch with O’Shea Jackson Jr. and found themselves freezing up as he had so long ago. Though in this often cashless world we live in, one would have to get extra creative when it came to the souvenir they’d bring home. It’s all just a firm reminder that no matter how close you are to fame in this business, people can still be star struck in the right circumstances. 

You can catch O’Shea Jackson Jr. in his recent performance for Elizabeth Banks’ Cocaine Bear, as the film is currently streaming for those with a Prime Video subscription. Plus, the 2024 movie schedule has even more fun for fans, as Jackson’s return for Den of Thieves 2: Pantera is slated to debut at some point in the year to come. 

Animated movies like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem usually boast how they’ve scored an amazing cast of familiar voices you’ve heard. To say that director Jeff Rowe had achieved that same feat would be an understatement, as the voice talent for Paramount’s new reboot on the half shell is truly stacked. 

Whether you've seen the movie already or want to double check your assumptions on who's in the cast, we've got you covered. So if you thought you heard a familiar voice or two in this entry of the 2023 movie release schedule, then take a look at the list below and see if your instincts were right. 

Micah Abbey (Donatello)

With two episodes of Grey’s Anatomy, as well as the role of Leaf in Cousins For Life, under his belt, Micah Abbey landed the role of Donatello in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles family. Those experiences have helped Abbey’s portrayal, as his spot as the quick thinking genius of the group benefits from such performances.

Shamon Brown Jr. (Michelangelo)

Ever the prankster, Michelangelo is the class clown when it comes to these brothers in arms. Taking up that role is actor Shamon Brown Jr., who can be seen in the Showtime original series The Chi in the role of Papa. According to Variety, Brown will also be reprising his role as Michelangelo, along with his on-screen brothers, in the the upcoming series Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which will serve as the connective tissue to a greenlit sequel to Mutant Mayhem. 

Nicolas Cantu (Leonardo)

Actor Nicolas Cantu’s collection of roles ranges from the voice of Charlie on Netflix’s Skull Island to Elton on The Walking Dead: Worlds Beyond. With guest spots on Family Guy, The Rookie, and 9-1-1: Lone Star also in the mix, Cantu’s role as the de facto leader and occasional “narc” in the family comes with a lot of experience behind it. 

Brady Noon (Raphael)

Ever the hot head, Raphael is the Ninja Turtle you’d most likely get into a fight with. It’s ok, because his anger totally isn’t a problem; especially when it comes to Brady Noon’s colorful performance! Previously seen on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire as young Tommy Darmody, Noon has recently been a fixture for those with a Disney+ subscription thanks to playing Greg in the animated Diary of a Wimpy Kid movies and Evan Morrow from Mighty Ducks: Game Changers.

Ayo Edebiri (April O'Neil)

You might recognize the voice of April O’Neill in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem thanks to Ayo Edebiri’s previous voice work on Netflix’s Big Mouth. Or you might remember her as Sydney from FX’s The Bear. In either case, Ms. Edebiri has had an amazing run in her recent resume, preparing her to play the hard-hitting teenage journalist to great effect.

Jackie Chan (Splinter)

Traditionally, Splinter has been portrayed as both a master of martial arts and a concerned father. So tying those two factors together by casting Jackie Chan in the role is a pretty ingenious stroke when you think about it. A veteran of action/comedies like Rush Hour, Chan has also built a pretty impressive career in voice-overs through work in the Kung-Fu Panda movies, as well as The Lego Ninjago Movie. Though you may have also seen Jackie Chan in the flesh recently, thanks to the Netflix success of his movie Hidden Strike.

Ice Cube (Superfly)

It takes a villain as cunning, yet charming, as Superfly to terrorize the world of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. That’s exactly what audiences have gotten out of the experience thanks to rapper/actor Ice Cube playing this part with both of those qualities front and center. Cube made a name for himself through acting in the Friday and Barbershop franchises, as well as jumping in on the action/adventure thrill ride xXx: State of the Union. 

Giancarlo Esposito (Baxter Stockman)

Scientist Baxter Stockman isn’t as villainous as you’d think in Mutant Mayhem, as he doesn't turn into Superfly in this incarnation. (Despite that version of Stockman, from the 2012 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series, being pictured above.) This turn is just as shocking as learning that Giancarlo Esposito is the voice behind this fatherly presence. 

As Gus Fring on Breaking Bad and Moff Gideon on The Mandalorian, Esposito’s more menacing side got a true workout. However, there are more ruthless characters in this universe, some of which are connected to his work with “the ooze.”

Maya Rudolph (Cynthia Utrom)

Cynthia Utrom wants all of Baxter Stockman’s research, and she wants it now! The overarching antagonist who wants to milk the Turtles and capture all of Stockman’s creations, Cynthia’s unique voice comes from SNL vet Maya Rudolph. Also known for voice work in The Mitchells vs. The Machines' cast (which was co-directed/written by Mutant Mayhem’s Jeff Rowe), Rudolph is also notable for her role in Paul Feig’s comedy masterpiece Bridesmaids.

Seth Rogen (Bebop)

Speaking of Baxter Stockman’s experiments, they too have formed a superpowered family under the watchful eye of Superfly. One of the most iconic has to be Bebop, one half of a team that’s long terrorized the Turtles, but actually befriends them in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. Played by producer and co-writer Seth Rogen, this “permanent teenager” kicked off his acting career with Knocked Up, and has been in everything from Superbad to Steve Jobs since then.

John Cena (Rocksteady)

If you have Bebop, then you definitely need to have Rocksteady by his side. Completing this dynamic duo is an unlikely, but awesome scene partner: John Cena. Most recently seen in Barbie and Fast X, this WWE veteran is up for pretty much anything… even playing the live-action scene partner to Mutant Mayhem co-star Jackie Chan in that Netflix hit we discussed earlier, Hidden Strike!

Hannibal Buress (Genghis Frog)

Be it in his role as Coach Wilson in Spider-Man: Homecoming or as an exaggerated version of himself in The Eric Andre Show, Hannibal Buress is a fan favorite in the world of comedy. Taking on Genghis Frog is a perfect opportunity for his talents, as Buress’ deadpan delivery and comedic threats are a solid fit for this character’s role in Superfly’s gang.

Rose Byrne (Leatherhead)

An alligator with an attitude, Leatherhead is just as likely to threaten to bite you as she is to make you an onion-based treat that practically blooms on the table. Voiced by Rose Byrne, she’s yet another Bridesmaids cast member on the Mutant Mayhem team. Though you may have also seen her in live-action through the Peter Rabbit movies, as well as in Apple TV+’s Platonic with Seth Rogen.

Natasia Demetriou (Wingnut)

Depending on who you are, casting Natasia Demetriou as the batty Wingnut is either on the nose or clever casting. Thanks to her role as vampire/bat Nadja on What We Do In The Shadows, hearing a flying creature with Demetriou’s familiar voice is certainly going to have her fans recognizing her presence faster than you can say, “Bat!”

Post Malone (Ray Fillet)

Ray Fillet is a creature that loves to sing, and rightfully so, as Mutant Mayhem scored the talents of rapper Post Malone to give him those soulful melodies. Credited under his real name, Austin Post, Malone has also been featured in movies like Guy Ritchie’s Wrath of Man, as well as playing the role of Squeeb in the Netflix film Spenser Confidential. 

Paul Rudd (Mondo Gecko)

Don’t let the “introducing” credit fool you, as that scrappy up-and -omer Paul Rudd has been making a name for himself for some time. Appearing in various comedies like Clueless, and even Knocked Up with fellow mutant vocalist Seth Rogen, Rudd is probably best known as the MCU’s cinematic Ant-Man. Though, to be honest, Mondo Gecko’s vibes could put him in contest with Scott Lang for “best Paul Rudd role of all time.” 

With such a deep bench of talent in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, there are a lot of voices to recognize. So we’re glad to be able to help identify the lot, and keep you from racking your brain too hard over who’s who; as a lot of the lines throughout this exciting action/comedy were bound to ring some bells in the minds of all who have seen it. 

If you haven’t had a chance to experience the Mutant Mayhem for yourself, don’t worry. Turtle Power has returned to a theater near you, and will more than likely wind up as part of the perks to having a Paramount+ subscription at some point in the future. 

When legendary rapper Ice Cube was growing up, movies were powered by soundtracks. Some of the musical compilations ended up becoming more famous than the movies, from Footloose or the original Top Gun to Prince’s groundbreaking album, Purple Rain. But then, after a while, soundtracks started going away, and Cube knows the answer to why (he will explain more in a moment). But his latest movie to open in theaters, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, boasts an incredible banger of a soundtrack, with iconic hip-hop tracks like “No Diggity” from Blackstreet and the outstanding Tribe Called Quest with their hit “Can I Kick It?” But no music by Ice Cube. What’s up with that? 

We got a chance to speak with Ice Cube ahead of the release of the animated feature Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, in which he voices the main villain Superfly (and apparently cost the production more than was expected in rights fees thanks to his improv skills). And as he talked about all of the different reasons why TMNT is worth a trip to the movie theaters, we started talking about soundtracks, and the ones that he wore out as a kid. He told us:

Ice Cube mentions some of the stone cold classics. The Car Wash soundtrack that he mentioned came from the 1976 movie of the same name, and featured a number of popular songs by the artist Rose Royce. In addition, it would mix in dialogue from comedian Richard Pryor, and contributions from the Pointer Sisters. That album led to three Billboard R&B Top Ten singles: "Car Wash", "I Wanna Get Next to You", and "I'm Going Down.”

If you are an audience member of a certain age, you owned a movie soundtrack. Probably on a cassette. Maybe on a vinyl LP. So what happened to those days, when the movie soundtrack had the opportunity to produce songs that charted on radio and the Billboard rankings. Ice Cube has some insight, as someone with experience in the music business. When we asked him why movies stopped producing accompanying soundtracks, Ice Cube told us:

He isn’t exaggerating. Part of the fun of seeing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is listening to those vintage age tracks through the speakers in a Dolby auditorium. We talked about the power of the movie’s soundtrack in our official Turtles review. But we also celebrated the jokes that were worked into the screenplay by executive producer and writer Seth Rogen, and the chemistry of the kids hired to play the Turtles on screen. 

The story of the summer recently has been Barbenheimer, and how the two films Barbie and Oppenheimer have dominated audience participation and cleaned up at the box office. Wr will be curious to see if Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem or any of the other upcoming 2023 movies can cut into the success of that double feature, and steal some of the attention back.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are easily amongst the most recognizable characters within the pop culture zeitgeist. An aspect of their characterizations that makes them unique from a lot of other fictional heroes is that they’re obviously not human. However, for some time now, fans have posed a theory regarding their depictions. A number of people hold the belief that if the four fun-loving, pizza-eating siblings were human, they’d be African American. It’s an assumption with plenty of implications, and Mutant Mayhem star Ice Cube weighed in on it. 

Ice Cube voices the villainous Superfly in the upcoming 2023 new movie release and, with that, he’s seemingly been able to get in touch with the lore surrounding the iconic characters. However, he seemed surprised when asked for his thoughts on the idea that the turtles would be Black if they had human skin. Based on his comments, he doesn’t necessarily buy into the thinking. Not only that, but he also believes the characters themselves would have something to say about it:

It’s true that mutants are essentially their own race of beings. Within TMNT lore, there are some characters who began life as humans before being transformed, such as Baxter Stockman and Mondo Gecko. Yet others – like the turtles – were simply animals and after being transformed, forged their personalities partially based on their surroundings. So Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello and Raphael are (partially) who they are because of the pop culture they consumed. (And of course, Master Splinter’s tutelage also factors in.)

This is a tricky discussion, due to the fact that one ideally shouldn’t assign characteristics or labels based on preconceived societal and cultural notions. Ice Cube makes a fair point in that the young ninjas probably believe they’re in a league of their own. While speaking with UNILAD, the witty 54-year-old musician shared more humorous thoughts:

Interestingly, BOOM! Studios released a comic earlier this year that seemed to add credibility to the notion regarding the four heroes’ ethnicity. A TMNT/ Mighty Morphin Power Rangers crossover saw the quartet don holographic human disguises. Said tech allowed the teens to present themselves as young African Americans. While some may not be sure how to feel about that, a plethora of fans expressed delight over the development. 

At present though, plenty of franchise devotees seem excited about Mutant Mayhem, which counts Seth Rogen as a producer. And the trailers suggest this Ninja Turtles production is a Rogen movie through and through, even down to the A+ Shrek joke. The film sees the novice adventurers looking to be accepted by the human population of New York City. In trying to do so, they get on the bad side of Superfly and his army of mutants. (Sorry guys, Shredder was deleted from this film.) So far, the movie looks exciting and gives off serious Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse vibes. 

It’s doubtful that this latest theatrical outing for the franchise will reference the race theory surrounding the turtles. Nevertheless, some subtext regarding acceptance and tolerance wouldn’t be out of the question. I’m intrigued to see how the story plays out. And I’ll be sure to remain respectful to the mutant society Ice Cube mentions when I finally share my thoughts.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem opens in theaters on August 2.

It’s been about a week since SAG-AFTRA officially called for an actors strike, and it’s been sending additional shockwaves throughout Hollywood along with the 2023 WGA Writers Strike raging on too. But as it turns out, not every major actor is sitting things out to walk the picket line, as we’ve learned that stars such as Jenna Ortega, Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway and more have been given the go-ahead to resume work on their projects thanks to a loophole of sorts. 

On Wednesday, a list of productions were released by SAG-AFTRA that have signed an “interim agreement” with the Screen Actors Guild that allows certain productions to resume work without violating the strike order. These productions that have signed the interim agreement and are posted on the site are reportedly completely independent – meaning they are not operating under a studio contract. Currently, 45 projects are on that list. 

Among the productions that were approved are projects that star some major movie stars. Death of a Unicorn for one, is an A24 film that is set to star Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega as a father and daughter who accidentally run over a unicorn on their way home. The movie was set to start shooting in Hungary from a script by Alex Scharfman, who is also directing, and now will continue to do so. A24 is not part of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which SAG-AFTRA has been in negotiations with, therefore many of the studios productions could resume as scheduled. 

Another movie of note that's been greenlit to continue production is The Rivals of Amziah King, a crime thriller starring Matthew McConaughey, since it's being fully financed by Black Bear Pictures. Additionally, there's David Lowery’s Mother Mary, another A24 movie, where Anne Hathaway will play a fictional musician and Michaela Coel will co-star as an iconic fashion designer. The movie has been described as an “epic pop melodrama” and is being financed by A24 and Topic Studios.

Other movies set to remain in production amidst the actors strike is Owen Wilson’s action comedy Bride Hard, a movie called Dust Bunny starring Mads Mikkelsen and Sigourney Weaver, and another action comedy called The Killer’s Game with Sofia Boutella, Scott Adkins, Dave Bautista, Ben Kingsley, and Ice Cube. Additionally, the upcoming horror movie The Watchers, which is set to star Dakota Fanning and be the directorial feature debut of M. Night Shyamalan’s daughter Ishana Shyamalan, is also set to still roll cameras. 

As actors like Mandy Moore have spoken out from the picket line about not getting residuals for their work, and one report about studios trying to get AI likenesses reminded us too much of a recent Black Mirror episode, it sounds like the independent movie space is getting a chance to resume work as usual at least. Stay tuned for more updates.

Kanye West has made headlines more than a few times over the course of his career but, near the end of 2022, he found himself in the news cycle for less-than-positive reasons. The rapper went viral after sharing antisemitic social media posts and courted controversy again when he doubled down on his sentiments during a podcast appearance. West subsequently experienced a wave of backlash, which resulted in him losing a number of his corporate partnerships. Other notable names in the music industry have since weighed in with varied thoughts, and Ice Cube is one of the latest to respond. When asked how West is currently doing, the Friday alum alleged that he’s in “a good space” right now. 

The 54-year-old actor and rapper – whose real name is O’Shea Jackson – has been friends with Ye for years now. They have, however, had their share of pitfalls, and that detail was mentioned during Jackson’s appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored. Morgan went on to mention that the two are now in “good shape,” and the N.W.A. icon agreed with that assessment. Jackson also confirmed that he and the “Jesus Walks” rapper did indeed meet up recently and clarified why he was recently at odds with him: 

Ice Cube was called out by Kanye West amid the height of the latter’s antisemitic-based controversy. West claimed that Cube “influenced’ his views, enticing him to “get on this antisemite vibe.” The Barbershop star eventually clapped back on social media and expressed disappointment that his name was dragged into the “bullshit.” He asked that West “please leave my name out” of the conversation, as he’s “not antisemitic and never have been.” However, Cube has been accused of sharing inflammatory statements about Jewish people on multiple occasions throughout the years.

Both men seemed to be in good spirits when they crossed paths in California back in June, and paparazzi even snapped pictures of them hugging it out. As for how Ye is doing when it comes to personal life, the Grammy winner said that he’s doing well. Though he also opined that he’s still working through some business issues: 

In October 2022, Kanye West took to Twitter to share a few posts and, in one, he spoke about having a desire to “death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE.” He shared more blunt statements on an episode of the Drink Champs Podcast (which has since been removed). While there, West mused that he “can say anti-Semitic things, and Adidas can’t drop me. Now what?” A former associate recently accused West of making more derogatory comments while expressing anger over a financial loss. When reflecting on his own experience hearing the earlier statements, Ice Cube said the following: 

In the aftermath, Adidas spoke out and confirmed that it had dissolved its Yeezy partnership with Ye. CAA, Balenciaga, Gap and Def Jam later severed ties with him as well. The music mogul later opened up about having been “beat to a pulp” from a business standpoint after making the statements. He said earlier this year that Jonah Hill’s 21 Jump Street (which coincidentally stars Ice Cube as well) made him “like Jewish people again.” After everything that’s happened, the road ahead for West is uncertain but, at the very least, it sounds like Cube wants to see him improve.

It's been almost a decade since the TMNT graced the silver screen, with the last movies to star the crime-fighting sewer dwellers being the poorly received Michael Bay-produced duology. But die-hard turtle fans can get excited because we don’t have much longer to wait for the reptile brother’s next big screen adventure. The heroes in a half shell are officially on the 2023 new movies schedule, with Seth Rogen’s animated reboot , Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, right around the corner. And if that weren't exciting enough, Rogen just officially announced his cast, and it's putting heavy hitters like Jackie Chan and Paul Rudd in totally tubular roles. Cowabunga!

Producer and actor Seth Rogen took the stage on Saturday, March 4, during the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards, to introduce the world to the fresh-faced turtle team voiced by Micah Abbey (Donatello), Shamon Brown Jr. (Michelangelo), Nicolas Cantu (Leonardo), and Brady Noon (Raphael) while also revealing the major A-Listers set for key roles. It was confirmed that beloved Hong Kong actor and martial arts icon Jackie Chan is set to play the turtle mentor Splinter, Rogen will play the mutagen-injected warthog henchman Bebop, and the age-defying Paul Rudd will lend his voice to Mondo Gecko. For the complete cast list, see below:

• Nicolas Cantu as Leonardo
• Micah Abbey as Donatello
• Shamon Brown Jr. as Michelangelo
• Brady Noon as Raphael 
• Jackie Chan as Splinter 
• Ayo Edebiri as April O’Neil 
• Hannibal Buress as Genghis Frog
• Rose Byrne as Leatherhead 
• Seth Rogen as Bebop 
• John Cena as Rocksteady 
• Ice Cube as Superfly 
• Natasia Demetriou as Wingnut 
• Giancarlo Esposito as Baxter Stockman
• Post Malone as Ray Fillet 
• Paul Rudd as Mondo Gecko 
• Maya Rudolph as Cynthia Utrom

What’s notable about this casting announcement is the creative team’s decision not to include the most iconic Turtle villain, Shredder -- and to highlight some of the lesser-known foes, like Wingnut and Ray Fillet. And the inclusions of fun characters such the skateboard-loving Mondo Gecko will make this version of the Turtles stand out from past cinematic incarnations. Stars like Jackie Chan (who's perfectly cast), Ayo Edebiri and John Cena should also help to breathe fresh new life into some of the series' classic characters.

The casting news wasn’t the only exciting information from Rogen’s announcement. It was revealed that the teaser trailer for the highly anticipated film will premiere on the TMNT Movie Socials and Paramount Pictures’ YouTube channel this Monday, March 6. It’s going to be a good day for Turtle fans!

While the plot of the latest flick to center on the world’s most fearsome fighting team was relatively under wraps. What we now know for sure about TMNT: Mutant Mayhem (amongst other details) is that it will center around the team after years of being sheltered from the human world, setting out to win the hearts of New Yorkers until they bite off a bit more than they can chew. The teen ninjas will come face to face with a mysterious crime syndicate that unleashes an army of mutants for them to face off against.

If this cast wasn’t enough to get me excited, Seth Rogen, a self-proclaimed lifelong TMNT fanboy, said that the music has a Tony Hawk connection that gets me so pumped for this new interpretation of the team. It feels like Rogen and his collaborators have put a lot of thought into this production as evidenced by the castings and sweet Easter eggs. I can't wait to hear what he, Jackie Chan, Paul Rudd and co. have in store!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem was directed by one-half of the team that helmed the critically acclaimed Netflix feature The Mitchells vs. the Machines and is set to release in cinemas on August 4, 2023. While you wait for its release, check out our ranking of the Ninja Turtles movies.

The original Friday was a hit comedy that solidified Ice Cube as a force in Hollywood and introduced the world to Chris Tucker, who only recently revealed why he did not return for the sequels. Its success spawned a pair of sequels but while most modern franchises would be at an endpoint with a trilogy, Ice Cube has wanted to make a fourth entry in the series. In order to make that film he’s hoping to gain control of the franchise, but there are some issues. Unsurprisingly, those issues come down to studio problems and money.

In an appearance on the Hotboxin’ Podcast with Mike Tyson, Ice Cube discussed the current state of the Friday franchise. The last film in the series was released in 2005 and Cube has been trying to make a fourth film, expected to be called Last Friday since that time. Unfortunately the franchise has been stagnant. Cube explains that what he would like is for Warner Bros. to just let him control the franchise, but that doesn’t seem likely, at least at the moment, because WB is “weird right now.” Ice Cube says…

It’s difficult to argue that Warner Bros. is “weird right now. Following the merger with Discovery plenty has changed at the studio. We’ve seen movies like Batgirl, that were nearly completed cancelled. A lot of changes are happening at the streaming service and the movie studio. If it’s difficult to get a meeting to talk about a potential Friday sequel, that’s not necessarily a shock.

Theoretically, that could be all the more reason to just let Ice Cube do his thing with Friday. Perhaps he could do something with it, which is, in theory better than doing nothing. WB might even be willing to just sell Ice Cube the rights to the series, but he says he’s not interested in that. He already sees Friday as his, so he doesn’t believe he should pay for it now. He continues,

It’s been 20 years since the last Friday, but with the number of legacy sequels that we’ve seen that have brought new life to franchises decades later, the time that’s passed certainly doesn’t mean there is zero chance of a fourth Friday film. It’s not sounding like something that is likely to happen right now, but things could change at any point. 

Sad news hit the world last night when the untimely passing of Coolio at age 59 was announced. An award-winning rap icon, the man inspired his fans, and left some beautiful pop culture moments along the way. Today, the entertainment world is paying its respects, as Ice Cube, Weird Al, and others have posted loving tributes for Coolio. 

Starting things off, actor and fellow rapper Ice Cube tweeted his condolences. He honored the rapper by including some context of how he knew Coolio in reference to his own musical career, in the following bittersweet post:

Of course, with one of Coolio’s biggest hits being “Gangsta’s Paradise,” there were two parties that the world was likely expecting to see tributes from. Weird Al Yankovic was one of those people, as his song parody “Amish Paradise” became a huge hit in its own right, despite not having the original artist’s approval. The matter was eventually squashed, leaving Coolio and Weird Al as friendly parties; a fact remembered in Yankovic’s own tribute below: 

Parody aside, this iconic Coolio track became popular in the first place because of its creation for the 1995 drama Dangerous Minds. “Gangsta’s Paradise” was the hit single from the film’s soundtrack, and even won Coolio several awards, including a Grammy. 

Michelle Pfeiffer starred in the music video, and the film. The experience is something she discusses in her Instagram post bidding her former co-star a fond farewell: 

Known as somewhat of an actor himself. Also known by the name Artis Leon Ivey Jr., the rapper played many parts in movies and TV shows. There was even a point where Coolio was almost a Batman villain, thanks to a deal made to secure his performance in Batman and Robin. Part of his acting experience is what brought All That veteran Kel Mitchell to social media, as he shared the story of how he met Coolio during his guest spot on the Nickelodeon show: 

It’s also worth noting that should you take a nostalgic trip to revisit Nickelodeon’s classic sitcom Kenan and Kel, Coolio was an important part of that project as well. No matter what opportunities presented themselves in front of the camera, or in the recording booth, as was the case with animated series like Futurama, music was still what made Coolio truly iconic. Celebrity admirers like Viola Davis tweeted memories that signaled just as much:

Also on hand to pay tribute to Coolio’s passing was musician and actor Questlove from The Roots. One of 2022’s Academy Award winners, he shared a very simple message of condolences through Twitter that showed nothing but love and appreciation: 

Closing things off is a tweet from actor Lou Diamond Phillips. Most recently known for his role on the Fox drama and fan favorite show Prodigal Son, Phillips took time to lay out a story of how his friendship with Coolio led to some special memories: 

The passing of Coolio is one that is still being felt throughout the world. We here at CinemaBlend send our deepest condolences to the late music icon’s friends and family, as they navigate this period of grief and remembrance.

Talks of a new Friday sequel have been bubbling since the release of Friday After Next in 2002. Franchise lead and rap legend Ice Cube has been eager to make a follow-up for years. Unfortunately, the franchise’s home New Line Cinema seemed to be the obstacle in getting another film made after an unproductive meeting between the producers and the studio. Since talks cooled in 2016, there haven’t been any new developments on the Friday front. While a fourth film has gone dormant, there might be a reboot in the works, according to a comedian’s alleged conversation with Friday veteran Chris Tucker.

Words of an alleged reboot sprung up while Wild ‘N Out’s DC Young Fly was interviewed on the Fox Sports podcast Club Shay Shay. The alleged conversation came up as ESPN host Shannon Sharp brought up Ice Cube trying to get another film made. Sharp pointed out the comedian has been pushing for a new franchise entry as well. That’s when the multihyphenate spilled what the Rush Hour actor reportedly said about his possible return to the comedy franchise.

His claims may have been true as he kept reiterating the comedic actor won’t join a possible sequel unless the comedian plays his son. Of course, the First Take host was aiming for a spot in the alleged revival. This led to the Almost Christmas actor mentioning the Pro Football Hall of Famer could take over Terry Crew’s role from Friday After Next. He even mentioned wanting to do more movies with attention toward more dramas after appearing in the Starz crime drama BMF.

Chris Tucker’s alleged words marked a shift in attitude toward the beloved franchise. He revealed he never came back for a sequel due to his character Smokey’s weed usage. He quelled those rumors of onset friction and money issues. The latter resurfaced as Faizon Love claimed he didn’t return for the Friday sequel due to being underpaid, which the Ride Along actor later responded to. The Money Talks actor might allegedly be ready to reprise his role as the stoner icon.

Trying to get a sequel (or reboot?) made has been a long hard road for the comedy franchise. Along with Tucker’s “will-he-or-won’t-he” stance, one significant obstacle has been a series of losses. The cast lost Ice Cube’s movie dad John Witherspoon in 2019. Tiny Lister allegedly succumbed to COVID-19 in 2020 with AJ Johnson passing away in 2021.

Doing a Friday reboot wouldn’t be out of the comedian’s wheelhouse. He popped up in a sequel to another stoner comedy classic How High in 2019 alongside rapper Lil Yachty. Of course, he is poised to be in a remake of the cult classic House Party later this year. Right now, the reboot is just speculation as neither Chris Tucker nor Ice Cube have backed up the claim.

In the meantime, you can watch the entire Friday franchise by getting an HBO Max subscription.

For decades, the world has known Ice Cube for decades as a prolific rapper, a high-grossing movie star, and a successful media mogul. For today's rap stars, his career has served as the blueprint for crossing into other entertainment ventures. As viewers know, he started as one-fifth of the seminal West Coast rap group N.W.A. before leaping to film with Boyz n the Hood. Of course, it was the cult classic Friday that shot him to Hollywood superstardom. While music and movie stardom have paid off for him, it turns out the legendary hip-hop star's career could’ve gone in a wildly different direction.

The Barbershop star opened up about the alternate career path he could've taken during an interview Architectural Digest. Apparently, before N.W.A.’s seminal album, Straight Outta Compton, dropped, Ice Cube (whose birth name is O'Shea Jackson) was preparing for life as a college co-ed. The multihyphenate mentioned he had enrolled at Phoenix Institute of Technology to get his college degree. But his courses weren’t related to music or film:

Who would’ve thought Ice Cube had an interest in architecture? Of course, his tale isn't too unusual, as many college students have found themselves signing up for classes at the last possible minute. While it was all about choosing the lesser of two evils for the rap icon, the drafting class wasn’t a complete bust. As he later explained, it taught him a valuable lesson:

Taking the principle of architectural design and applying it to his entertainment career proved to be a genius move on his part. Any structure must have a plan before construction can commence and, oftentimes, there are multiple phases a building must go through before even ground can even be broken. Apparently, the entertainer wanted that type of structure in his quest for superstardom.

It goes without saying that having structure has proven to be valuable in Ice Cube’s multifaceted career. The rap legend has been making huge contributions to movies for years by displaying all of his talents. He's also produced many of the movies that he's starred in. But for many, the Friday franchise remains arguably his biggest contribution to cinema, and he's eager to make another movie in the series. Though the project has faced setbacks, like Chris Tucker's decision not to return as fan-favorite character Smokey.

Ice Cube may have been great at designing homes or repurposing a local downtown areas, but I'm glad that we have his body of work. Right now, it’s unclear what he has coming up since he exited his buddy comedy with Jack Black, Oh Hell No, with Jack Black. As you wait for updates on his next project, check out what's going on with this year’s upcoming movies.

Friday has kept its cult classic status for almost three decades. One of the main reasons for this is because of the supporting cast backing lead Ice Cube, most notably fan-favorite Chris Tucker. Unfortunately, Tucker’s drug-dealing Smokey hasn’t made another appearance since the first film. For years, rumors have been swirling about why the Rush Hour star never returned for any Friday sequels. After years of speculation, he's revealed the real reason he stepped away from the comedy franchise.

Chris Tucker shot to film stardom by playing the hilarious sidekick to Ice Cube’s jobless Craig. The two actors displayed an incredible dynamic onscreen. But after the film’s success, Tucker chose not to reprise his breakout role. Rumors from onscreen friction to money issues were cited as reasons for the Silver Linings Playbook star not coming back. After years of hearsay, Tucker opened up to the Flix Talk podcast about what led to him passing on Next Friday, saying:

Given Smokey’s status as a certified stoner, the Fifth Element star didn’t seem comfortable being the face of stoner culture. It’s a heavy burden to be the representative of a movement especially if the character is fictional. Chris Tucker understood how impactful Smokey was on pop culture, and his lines and scenes were amongst the comedy’s most memorable.

Chris Tucker also might’ve been fighting to keep from being typecast. Having that stigma attached to him could’ve kept him from gaining other roles. Unfortunately, in Hollywood, a breakout role can be a ticket to superstardom but can also pigeonhole the performer. At that point, Friday was his Tucker's third film. He wanted the chance to show Hollywood his range as an actor.

In retrospect, Chris Tucker was correct in his approach. From 1995 to 1997, he starred in a wide range of films, including Dead Presidents, The Fifth Element, Jackie Brown and the first Rush Hour. While playing Smokey helped launch Tucker’s film career, he wanted to be more than a drug-dealing stoner.

In recent years, Chris Tucker’s film appearances have been sporadic as he concentrated more on his stand-up comedy career. The last film he appeared in was 2016’s Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk. Hopefully Tucker will return to the big screen someday. Just don’t expect him to reprise the fan-favorite character in any Friday sequels. Of course, he wasn't the first star to back away to the franchise.

If you want to see Chris Tucker in his breakout role, you can check out Friday on HBO Max.

The Friday franchise has an appeal that spans multiple generations. Seeing Craig trying to survive one day after getting fired led to some funny and sobering moments. But those sobering moments seemingly extended beyond the set. Actor-comedian Faizon Love recently spilled he was underpaid for participating in the original film. After getting wind of the news, Craig himself Ice Cube felt it was necessary to respond to Love’s claims by revealing his take about what transpired during the filming of the cult classic.

The High Note star felt the need to defend the film’s legacy from his former co-star’s claims. It all began when Love revealed he was only paid $2,500 for playing the standout character Big Worm in the original Friday. After the news went viral, fans began antagonizing Ice Cube about the revelation. The Ride Along star didn’t like the narrative being spun so he took to Twitter to reveal some details about the 1995 comedy.

The rap legend seemed fed up with moviegoers coming after him for issues usually handled by the studio. As the 21 Jump Street star mentioned, Love and other cast members could’ve turned down their roles if they felt the pay wasn’t enough at the time. Faizon Love’s pay on the cult classic seemed to align with its production budget, scale minimums, and the shooting schedule.

At the time Friday was filmed, comedies featuring predominately Black casts weren’t as prevalent. The budget for the flick wasn't super high and New Line was only going to pay what they felt the cast was worth, which was enough to make a low budget comedy. Fortunately for everyone involved, the comedy became a commercial and critical success as well as a cultural phenomenon. It went on to gross $27 million and spawned two successful sequels.

For Faizon Love’s part, he admitted to being happy about the part as it was his first Hollywood gig. Love did reveal he was asked to participate in Next Friday but turned down the offer. He alleged New Line Cinema was only willing to pay him $5,000 despite the first film’s success. But there was no love lost between the comedian and Ice Cube as he took to Instagram to clear the air.

This misunderstanding was just the latest news to plague the beloved comedy. Within the last year, two original Friday stars – Tiny Lister and AJ Johnson – passed away unexpectedly. While Johnson’s cause of death was never revealed, Lister died from complications related to heart disease after it was initially suspected COVID-19 claimed his life. Their deaths followed the passing of John Witherspoon in 2019.

It seems the dispute has been rectified between Faizon Love and Ice Cube now. With the drama now over, fans of the original Friday can relive their favorite lines and scenes by streaming it on HBO Max and Peacock.

Disney+’s The Mandalorian has been one of the most successful pieces of Star Wars content to arrive since the Mouse bought Lucasfilm. Unlike the most recent movies, fans are in near total agreement that The Mandalorian has been good, so it probably isn’t much of a shock to see the concept get parodied in a new music video that features Snoop Dogg in Mandalorian armor. 

A new music video by rap supergroup Mount Westmore for the song “Big Subwoofer” includes some major star power as both Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube lend their talents to the song. However, even non-rap fans are likely going to want to check out the video at least once, as it includes a variety of science fiction references, including Snoop Dogg flying his own version of the Razor Crest, and in full armor that looks familiar, though the color scheme is certainly original. Check out the video, though be aware that between the language and a less-than-subtle Total Recall reference, this is very NSFW. 

There are a lot more than just Star Wars references to be found in the “Big Subwoofer” video. As mentioned, there’s a callout to Total Recall, as one of the female dancers clearly has more than the traditional number of breasts, and the video leaves about as much to the imagination as the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie did. There are also dancers meant to remind us of the Na’vi from Avatar. 

Two of the three major locations for the video are obviously meant to make us think of Star Wars. One is a non-descript alien world. But the video also takes place in a cantina, reminiscent of of the original Star Wars, and on board Snoop’s spacecraft. It's certainly different enough from the Razor Crest, but with a guy in armor flying it, it makes it easy enough to make the connection. 

But the highlight of the video is, without question, Snoop Dogg’s Mandalorian armor. It’s a perfect replica that any cosplayer would love to get their hands on. And it’s stylized in a way that makes it look perfect on Snoop. He’s even got the helmet, though he never puts it on, which is a tragedy. 

Snoop even has a couple of cool personalized elements in the armor. The right shoulder, where the Mandalorian has his personal crest, Snoop has a stylized SD to display. He’s also sporting a very cool 213 badge on the front of his armor, which is written in a style that resembles the Star Wars alphabet of Aurebesh. The numbers are a reference to the original area code for Long Beach, CA, Snoop’s home town.

I feel like now we need a Snoop Dogg cameo in Season 3 of The Mandalorian. Probably not in this armor, I suppose it wouldn’t feel quite right, but Snoop as a Mandalorian clearly works.

Personally, it's hard to believe that we’re approaching the 10-year reunion for 21 Jump Street, 2012’s surprisingly fresh, funny big-screen reimagining of the once-famous ‘80s show of the same name. Starring Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill, who also co-wrote the film, and continuing the steady rise of directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller, this R-rated comedy was a raunchy riot, and its sequel, 22 Jump Street, also proved to be an entertaining revamping. Now that we’re nine years removed from the hit movie, the 21 Jump Street cast keeps proving their talents in a multitude of projects. Let’s take a look and see what they’re doing right now. 

Jonah Hill (Morton Schmidt) 

As Morton Schmidt, a smart-headed but socially awkward police officer who must pose as a high school student in order to track the rising spread of a synthetic drug, Jonah Hill co-wrote and starred in 21 Jump Street. He later reprised this role in 22 Jump Street. Most notably, Hill received two Oscar nominations for his supporting turns in Moneyball and The Wolf of Wall Street. His other notable film credits include Superbad, Knocked Up, War Dogs, This is the End, Hail Caesar!, Cyrus, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Django Unchained, Get Him to the Greek, and The Beach Bum. Also, the actor is heard in the How to Train Your Dragon films, The Lego Movie, Horton Hears a Who!, Sausage Party, and Megamind. Additionally, on the small screen, Hill starred in Netflix's Maniac. Most recently, he guest-starred on an episode of HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm. 

As a screenwriter, Jonah Hill co-wrote Why Him? He also wrote, produced, and directed mid90s. Additionally, Hill produced Richard Jewell and Apple TV+’s Beastie Boys Story. The actor was also seen in Adidas Originals: Superstar - Change Is a Team Sport. Next, Hill will co-write, produce, and star in Kenya Barris’ untitled Netflix comedy, which will premiere sometime next year. 

Channing Tatum (Greg Jenko)

In the role of Greg Jenko, a popular jock-turned-down-on-his-luck police officer who infiltrates a local high school through a revamped program, Channing Tatum proved his unsuspecting comedy skills in Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s 21 and 22 Jump Street. Following his breakthrough performance in Step Up, the actor was quick to impress with star turns in Magic Mike, Magic Mike XXL, Foxcatcher, Logan Lucky, and Side Effects. Tatum’s other film credits include The Vow, Dear John, the G.I. Joe movies, Haywire, White House Down, Jupiter Ascending, The Hateful Eight, Kingsman: The Golden Circle, and Hail, Caesar! Furthermore, he's heard in Smallfoot, The Book of Life, and The LEGO Movies.

Most recently, Channing Tatum was seen in Free Guy and heard in Netflix’s America: The Motion Picture. Next, the actor will make his directorial debut with 2022's Dog, which he’ll also produce and star in. Additionally, Tatum will be seen in The Lost City of D and Pussy Island. He’ll also produce and star in Wingmen. 

Brie Larson (Molly Tracey)

Playing the part of Molly Tracey, a sociable high school student who befriends our undercover cops, Brie Larson was the female lead in 21 Jump Street. Most notably, the actress won an Oscar for her star-making performance in Room. Larson was also acclaimed for Short Term 12, The Glass Castle, Just Mercy, and The Spectacular Now. Additionally, she plays Carol Danvers, i.e. Captain Marvel, in several MCU movies, including Captain Marvel and Avengers: Endgame. Larson’s other notable film credits include Trainwreck, Don Jon, Kong: Skull Island, The Gambler, Rampart, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, 13 Going on 30, Hoot, and Greenberg. Furthermore, Larson directed, produced, and starred in Netflix’s Unicorn Store. 

Recently, Brie Larson won an Emmy for The Messy Truth VR Experience. She also played Kate Gregson on Showtime’s United States of Tara. Additionally, Larson’s other TV credits include Community, Raising Dad, and Kroll Show. Currently, the actress is filming The Marvels. Furthermore, Larson is expected to star in and executive produce Apple TV+’s Lessons in Chemistry and Netflix’s Lady Business. 

Dave Franco (Eric Molson)

As Eric Molson, a popular drug dealer at Sagan High School, Dave Franco plays a secondary antagonist in Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s 21 Jump Street. He later reprised his role in 22 Jump Street. Following this performance, Franco’s profile continued to rise with his work in the Neighbors movies, the Now You See Me films, The Disaster Artist, If Beale Street Could Talk, Nerve, Unfinished Business, Warm Bodies, 6 Underground, and The Little Hours. Additionally, the actor can be seen in Superbad, Charlie St. Cloud, Fright Night, Milk, and Greenberg and he can be heard in The LEGO Movie and its 2017 spin-off, The LEGO Ninjago Movie. 

Furthermore, on television, Dave Franco starred in the final season of ABC’s Scrubs. He can also be seen in Greek, Privileged, and Do Not Disturb. Last year, Franco made his directorial debut with The Rental, which he also produced and co-wrote. He also produced Zola. Currently, Franco is directing Somebody I Used to Know, which he also co-wrote and will produce. As an actor, he’ll be seen in Apple TV+’s The Afterparty and Netflix’s Day Shift. 

Rob Riggle (Mr. Walters)

In the role of Mr. Walters, Sagan High School’s odd gym teacher with nefarious dealings, Rob Riggle proved to be the true antagonist in 21 Jump Street. He also provided a cameo in 22 Jump Street. Best known for his work as a correspondent on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Riggle has forged a fine career as a reliable funnyman, especially in Modern Family, SNL, NTSF:SD:SUV::., Human Giant, Gary Unmarried, Wilfred, New Girl, Funny or Die Presents, and Angie Tribeca, to name only a few shows. He can also be heard in American Dad!, Golan the Insatiable, and The Cleveland Show. Currently, Riggle hosts ABC’s Holey Moley. Next, he'll lend his voice to Netflix's My Dad the Bounty Hunter. 

Additionally, Rob Riggle’s other film credits include Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, The Hangover, Furry Vengeance, Larry Crowne, Dumb and Dumber To, Night School, Step Brothers, The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard, The Other Guys, The Internship, and Absolutely Anything. Most recently, he was seen in The War with Grandpa. Next, Riggle will be heard in The Ark and the Aardvark.

Ice Cube (Captain Dickson)

Playing the part of Captain Dickson, the intensely aggressive leader of the police force, Ice Cube often stole the show in Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s 21 and 22 Jump Street. Best known for his involvement in N.W.A., which resulted in the legendary album, Straight Outta Compton, the musician-turned-actor began his movie career with a supporting turn in Boyz n the Hood. From there, Cube appeared in Anaconda, Three Kings, Higher Learning, Ghosts of Mars, Torque, and Rampart. He also wrote and starred in the Friday movies. Additionally, Cube starred in xXx: State of the Union and Barbershop, later producing and starring in the latter's sequels. The actor also starred in and produced Are We There Yet?, Are We Done Yet?, the Ride Along movies, The Longshots, and First Sunday.

Additionally, Ice Cube wrote, produced, and starred in All About the Benjamins and he wrote, directed, produced, and starred in The Players Club. His other starring credits include Fist Fight and last year's The High Note. Next, Ice Cube will star in War of the Worlds. He's also trying to make Last Friday. Most recently, it was announced that Cube would team up Jack Black for next year's Oh Hell No.

Ellie Kemper (Ms. Griggs)

As Ms. Griggs, a teacher who harbors a not-very-subtle crush on Jenko, Ellie Kemper played a smitten character in 21 Jump Street. Most notably, the actress received two Emmy nominations for her titular role in Netflix’s Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Additionally, Kemper is well-known for playing Erin Hannon in NBC’s The Office. Furthermore, she can be seen in The Mindy Project. As a voice actress, moreover, Kemper can be heard in We Bare Bears and Sofia the First.

Away from TV, Ellie Kemper is best known for playing Becca in Bridesmaids. She can also be seen in Sex Tape, Laggies, They Came Together, Somewhere, Identity Thief, Get Him to the Greek, and Mystery Team. Additionally, as a voice actress, Kemper can be heard in The Secret Life of Pets 1 & 2, Smurfs: The Lost Village, The LEGO Batman Movie, and We Bare Bears: The Movie. Most recently, she was seen in The Stand-In. Next, Kemper will star in Disney+’s Home Sweet Home Alone. Currently, the movie actress is filming Netflix’s Happiness for Beginners. 

Chris Parnell (Mr. Gordon)

In the role of Mr. Gordon, Sagan High School’s drama teacher, Chris Parnell had a supporting part in Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s 21 Jump Street. Most notably, he's known for his time on NBC’s SNL. Additionally, Parnell is recognized for his recurring role in NBC’s 30 Rock. As a voice actor, he was heard in FXX’s Archer as Cyril Figgis and Adult Swim’s Rick & Morty as Jerry Smith. Parnell can also be heard in American Dad, Family Guy, The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show, and WordGirl. Recently, he appeared in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend. Next, Parnell is expected to be heard in Netflix’s Dogs in Space.

Away from TV, Chris Parnell’s other film credits include Hot Rod, the Anchorman movies Sisters, The Five-Year Engagement, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, Down with Love, The Ladies Man, Battle of the Sexes, and The Ridiculous Six. He can also be heard in the Hotel Transylvania movies. Next, Parnell will be seen in Senior Year and Disney+’s Home Sweet Home Alone.

Dax Flame (Zack)

Playing the part of Zack, Jenko’s friend, Dax Flame provided an explosive part in 21 and 22 Jump Street. Prior to this performance, he first came into prominence through his popular YouTube channel. Later, Flame appeared in Project X, The Watch, and Another Evil. Following that last title, the internet personality stepped away from acting in order to pursue other projects. Most recently, Flame co-directed, produced, and edited 2019’s documentary, Indoor Garden. He was also the subject of the documentary, Ice Cream Man. Last year, Flame hosted his talk show, Smoothie Madness. The actor keeps an active presence on his channel. 

DeRay Davis (Domingo)

As Domingo, the leader of the One Percenters, DeRay Davis played a major antagonist in Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s 21 Jump Street. Currently, the actor plays a recurring role as Peaches in FX’s Snowfall. Also, Davis played a recurring role as R.J. in ABC’s My Wife and Kids. His other TV credits include Reno 911! and Empire. Additionally, Davis can be heard in The Boondocks and Black Dynamite.

Furthermore, away from television, DeRay Davis played Ray in the Barbershop movies. His other film credits include Meet the Blacks, Jumping the Broom, Life As We Know It, Old Dogs, Imagine That, Semi-Pro, Scary Movie 4, Johnson Family Vacation, The Fog, School for Scoundrels, Code Name: The Cleaner, License to Wed, Get Him to the Greek, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Drumline: A New Beat, Starship Troopers: Traitor of Mars, and How High 2. Most recently, Davis starred in Gully. 

Nick Offerman (Deputy Chief Hardy)

In the role of Deputy Chief Hardy, the tough nut police captain who re-assigns Jenko and Schmidt to our retro title-bearing street, Nick Offerman had a notable supporting part in 21 and 22 Jump Street. Most notably, the TV actor played Ron Swanson in NBC’s Parks and Recreation. He also received praise for his work as Karl Weathers in FX’s Fargo Season 2. Additionally, Offerman can be seen in Children’s Hospital, Gilmore Girls, American Body Shop, George Lopez, 24, and NYPD Blue. As a voice actor, furthermore, he can be heard in 3Below: Tales of Arcadia, Comrade Detective, Gravity Falls, The Simpsons, and Axe Cop. Currently, Offerman co-hosts NBC’s Making It, for which the star was Emmy-nominated. 

Outside of television, Nick Offerman can be seen in The Founder, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, Hearts Beat Loud, The Little Hours, and Bad Times at the El Royale, to name only a few of his credits. Most recently, Offerman was heard in Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans. Next, he’ll be heard in Sing 2 and he’ll be seen in Hulu’s Pam & Tommy and Amazon Prime’s A League of Their Own. Moreover, as an author, Offerman recently published Where the Deer and the Antelope Play.

21 Jump Street is available to stream on Peacock. 

From conception to opening weekend, a movie can go through a lot of changes behind the scenes. Funny enough, comedies like Vacation Friends are no exception. We first heard the title back in 2014, with then Hollywood couple Chris Pratt and Anna Faris set to star in the movie directed by Hot Tub Time Machine’s Steve Pink. Seven years later, the movie is out on Hulu starring John Cena and Lil Rel, and writer/director Clay Tarver went down memory lane with us on how they landed on the final version.

Clay Tarver’s movie features some hilarious chemistry between The Suicide Squad’s John Cena and Free Guy’s Lil Rel Howery as they play opposites who become friends while off the grid along with their significant others. That is, until Howery’s Marcus and Yvonne Orji’s Emily decide to ghost Cena’s Ron and Meredith Hagner’s Kyla when they return to normal life. Then it backfires.

When CinemaBlend spoke to writer/director Clay Tarver about the long history of the movie, he shared what changed and the other actors previously involved. In his words:

Now we don’t know who played who, but perhaps Ice Cube was set to play Lil Rel Howery’s chilled and composed role, while Mark Wahlberg might have taken on the wild and wacky character of Ron. Tarver got to meet with Ice Cube when he jumped onto the project five years ago, but when he was finishing up his rewrite, the studio (20th Century Fox prior to the Disney merger) decided it wanted new names altogether.

Prior to Ice Cube and Mark Wahlberg being on the list of Vacation Friends, the project was initially set to star Chris Pratt and Anna Faris back when they were married. According to the 2014 report, the premise was about the same as what we see in the Hulu version: a mild-mannered couple have a crazy Mexican vacation thanks to another couple. The exes were expected to play the roles that ultimately went to John Cena and Meredith Hagner.

It's pretty interesting how projects change over the years, but Vacation Friends certainly turned out to be a funny one. The movie is currently streaming on Hulu alongside a number of other fresh August releases.

This past year has seen the lives of many iconic figures end too soon. Unfortunately, another hip-hop culture figure has lost their life, as the manager of rap icon Biz Markie confirmed that he had passed away on July 16 at age 57. Shortly following the news of his death, the entertainment industry came out in full force to pay tribute to the late rapper and producer.

Biz Markie made a significant impact on hip hop culture in the late 1980s and early 1990s through his affiliation with the legendary Juice Crew. The late rapper cemented his legacy with rap staples such as “Vapors” and “Just a Friend,” which became his biggest crossover hit. In the years since his hip-hop heyday, Biz Markie had branched out into acting and DJing. Most recently, the rap icon’s death had been called prematurely in early July when a report alleged he had passed away in hospice.

Of course, many figures in hip-hop culture were the first to respond to the devastating news. Actor and rapper Ice Cube took to his Twitter to acknowledge Biz Markie’s passing the best way he knew how: by quoting the rap icon’s “Nobody Beats the Biz.” Check out the actor’s lyrical tribute along with a touching visual memorial below:

While Ice Cube went full rap recital, Bad Boys for Life star Martin Lawrence took a more somber route online The rap icon made a guest appearance on Lawrence’s popular sitcom Martin in the 1990s. With this, he sent his well wishes to Biz Markie’s family and added a few touching words on the late entertainer:

But hip hop wasn’t done paying tribute to Biz Markie, as rap legend Missy Elliott took to social media to speak on the close friendship the two formed over the years. Elliott even shared a photo of the two during happier times.

Of course, the hip hop world isn't alone in mourning Biz Markie. NBA legend Magic Johnson also paid tribute to the fallen rap icon. The basketball great said about his interactions with Markie:

Actor and comedian Tom Arnold hopped on Twitter as well to share a special memory he had with Biz Markie. Arnold remembered taking his son to see a live show so his kid could meet the rap icon. Check out what Arnold said about the special moment:

John Wick star John Leguizamo also chose to share a story about meeting Biz Markie, and it's pretty sweet. Having met Markie back in the day, he called the late rapper his “muse":

Many could argue that Biz Markie didn't always receive the credit he deserved while he was with us. However, it's incredibly heartwarming to know that his fun-loving, endearing persona in music videos and songs carried into his actual life. We here at CinemaBlend send our thoughts and condolences to the family and friends of Biz Markie.

Recently celebrating its 25th anniversary, Friday is the little stoner comedy that could. Though it received mixed reviews and didn't gross more than $30 million, the New Line Cinema movie jumpstarted Chris Tucker's film career, established F. Gary Gray as a big-time Hollywood director, and proved that actor-writer Ice Cube was a bright comedic actor in addition to a chart-topping rap musician. It's also filled with notable supporting talents, including Regina King, Nia Long, and the late Bernie Mac, John Witherspoon, and Tommy "Tiny" Lister Jr. Let's take a look at what the Friday cast is doing right now.

Ice Cube (Craig Jones)

As Craig Jones, our unemployed main character, Ice Cube plays the protagonist in Friday, which he also co-wrote and executive produced. The actor-writer-producer would reprise his role as Craig Jones in the sequels, Next Friday and Friday After Next, which he also wrote and produced. Best known for his involvement in N.W.A., resulting in the legendary album, Straight Outta Compton, the musician-turned-actor began his movie career with a supporting turn in Boyz n the Hood. He also appeared in Anaconda, Three Kings, Higher Learning, Ghosts of Mars, Torque, Rampart, and the Jump Street movies. Additionally, Cube starred in xXx: State of the Union and Barbershop, later producing and starring in the sequels. The actor also starred in and produced Are We There Yet?, Are We Done Yet?, the Ride Along movies, The Longshots, and First Sunday.

Additionally, Ice Cube wrote, produced, and starred in All About the Benjamins and wrote, directed, produced, and starred in The Players Club. His other starring credits include Fist Fight and last year's The High Note. Next, Cube will star in War of the Worlds. He's also trying to make Last Friday, the final film in the Friday franchise. Most recently, it was announced that Ice Cube could be teaming up with Jack Black, who's in talks for a movie called Oh Hell No.

Chris Tucker (Smokey)

In the role of Smokey, Craig's irresponsible best friend (and misbehaving drug-addled influence), Chris Tucker gave a star-making performance as the deuteragonist in Friday. Outside of this film, Tucker's film star career propelled when he played Detective James Carter in the Rush Hour movies. The stand-up comedian's other notable film credits include Jackie Brown, The Fifth Element, Silver Linings Playbook, Dead Presidents, and House Party 3. Also, Tucker can be seen in Money Talks, The Meteor Man, and Panther.

Most recently, Chris Tucker appeared in Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk. There have been talks of making Rush Hour 4, but it's unclear when — or if — that comedy sequel will happen. It's possible that the comic will reprise his role as Smokey in Last Friday, though Tucker said in a 2021 interview that he probably wouldn't return to the role.

Nia Long (Debbie)

Playing the part of Debbie, Craig's love interest, Nia Long has a romantic role in Friday. Following her breakout performance in Boyz n the Hood, the actress established her star power in The Best Man, the Big Momma's House movies, Soul Food, Love Jones, and The Best Man Holiday. Additionally, Long played Lisa Wilkes in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Also, she appeared in NBC's Third Watch. Her other film credits include Boiler Room, Alfie, Keanu, Lemon, The Single Moms Club, and 47 Meters Down: Uncaged. Later on, Long reunited with Ice Cube for Are We There Yet? and Are We Done Yet?

On television, additionally, Nia Long appeared in House of Lies, Empire, Dear White People, The Divide, Judging Amy, and Lifetime's Beaches. She can also be heard in many episodes of The Cleveland Show. Most recently, Long was seen in The Banker, Life in a Year, and Netflix's Fatal Affair —her producing debut. She also appeared in several episodes of #BlackAF. Next, Long is expected to star in Dreams of the Moon.

Regina King (Dana Jones)

As Dana Jones, Craig's sister, Regina King found one of her first famous roles in Friday. Most notably, King is an Oscar-winning actress for her supporting turn as Sharon Rivers in If Beale Street Could Talk. Additionally, King won two Emmys for her performances in ABC's American Crime, another Emmy for Netflix's Seven Seconds, and a fourth Emmy for her lead performance in HBO's Watchmen. Additionally, King starred in Southland and the award-winning actress had main roles in The Leftovers, 24, and Leap of Faith. Furthermore, King voiced Riley and Huey Freeman in The Boondocks.

Additionally, in film, Regina King appeared in Jerry Maguire, Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous, Ray, A Cinderella Story, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Enemy of the State, Year of the Dog, Higher Learning, Mighty Joe Young, Daddy Day Care, and Poetic Justice. Last year, King made her feature directorial debut with One Night in Miami... She's expected to follow this film up with Bitter Root. As an actress, additionally, King will be seen in Netflix's The Harder They Fall.

Paula Jai Parker (Joi)

In the role of Joi, Craig's girlfriend who always thinks he's cheating on her whenever he's around another woman, Paula Jai Parker played a pushy partner in Friday. Outside of this film, Parker is known as the voice of Trudy Proud in The Proud Family. She also played Monique in The Wayans Bros. Additionally, the TV actress was a series regular on The Weird Al Show, Snoops, and A House Divided. Also, Parker had recurring roles in True Blood, Ray Donovan, Black Jesus, and Family Time. Most recently, Parker appeared in Them.

Outside of television, Paula Jai Parker can be seen in Hustle & Flow, Idlewild, Phone Booth, Sprung, and Tales from the Hood. Additionally, Parker appeared in Ray, She Hate Me, My Baby's Daddy, Get on the Bus, and Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood. Next, the actress reprises her role as Trudy Proud in The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder. She'll also be seen in Sasha Lanes and Kings of L.A. Currently, Parker is filming Temperature Rising.

Faizon Love (Big Worm)

Playing the part of Big Worm, a drug supplier who hides his illegal activities through his job as an ice cream man, Faizon Love plays the secondary antagonist in Friday. Outside of this film, Love is best known for his supporting turn as Wanda in Elf. His other film credits include Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood, The Replacements, Torque, BAPS, Made, Couples Retreat, Who's Your Caddy, The Meteor Man, and 3 Strikes. He also appeared in The Players Club, Blue Crush, Just My Luck, Idlewild, The Fighting Temptations, and Money Talks. As a voice actor, additionally, Love voiced Robin Harris in Bebe's Kids. He's also heard in Zookeeper.

Furthermore, on television, Faizon Love starred in The Parent 'Hood and The New Edition Story. He also appeared in Step Up: High Water, black-ish, My Name is Earl and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Most recently, Love starred in Bulletproof 2. He was also seen in She Ball and The War with Grandpa. Next, Love appears in Trading Soles.

DJ Pooh (Red)

As Red, Craig's co-worker who ends up the worse for wear after a violent altercation with Deebo, DJ Pooh plays a vengeful character in Friday, which he co-wrote with Ice Cube. Following the film's success, Pooh went on to write and direct 3 Strikes, The Wash (which he also produced), and Grow House. Additionally, he was a writer for In the Flow with Affion Crockett, and he provided dialogue for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Also, Pooh was a creative consultant on Boyz n the Hood, Grand Theft Auto V, and The Boondocks, where he also voiced a few side characters. As an actor, he can be seen in his own films, 3 Strikes and The Wash. Furthermore, Pooh provided voice work for Freaknik: The Musical and Trunkful.

Additionally, as a music producer, DJ Pooh produced albums for 2Pac, Snoop Dogg, LL Cool J, Del the Funkee Homosapien, King Tee, Ca$hius, Yo-Yo, Breeze, and, of course, Ice Cube. Whether as a filmmaker or musical artist, his next project isn't announced.

Tony Cox (Mr. Parker)

In the role of Mr. Parker, a disgruntled neighbor with a sultry wife, Tony Cox had a standout supporting role in Friday. Most notably, Cox is known for his performance as Marcus Skidmore in 2003's Bad Santa. The actor's other film credits include Willow, Beetlejuice, Spaceballs, Leprechaun 2, Disaster Movie, Epic Movie, Oz the Great and Powerful, Me, Myself, & Irene, and The Fantasticks. Additionally, Cox appears in I'm Gonna Get You Sucka, Bird, Return of the Jedi, Under the Rainbow, Ghoulies IV, Who's Your Caddy?, The Legend of Awesomest Maximus, and National Lampoon's TV: The Movie.

In recent years, Tony Cox has worked as a voice actor, notably in Strange Magic and Toy Story Toons: Partysaurus Rex. His other recent film credits include The Heyday of the Insensitive Bastards and Guns, Girls, and Gambling. On television, additionally, Cox appeared in Rescue Me, Martin, Mad TV, The Jamie Foxx Show, Psych, Frasier, and In Living Color. Most recently, Cox reprised his role as Marcus Skidmore in Bad Santa 2.

Anthony Johnson (Ezal)

Playing the part of Ezal, a local homeless man, Anthony Johnson is an impoverished character in Friday. Making his film debut with House Party in the role of E.Z.E., Johnson's other notable film credits include House Party 3, Lethal Weapon 3, Menace II Society, BAPS, O, On the Edge, Woo, Panther, How to Be a Player, and Undercover Princesses. Additionally, he appears in I Got the Hook Up, The Great White Hype, On the Edge, Hittin' It!, Hey, Mr. Postman!, Sweet Hideaway, Consequencez, Rising to the Top, Baller Blockin', and 5K1. Later in his career, Johnson reconnected with Ice Cube in The Players Club. On television, additionally, the actor appeared in Moesha, Martin, The Bold and the Beautiful, and The Jamie Foxx Show.

Most recently, Anthony Johnson was seen in The Dummy, I Got the Hook Up 2, and the short film, Shorty Betta 2 Work - Grandma Huttie's Boyfriend. He's expected to reprise his role as Ezal in Last Friday.

Kathleen Bradley (Mrs. Parker)

Playing the part of Mrs. Parker, the unfaithful and shamelessly sexy wife of Mr. Parker, Kathleen Bradley is a sultry seductress in Friday. Most notably, Bradley was a long-standing model on The Price is Right. Her other film credits include Harlem Nights, Troop Beverly Hills, An Everlasting Piece, and The Stolen Moments of September. Additionally, on television, Bradley can be seen in Grey's Anatomy, Martial Law, and A House Divided.

Most recently, Kathleen Bradley appeared in A Day of Trouble. She also reprised her role as Mrs. Parker in the short film, Dice Game Part 2. Next, the actress will be seen in Mad World and I Am Black and I Am Proud.

Tommy "Tiny" Lister Jr. (Deebo)

As Deebo, Craig's menacing arch-rival, Tommy "Tiny" Lister Jr. played a memorable antagonist in Friday. Later, he reprised this role in Next Friday. Outside of these films, Lister Jr. is also remembered for his performance as President Lindberg in The Fifth Element. With 40 years of acting experience, Lister amassed more than 200 credits to his name throughout his distinguished career. Some of his notable film credits include The Dark Knight, Posse, Austin Powers in Goldmember, Little Nicky, Beverly Hills Cop II, Universal Soldier, Jackie Brown, and The Human Centipede 3 (Final Sequence). Additionally, Lister lent his voice to the role of Finnick in Zootopia. On television, the actor appeared in Matlock, NYPD Blue, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Late in 2020, Tommy "Tiny" Lister Jr. passed away due to illness. While the COVID-19 was first believed to be the cause of death, it was later revealed that the actor died due to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. He was 62.

You can rent Friday on Amazon Prime.

Learning that Jack Black and Ice Cube are making a comedy together has me pretty pumped, especially since it means those retirements rumors don’t seem to be true. The two artists/actors have never been in a project together before, and now that it has been announced that they will both star in Sony’s Oh Hell No, I must say that I’m shocked no one has thought to put the stars together before, because I’m digging the pairing.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jack Black will likely star opposite Ice Cube in Oh Hell No, as the project explores the two stars’ characters’ relationship. While that doesn’t sound too exciting, I’d already be done just on the promise of seeing the two comedic artists interacting on screen. Oh, did I forget to mention that Black’s character falls in love with the mother of Ice Cube’s character? Yeah, that definitely adds a whole new level of potential comedy gold and totally makes the title fitting.

Even though Jack Black and Ice Cube have never worked together for an on screen project like this, Oh Hell No has one hell of an inner connection. Matt Tolmach is producing the project, and he was also was a producer on the Jumanji reboot films, which starred Black.

We can pretty much expect a stellar script for the project, because there are four big writers on the project. Jessica Gao and Rodney Rothman are both writers for Marvel; Gao is the head writer for the upcoming Marvel/Disney+ series She-Hulk and Rothman wrote the screenplay for the animated Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. The writers have the comedy genre pretty well covered, with Scot Armstrong and Tracy Oliver on board as well; Armstrong having written the cult classic comedy Old School and Oliver the newer Girl’s Trip.

It’s also worth noting that even though the Marvel writers Jessica Gao and Rodney Rothman may have those major productions to their name, they also are comedic writers. Gao is a writer on the animated hit series Rick & Morty, while Rothman wrote 22 Jump Street and was the head writer for David Letterman, writing over 400 episodes worth of jokes.

These are some serious hitters in the writing room for Oh Hell No, and it only makes sense when you have Ice Cube and Jack Black heading the project. The director is no different, as Kitao Sakurai will direct the project. He has plenty of comedy experience as the director of Adult Swim’s The Eric Andre Show and Netflix’s new hit Bad Trip.

Oh Hell No, although it is already fit with a very on-brand title, is still in the very early stages. Not much has been released about the plot or the rest of the cast other than what is reported here. Even so, the news that Jack Black and Ice Cube will finally have a back and forth in their own film is killer news, so I gotta say it was a good day. Oh Hell No arrives on July 1, 2022.

Tom "Tiny" Lister was never quite a movie star, but with one of the most unique looks in all of Hollywood, he was a difficult man to miss. Once you'd seen the massive man in a role in one movie, you would forever recognize him any other time you saw him on the big screen. Last week fans were shocked to learn that Lister had passed away, and now his friends and collogues are saying goodbye, as those that appeared on screen with him through the years remember the man that they knew.

Tom Lister had over 200 film credits to his name from the mid-1980s on, including several productions that we have yet to see, and others that Lister was planning on doing when he passed away. Among the high profile movies where Lister could be found, was Adam Sandler's Little Nicky, and Sandler took to Twitter when he heard the news to pay his respects to the man that he remembered most as being sweet and funny.

Tom Lister Jr. was known as "Tiny," which was one of those ironic nicknames one can get when you're 6'5" and somewhere in the neighborhood of 300 lbs. Lister was a massive individual and with his imposing size, shaved head, and menacing eyes, he was frequently, though not exclusively cast as characters who were meant to scare the hell out of you. However, from all counts, the real Tom Lister was anything but scary. Everybody remembers him as being incredibly warm and funny.

A lot of people likely discovered "Tiny" Lister in the role of Deebo in Ice Cube's comedy hit Friday. The film may have been the absolute perfect balance of Lister's ability to be both menacing and hilarious. Ice Cube also paid tribute to his friend.

While the exact cause of Tom Lister's death is unknown, there is some evidence that he may have contracted COVID-19. This would make him far from the first high profile name to contract the disease. At 62, Lister may have technically been at higher risk for the disease but his death still came as a shock to those that new him. One such friend was the actor/rapper Ice-T, who not only appeared with Lister in films, but called the man a personal friend.

There are countless other places that fans will remember seeing Tiny Lister. He the President of the Galaxy in The Fifth Element. If you were a pro wrestling fan in the 1980s and saw Hulk Hogan's No Holds Barred, you'll remember him in one of his earliest roles, as the villain Zeus, a gig which resulted in Lister appearing in a few matches at the time. Hulk Hogan also responded to the news of Lister's passing.

It's clear that Tom Lister Jr. was not a tiny part of a lot of people's lives. He will certainly be missed.

Saturday Night Live returned this past weekend with its Halloween-themed episode, which also just happened to be the last episode before the U.S. Presidential Election. With this, the show provided a cold open that was led by Jim Carrey’s Joe Biden. The sketch lampooned a number of other public figures including Hillary Clinton and Mitch McConnell. Rapper, actor and entertainment mogul Ice Cube was also among those parodied, and he has since seen the sketch for himself. Now, he’s taken to social media to provide a response to Kenan Thompson's impression of him.

The SNL cold open features Carrey’s Joe Biden reading a “spooky” book inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” and, In the process, he summons others to the room. At one point, Ice Cube and Lil’ Wayne, respectively played by Kenan Thompson and Chris Redd, appear and our portrayed as showing support for President Trump.

After seeing the clip, Ice Cube posted quite a response on Twitter. You can see what he had to say down below:

Ice Cube, whose real name is O’Shea Jackson, recently made headlines after revealing that he worked with President Trump’s administration on its plan for Black America. This led to backlash from both fans and celebrities across the internet.

The entertainment mogul has since clarified that he did not reach out to either the Trump or Biden campaigns. During an interview with CNN, Ice Cube explained that both campaigns reached out to him and that the Trump campaign wanted to speak to him immediately, while the Biden campaign wanted to discuss things after the election. As a result, he ultimately spoke with the former. Despite this, Ice Cube says that his decision to speak with the president does not signify an endorsement.

Saturday Night Live has never been shy about parodying people, and this season has definitely been no different. From Jim Carrey’s energetic (and much-debated) performance as former VP Joe Biden to Alec Baldwin’s fan-favorite portrayal of President Trump, the show hasn’t pulled many punches, which is especially the case during an election year.

Aside from the election, SNL has highlighted a number of other happenings over the past year. This includes the ongoing global health crisis, which led to an appearance from a Dr. Anthony Fauci that was played by Brad Pitt. In that situation, Fauci was actually hoping Pitt would portray him and, after watching his performance, he referred to the actor’s performance as “classy.”

It goes without saying that some celebrities may indeed speak out when they’re featured on Saturday Night Live, and their responses are sure to vary. I think most would agree that SNL is free to parody who it would like, while stars also have the freedom to react with honest thoughts.

Keep it here at CinemaBlend for more news from the world of TV and movies.

I feel like too many people sleep on Ice Cube. Mostly known as a rapper first, and an actor second, Ice Cube (real name, O’Shea Jackson) has actually made several major contributions to movies and television over the years. Whether it was working as a writer, a producer, or even as a director, Ice Cube has pretty much done it all when it comes to Hollywood. And I feel like very few people even recognize that.

Which is why I thought it necessary to inform you. Because while Ice Cube’s reputation will likely always be tied to N.W.A. (now more than ever because of Straight Outta Compton) and his solo albums like AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted and The Predator, I think it’s also important to note that he acted in a family comedy (two, actually), produced Beauty Shop starring Queen Latifah, and also wrote the screenplay for a movie called Janky Promoters, because why not? So here are some of his other biggest contributions to movies.

Ice Cube's Biggest And Best Contributions As An Actor

Outside of music, Ice Cube is probably most known as an actor, and it’s little wonder. With at least 40 acting credits to his name (with the groundbreaking Boyz n the Hood being his first role), it makes sense that anybody who knows Ice Cube outside of music knows him as an actor. Here are some of his most important roles.

Anaconda

You might think Ice Cube’s role as Danny Rich in Anaconda is no big deal, but it is. The oft-ridiculed (but still classic) movie, which also starred Jon Voight, Owen Wilson, and Jennifer Lopez, was the first genre film Ice Cube did that was outside the gangster type movies that fit his rap persona at the time. In the film, Ice Cube plays a camera man who witnesses (and survives!) one freaking big snake. Everybody say it with me now: “Is snakes out there dis big?!”

Three Kings

In this David O. Russell war/heist film that also stars George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, and Spike Jonze, Ice Cube plays Staff Sergeant Chief Elgin, who may or may not be protected by “Jesus-fire.” Three Kings was notable for 1) being a great movie, and 2) being the kind of film that will be looked at historically for years to come since it predates the Iraq War and represents an interesting time in the Saddam regime. And Ice Cube is starring in it! This is possibly the only Ice Cube movie that may one day (if not already) be taught in history classes around the world.

Barbershop

Who would have thought that Barbershop would become a trilogy (with a side-movie and a Showtime television series to boot!) back when it debuted in 2002? Ice Cube, who starred in all three movies as Calvin Palmer, Jr. was the glue that held it altogether, and the movies encapsulated the experience that many black people have of going to the local barbershop and talking about all the news in the neighborhood. The fact that Ice Cube could help spin this simple premise into a franchise just goes to show how far his reach expands in the business.

Ice Cube's Biggest And Best Contributions As A Writer

Ice Cube doesn’t have nearly as many writing credits as he does acting credits, but the ones he does have are still quite impressive.

Friday

Everybody knows that Ice Cube starred in all three Friday movies, and is set to star in the fourth film, Last Friday as Craig Jones. But what a lot of people don't know is that Ice Cube also wrote the script for every movie in the series. It's said that Ice Cube wrote the original Friday with his friend, DJ Pooh, because he was tired of all the movies at the time that were showing the depressing aspects of the black experience, and he wanted to show a more humorous side. And he succeeded!

All About the Benjamins

Writing, acting, and producing this buddy action comedy that also stars Mike Epps, Ice Cube pretty much did it all with this movie outside of directing it (that credit goes to Kevin Bray). All About the Benjamins is notable since it shows that Ice Cube could not only deftly handle movies with comedic elements, but also an action film as well. And a fun one at that.

Ice Cube As A Director

Ice Cube has only directed twice—Once a movie, and one episode for 30 for 30 about the Oakland Raiders. But his directorial debut is actually good enough that I don’t understand why he hasn’t directed again.

The Players Club

Ice Cube wrote, produced, starred in, and directed this movie about a single mother who tries to pay for college by stripping in the local Player’s Club. It’s meant to be a comedy, as it also stars Jamie Foxx and Bernie Mac, but it’s also kind of dark, getting into the seedier aspects of the strip club lifestyle. Roger Ebert actually called it a “gritty black version of Showgirls” (while giving it 3 out of 4 stars). But I actually think that’s a bit off, since it isn’t nearly as campy, and it’s not supposed to be, either. Ice Cube wouldn’t it let to slide into that territory. If you haven’t seen it yet, give it a look. I’d definitely say that it’s better than Showgirls.

Ice Cube As A Producer

Outside of acting, Ice Cube’s next biggest presence in Hollywood is definitely behind the scenes as a producer. Some of the projects he helped get off the ground were for TV shows that were based off of his movies, like Barbershop: The Series, and Friday: The Animated Series. But there are also many, many more movies out there that exist because Ice Cube decided to get behind them. Here are just two of those movies.

Next Friday

While Ice Cube helped produce movies before Next Friday, most notably the first Friday, Next Friday was important because it was the first film produced underneath his own production company, Cube Vision (Or CubeVision, no space). Cube Vision would go on to produce a number of other films that Ice Cube starred in, but the crazy thing is just how much larger the production company got after Next Friday.

If the stories hold true, then Cube Vision will also be working with Disney to produce another musical version of Oliver Twist. So, yeah, the man who once famously said ‘F the police' is now working behind the scenes with the family-friendly Disney company to help produce a Charles Dickens classic. I don’t know Ice Cube personally, but I could imagine him nodding and saying, “Today was a good day” to that kind of news.

Are We There Yet?

Speaking of family-friendly, who would have ever thought that Ice Cube would help produce a film for the entire family? Are We There Yet? and its sequel Are We Done Yet? are goofy, harmless movies that feature a lot of slapstick humor and even some fart jokes. The series is important though since it shows that Ice Cube was willing to broaden his resume to the extent that his street cred didn’t even really matter anymore. Ice Cube had gone full Hollywood, and he really hasn’t turned back ever since. And producing and starring in Are We There Yet? was probably that turning point in his career.

Ice Cube As A Musician

And yes, Ice Cube’s music has of course been featured in a number of soundtracks. But instead of breaking down each one, I thought I would just go through some of his bigger contributions. There’s “How to Survive in South Central,” which jumped off the stellar Boyz n the Hood soundtrack and really set the tone. There’s that great scene in Office Space where they’re downloading the virus into the company’s computer and Ice Cube’s “Down for Whatever” is bumping in the background, which came off his Lethal Injection album.

And who could forget (well, you probably did, which is why I’m reminding you), the bumping “Anybody Seen the PoPo’s?!” on the XXX State of the Union soundtrack? That song was straight fire!

Oh, and I’d be remiss if I left off the actual song “Friday” from the Friday soundtrack where Ice Cube spends a large portion of the music video throwing out his hands in a bedroom. Come to think of it, what’s an Ice Cube movie without an Ice Cube song to accompany it? That’s what I want to know.

Really, once you realize that Ice Cube has dipped his toe into so many different currents, it’s kind of hard to look at him the same way anymore. Yes, Ice Cube’s legacy will always be his music, and for good reason. But once you take off the headphones, just think about all the other projects that Ice Cube has lent a hand to. And if you forget about that, then remember that his son, O’Shea Jackson Jr. is also an actor, so you have another legacy that could potentially span decades. Can I get a yay yaay for that?

This poll is no longer available.

Rapping and acting may seem world’s apart, but many successful actors started off as rappers (and some still do both). Ice-T has been on the hit series Law and Order: Special Victims Unit since it began, Ice Cube has been a co-star of several hit franchise movies, including the Ride Along movies, and former rappers Queen Latifah and Will Smith have made a very successful transition from rappers to respected actors. Rappers have created a lot of great hip-hop music, but they have also made some pretty entertaining movies as well.

For this list, I have selected a few great movies with rappers in a supporting or lead role, and usually movies during an important time in their rap careers. Let’s drop a beat (sorry, bad joke) and look at some of the iconic films featuring rappers.

Set It Off - Queen Latifah

Jada Pinkett, Queen Latifah, Vivica A. Fox and Kimberly Elise star in Set It Off, a film about four women who decide to rob a bank.

Frankie (Vivica A. Fox) used to work as a bank teller, and gets fired, which leads to her working janitorial duties with her three friends. She and her friends are fed up with how life treats them and (after some hesitation) start to plan a bank robbery. Set It Off premiered in 1996 and Queen Latifah was still very much a successful rapper. She released an album a few years prior, entitled Black Reign, and had already appeared in a few films, like Juice and House Party 2. Queen Latifah appeared in Set It Off while being the series lead of the sitcom Living Single.

Poetic Justice - Tupac

Regina King, Tupac Shakur, Janet Jackson, and Joe Torry star in Poetic Justice, a movie about two people forced on a road trip together by their friends. Their relationship starts combative, but eventually, they start to get to know each other and fall in love.

Poetic Justice is a great romantic drama because of the chemistry between Janet Jackson and Tupac. The film was released in 1993, and Tupac had just released his second studio album Strictly 4 My Life N.I.G.G.A.Z. Poetic Justice was his second major starring role after 1992’s Juice. The film was released during Tupac’s rising period as an artist.

Friday - Ice Cube

Chris Tucker and Ice Cube star in Friday, a comedy about the misadventures of two men living in South Central LA. It gives a more lighthearted, comedic look at the hood. Friday includes an all-star comedy cast that includes Bernie Mac, Regina King, Nia Long, and John Witherspoon. Friday would eventually lead to two other sequel movies. The film was co-written by Ice Cube. Apparently he and co-writer DJ Pooh wanted to create a film that showed a lighter side of hood life. Ice Cube was in the middle stages of his solo career, releasing four albums before Friday hit theaters. The most recent one was 1993’s Lethal Injection. Ice Cube had also done some television and movies before Friday, including Boyz n the Hood.

8 Mile - Eminem

8 Mile is a semi-biographical movie about B-Rabbit (Eminem), a white battle rapper living in Detroit. The film follows B-Rabbit as he tries to raise his sister, deals with an unstable mother, and tries to be taken seriously as a battle rapper. 8 Mile’s cast includes Mekhi Phifer, Brittany Murphy, Kim Basinger, Anthony Mackie, and Michael Shannon. 8 Mile’s song “Lose Yourself” won the 2003 Academy Award for best original song. In the same year as 8 Mile’s release, Eminem released his fourth studio album, The Eminem Show. The album went on to become the best selling album of 2002.

Bad Boys -Will Smith

Will Smith and Martin Lawrence star in Bad Boys, a buddy cop film directed by Michael Bay. The first film was released in 1995, and then had two sequel films Bad Boys II and Bad Boys for Life, with possible plans for another movie. Will Smith was beginning his major transition to mega film superstar during the release of Bad Boys. He had already appeared on the hit TV-show The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air, but Bad Boys was his first major box office success, and it led to another one with Independence Day. Bad Boys was really the film that kicked off his movie career, but he was still recording rap albums after Bad Boys as a solo artist, like his 1997 album Big Willie Style.

Girls Trip - Queen Latifah

Jada Pinkett Smith and Queen Latifah reunite in Girls Trip, the movie also stars Regina Hall and Tiffany Haddish. This comedy involves four best friends who have started to drift apart going on a trip to New Orleans to reconnect. Crazy antics ensue. Girls Trip was released in 2017, and Queen Latifah hadn’t released a rap album in over seven years. Instead, she was a pretty big film and TV name in 2017. During Girls Trip release, Queen Latifah was a main character on Fox’s TV show Star.

Boyz N The Hood - Ice Cube

Boyz N the Hood stars Ice Cube, Cuba Gooding Jr., Morris Chestnut, Laurence Fishburne, Nia Long, Regina King, and Angela Bassett. The film follows Tre (Cuba Gooding Jr.) as he’s sent to live with his father in South Central, LA. It’s about Tre’s personal journey and the violence and devastation he, his family, and friends witness living in an area plagued with violence and gangs. Boyz N the Hood was Ice Cube’s first feature film.

Boyz n the Hood was directed by John Singleton and earned him an Oscar nomination, making him the youngest director nominee in Academy Award’s history. In 1991, Ice Cube released his second studio album Death Certificate. N.W.A also released their second and final studio album that year, Niggaz4Life, but Ice Cube had already left the band.

House Party - Kid ‘n Play

Hip hop group Kid ‘n Play star in House Party. The film follows one crazy night leading up to a big party, during it, and the events after the party. Robin Harris, John Witherspoon, Martin Lawrence, and Tisha Campbell also have supporting roles in House Party. The film spun four additional sequels, all but one features Kid N’ Play. In 2018, it was announced that LeBron James planned to add another House Party movie to the franchise. House Party was released in 1990, the same year that Kid ‘Play released their second studio album Funhouse.

ATL - T.I.

ATL is a coming of age dramedy about teen Rashad (T.I.) growing up in Atlanta. It deals with Rashad and his friends and family facing obstacles on their quest to move past the barriers of their high school lives. ATL’s cast also includes Evan Ross, Lauren London, and Big Boi from hip hop group Outkast. ATL marked T.I.’s film debut. He later went on to appear in major Hollywood films like Ant-Man and the Wasp, Entourage, and Sleepless. T.I. released his fourth studio album King during the same year as ATL’s release. That same year, he received several Grammy award nominations, including for Best Rap Album and Rap Artist Of the Year.

Juice - Tupac

Omar Epps, Tupac Shakur, Khalil Kain, and Jermaine Hopkins star in Juice, a 1992 drama about four young men living in Harlem. Their daily activities involve disputes against rival gangs and police harassment. Juice marked Tupac’s film debut. It was another film released during the peak of Tupac’s rap career. A year prior to the film’s release, Tupac released his first solo studio album 2Pacalypse Now. In 1992, he also released the single “If My Homie Calls,” which peaked on the Billboard charts at number 3.

Den Of Thieves - 50 Cent

Den of Thieves is a 2018 crime drama starring Gerard Butler, O’Shea Jackson Jr. (Ice Cube’s son), 50 Cent, and Pablo Schreiber. Detective Nicholas (Gerard Butler) is in charge of stopping the crime team planning to rob the Los Angeles Federal Reserve bank. Ray (Pablo Schreiber) is the crew’s leader.

In 2018, it was announced that Den of Thieves would have a sequel that could include the return of Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr.’s characters. Rapper 50 Cent had made the successful transition from making music to making films by the time of Den of Thieves release. He was playing a main character on the show Power during the release of Den of Thieves. 50 Cent’s last studio album was in 2014, but, as of 2020, he has still been working on an upcoming album called Street King Immortal.

There are a lot of great films featuring rappers out there, Will Smith alone has a pretty big selection, but if you want some lesser-known suggestions: Disorderlies featuring the group The Fat Boys, Vengeance featuring 50 Cent, Dope featuring ASAP Rocky, and Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai featuring RZA.

Many of the films on this list are available to stream or rent, so if you like your rappers with a little side of acting, these films should interest you.

CinemaBlend participates in affiliate programs with various companies. We may earn a commission when you click on or make purchases via links.

With audiences currently in isolation, content providers have had to get creative in how and when they choose to deliver their product to the masses. Focus Features has been pretty adroit with its release model in recent months, as the studio has used the opportunity to debut movies like director Nisha Ganatra’s The High Note as premium VOD rentals for those who want to see something new while stuck at home.

I recently had an opportunity to speak with actors Ice Cube, Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Bill Pullman, as well as Nisha Ganatra herself, on behalf of their respective roles in making The High Note. As you’ll see in the video below, studio executives aren’t the only ones who have embraced the situation with much positivity.

There are quite a few reasons to be excited about The High Note’s VOD release during the current health crisis that has swept the world. While the situation has increased pressure between theater chains and the studios that have engaged in such business practices, the aim has never been to stir the pot or start a war of words.

Rather, judging by the feelings that people like Nisha Ganatra have about the film, The High Note is one of those movies that aims to entertain its audience as if it was another Friday night at the movies. Ganatra in particular likens her film to the following experience:

While The High Note sees Dakota Johnson’s Maggie and Tracee Ellis Ross’ Grace trying to navigate the perils and pitfalls of either making it or keeping it together in “the industry," it’s not a dour affair. There’s nothing wrong with films like A Star Is Born, where the story of a rising talent is told against the backdrop of bittersweet decline, but it’s not the only variant to this sort of story.

It’s the crux of what makes writer Flora Greeson’s Black List honored script, originally titled Covers, different from most films of its ilk. Audiences are probably used to a version of the story where Maggie’s beleaguered assistant character would be pressured by Grace’s high-powered diva, and eventually the two would split under less-than-ideal circumstances. Yet, if there’s a greater source of conflict in The High Note, it’s not the relationship between assistant and talent. Rather, Ice Cube’s character, Jack, is the catalyst for the headbutting that goes on in the film.

Even then, Ice Cube’s performance as Jack allows him to engage in creating and releasing pressure, as the improv and comedy skills he’s honed during his career were known to break many a participant during a take on The High Note’s set. That helpful dynamic comes from his own personal understanding of why the film makes for a perfect summer/quarantine movie, as he described its charms as such:

Comedy, drama, and the drive to succeed all help fuel The High Note’s quest to serve as an entertainment during harder times in the world. But there’s always room for a bit of romance in this sort of movie, and that’s where Kelvin Harrison Jr.’s David comes into play. A random acquaintance in the life of Dakota Johnson’s character, David bonds with Maggie over the love of music. This only strengthens itself when the aspiring producer realizes she’s also stumbled upon a fresh, raw musical talent.

It’s a role that’s allowed Harrison to hone and debut musical aspirations he’s held onto since he was a child. And with a lot of hard work and prep, the role of David has allowed Kelvin Harrison Jr., much like his The High Note co-star Tracee Ellis Ross, to debut his singing voice to the public.

Focusing on the development of both David’s talents as a singer/songwriter and Maggie’s skills as a music producer, The High Note is a picture of young talent on the rise, but also a story of connecting as people. Which perfectly fuels the reasons behind why Kelvin Harrison Jr. feels the film is a perfect debut for the moment:

While Kelvin Harrison Jr. was talking about the fact that The High Note was dropping during current global events, I can’t help but hope the entertaining escapism the film provides can provide some solace for people during the current climate of unrest as well. Like any project, The High Note is something meant to hit audiences no matter when it would have been sent into the world. Rounding out the reactions of the cast I was able to gather is that of legendary character actor Bill Pullman, who summed up his thoughts on the matter thusly:

With an ear for music, and a passion for the personal stories that make it a medium vital to the human experience, The High Note couldn’t have picked a better time to find an audience. As world events have been more emotionally wearing than usual, it’s still nice to know that for a moment of our choosing, we can escape into a story that has something beautiful to say. It might not be much, but it’s something that can help keep people sane in uncertain times. The High Note is now available for rental on VOD.

CinemaBlend participates in affiliate programs with various companies. We may earn a commission when you click on or make purchases via links.

Upon its debut in 1995, Ice Cube’s comedy classic Friday started a franchise that would see the writer/actor kick off a run of films that, to this very day, hold up as fan favorites. With two sequels, Next Friday and Friday After Next, continuing the legacy, one final film, Last Friday, has been intended to cap off the entire run in a big finale. The only problem is that a whole decade of delays have plagued the project.

During my recent discussion with Ice Cube, in support of his role in the dramedy ensemble film The High Note, I asked him if he had done any more work on the script for Last Friday. As he had last updated the film’s progress towards the end of 2019, with the passing of actor John Witherspoon leaving the project in need of heavy rewrites, I was curious if there were any further developments.

Ice Cube answered this question with the following heartfelt response:

For those of you keeping score at home, the last Friday film to hit theaters, Friday After Next, was released in 2002. So according to Cube’s words in the interview above, Last Friday started out as an idea roughly around 2010, i.e. eight years after Friday After Next. This tracks with the fact that around 2011 was when we got the first word that Ice Cube was going to write, star in and produce the film.

Over time, that auspicious announcement became a bit of an albatross. One that, according to Ice Cube’s new remarks, spawned two rejected drafts and “a bunch of dumb notes” from studio New Line Cinema. It’s all added up to Last Friday has been in a holding pattern for some time, with the project being teased as being in various points of development, giving fans continued hope that it would happen yet.

Of course, that was until last year, when John Witherspoon’s death threw perhaps the greatest wrench in Last Friday’s production. As Willie Jones, father to Ice Cube’s protagonist Craig, was an integral figure throughout the Friday franchise to begin with, Last Friday would have still felt the sting of his absence, even if the script didn’t use his character that much.

Now with Willie Jones unfortunately unable to drop in for one final appearance in Last Friday, that’s another draft that will have to be written in order for this movie to take another stab at existence. And like anyone else who’s suffered the loss of a long-time friend and coworker, Ice Cube has found himself with a case of writer’s block because of this absence.

That’s not to say that Ice Cube isn’t interested in getting Last Friday back on track. With the promise that he’ll continue fighting the good fight, and the insistence that New Line Cinema could do the right thing, the final film in the Friday saga isn’t out of business just yet. As he’s insisted for some time, the ball is still in New Line Cinema’s hand, and the bat is in his.

So as soon as he’s ready to revisit this new sequel, more than likely complete with a tribute to John Witherspoon’s passing, it’ll be up to New Line’s execs to heed the call to complete the Friday franchise.

Here’s hoping that studio and star can both play ball, knocking Last Friday out of the park and into history. In the meantime, you can see Ice Cube and his legendary improv skills in The High Note, as it’s now available for rental on VOD.

This poll is no longer available.

Fred Rogers is so universally beloved that it's hard to believe he'd have beef with anyone, but even the greatest of heroes have their issues with others. This was confirmed recently thanks to Ice Cube, who revealed that he was sued by the host of Mister Rogers Neighborhood back in the '90s.

Ice Cube was on Instagram doing a digital listening party to commemorate the 30th anniversary of his solo album Amerikkka's Most Wanted when the information came out. According to the rapper turned actor, Mr. Rogers ended up suing him because a version of the theme song was sampled in the original release of "A Gangsta's Fairytale." Cube talked about the court case and shared some additional facts about the song:

If ever there was a reason to make a Straight Outta Compton and A Beaufitul Day In The Neighborhood crossover movie, this is certainly it. Obviously, it's understandable why Fred Rogers would be protective of his brand and not want it associated with a song as vulgar as "A Gangsta's Fairytale" is, but did he really have to take it to court?

For those that haven't heard the original version of "A Gangsta's Fairytale," the beginning features Sir Jinx singing the iconic Mister Rogers theme. Per an interview in Check The Technique Vol 2 (via Medium), Jinx shared a bit more about the section that was cut and how lucky anyone who has a cut of it is today:

Based on that math, Fred Rogers ended up walking away with $10,000 before the switch was made. He also may have just made someone a lot richer if they have this rare cut of the album, though who knows what the odds are that any of the original cuts are still in circulation today.

Classic episodes of Mister Rogers Neighborhood are available at PBS Kids. Continue to stick with CinemaBlend for all the latest news happening in television and movies.

Who says you can't make a xXx movie without Vin Diesel? Well, it appears the producers behind xXx: State Of The Union didn't get the memo before they released the 2005 followup film starring Ice Cube. How the film even got produced is still a feat upon itself, especially when you consider the fact the sequel lacked the one thing that made the original movie stand out in the first place — Xander Cage. But it's not all gloom and doom as I recently discovered looking into some of the most interesting behind the scenes facts that I could find in interviews, documentaries, and director commentary tracks.

Trading in adrenaline junkie Xander Cage for former U.S. Navy Seal Darius Stone, the sequel to the popular and successful xXx got rid of the action sports elements and took a more old-fashioned action thriller approach to the 21st spy with an attitude. But how the movie got to that point is quite interesting, especially when you consider everything that happened in the three years between the release of the two movies.

Vin Diesel Dropped Out Of The Project Early In Development

Coming off of the success of multiple projects in the early 2000s, Vin Diesel became one of the hottest action stars of his generation, so it was almost guaranteed that he would return as Xander Cage whenever a sequel hit theaters. Things didn't work out as planned, and very early on in the development of xXx: State Of The Union, Diesel dropped out. The reasons for his departure, however, have changed over the years.

In October 2003, Variety (via EW) reported that Vin Diesel dropped out of the project after filming the Pitch Black followup The Chronicles Of Riddick, due to not wanting to shoot two back-to-back sequels. The actor's tone changed several years later when he revealed in Los Angeles Times (via Chicago Tribune) interview that the quality of the script might have had a role in his decision (as well as 2 Fast, 2 Furious), stating:

Once Vin Diesel Dropped Out, The Producers Saw Ice Cube As A "Perfect Fit"

When Vin Diesel dropped out of xXx: State Of The Union, the film's producers were forced to find a worthy replacement that wouldn't be seen as a carbon copy of the departing Xander Cage. In October 2003, EW reported that Ice Cube had signed on to play Darius Stone in the 2005 action flick.

And it seems that the producers behind the film were looking for someone who could portray a badass former Navy Seal turned criminal, which Ice Cube was more than capable of doing solely based on his career as a rapper with NWA and his solo career as well as some of the roles he had taken on throughout his acting career. During the XXX: According To Ice Cube documentary found on the xXx: State Of The Union DVD, producer Neal H. Moritz saw everything needed for the character in Ice Cube, stating:

Ice Cube Attempted To Perform As Many Of His Own Stunts As Possible

Although xXx: State Of The Union utilizes much more CGI than its predecessor, the movie has plenty of jaw-dropping stunts, and by the sounds of it, Ice Cube performed as many of them as he could during shooting. During the film's world premiere, Ice Cube told an interviewer from Hollywood.com that he did everything he could to join in on the action, stating:

There Is A Prequel Showing The Death Of Xander Cage And It's Disturbing

Even though Vin Diesel didn't come back to play Xander Cage in the xXx: State Of The Union, the character appears in a short film that serves as a prequel to the 2005 action thriller simply called The Final Chapter: The Death Of Xander Cage.

Instead of Vin Diesel portraying Cage, this time the honor went to the actor's stunt double from the first movie, Kristian Lupo, but you never see the stuntman's face, though the camera sticks to the character's iconic xXx tattoo on the back of his neck. The four-minute short mainly consists of Xander Cage being baited into a building that is rigged with explosives.

After the explosion, nothing is left of Xander Cage except for his fur-lined coat and a piece of flesh that just so happens to feature his trademark tattoo, which is picked up by Lt. Colonel Alabama "Bama" Cobb (John G. Connolly), one of the villains from xXx: State Of The Union.

There Were Two Scripts In Development At One Point

Anyone watching xXx: State Of The Union will notice the movie is a major departure from the first film in the franchise. You still have a lot of the crazy and off-the-wall stunts, but the extreme sports angle has been replaced by a more grounded political-focused story. This will probably come as a surprise to no one, but the film's producers were exploring both options when planning the direction of the 2005 sequel. During a January 2003 CNN interview, Rob Cohen, who directed xXx and produced xXx: State Of The Union, explained that two vastly different scripts were being written at the time, stating:

Screenwriter Simon Kinberg Wanted The Film To Be More Of An Action Thriller

Obviously, the more grounded option of having a political thriller set in Washington, D.C. won out and audiences were given a movie focused on the events preceding and following an attempted coup by American interests in the nation's capital. Simon Kinberg, whose script won out and was pushed to production, explained in the xXx: State Of The Union DVD commentary track (via Pop Matters) that he and the film's producers wanted to have a political thriller as opposed to the over-the-top adrenaline thrill-ride of the first movie, stating:

Well, this is probably the first place you've heard xXx: State Of The Union and All The President's Men mentioned in the same article.

Rob Cohen Dropped Out In Order To Direct Stealth

Rob Cohen was all about continuing on with the daring adventures of Xander Cage shortly after the release of xXx in 2002, but with production of the sequel slowing down as the studio worked on deciding which script to use, Cohen vacated the director's chair and decided to stay on as a producer.

In a 2005 article on Bombreport.com, it was reported that Cohen had turned down the chance to direct the sequel in favor of bringing the big-budget science fiction military film Stealth to the big screen. In 2012, the Guardian reported that Stealth was one of the biggest box office flops of all time, losing a reported $111 million.

This Is The Second Time Vin Diesel And Rob Cohen Opted Out Of A Sequel

xXx: State Of The Union wasn't the only time the actor-director pairing of Vin Diesel and Rob Cohen opted out of getting involved with a sequel of a film they helped launch. Although both were instrumental in getting the Fast And Furious franchise off the ground in the summer of 2001, Diesel and Cohen both the franchise to work on xXx.

During a 2012 interview with We Got This Covered (via Indiewire), Rob Cohen shed light on one of the reasons he didn't have involvement with future Fast And Furious movies, stating:

xXx: State Of The Union Has Multiple Connections To The James Bond Franchise

From the very beginning, the xXx franchise has taken inspiration from the James Bond franchise, but with xXx: State Of The Union, the action series had some connections to the classic English spy.

For starters, Willem Dafoe, who plays the movie's villainous Secretary of State General George Deckert played the main antagonist the highly regarded 2004 video game James Bond 007: Everything Or Nothing, which was essentially a new Bond story told through a game instead of a theatrical release.

The other connection to the world of James Bond movies comes from the involvement of director Lee Tamahori, whose most recent film before xXx: State Of The Union was the 2002 007 movie Die Another Day, which happened to be final appearance of Pierce Brosnan.

The Movie Made $70.6 Million At The Worldwide Box Office On A Reported $113 Million Budget

To say that xXx: State Of The Union was a box office bomb would be too kind to the numbers the movie brought in during is 2005 theatrical release. According to a 2011 report from Reuters, the sequel brought in $70.6 million at the worldwide box office. This wouldn't be that bad if the movie didn't reportedly cost Revolution Studios a staggering $113 to produce and fund its marketing campaigns. What's even worse is that only $26.8 million was made domestically, according to Box Office Mojo.

Those are just 10 of the most interesting behind the scenes facts from xXx: State Of The Union. Did any of those stand out to you, or are you still in shock that Vin Diesel would turn down the chance to appear in such a great action flick? Let us know in the comments below, and make sure to check back to see if we'll find some fascinating items from the production of xXx: Return Of Xander Cage here at CinemaBlend.

It’s been almost a decade since Ice Cube started the ball rolling to try and make Last Friday, the fourth and final entry in the Friday series, into a reality. While he’s been trying his hardest, Cube has made some headway with this closing installment of the series that helped make him a movie star.

But ultimately, as it’s been noted in the past, the ultimate stumbling block is the lack of a greenlight from the film’s studio, New Line Cinema. And Ice Cube is pretty mad that Last Friday is still in a holding pattern, which has driven the actor/writer to take to social media to voice the following, frustrating update:

At this point, it’s not only upsetting that Last Friday has merely been delayed by New Line Cinema, but it’s been postponed to such an extent that a crucial cast member like the late John Witherspoon will be unable to participate.

Playing the pivotal role of Willie “Pops” Jones, the father to Ice Cube’s character, Craig Jones, Witherspoon was apparently going to be a huge participant in the story of Last Friday. But now, after the legendary comedian’s untimely passing, Cube has confirmed through Twitter that a new draft will have to be written that removes the fan favorite character, who has been seen in each film since 1995’s original Friday.

In a situation that feels very reminiscent of how it took six years to get Rush Hour 3 into theaters, only to see another potential sequel still stalled over a decade after the fact, it feels weird that out of all the studios to drag their heels in a world of trendy legacy-quels, a party like New Line that has a back catalog rich with potential candidates has moved as slowly as it has.

For comparison, it’s been almost 18 years since the last Friday sequel, Friday After Next, hit theaters. And should Last Friday finally get off the ground after its script is revised, don’t expect Ice Cube to allow a CGI stand-in for John Witherspoon to ever be used. He made that abundantly clear during a recent chat with TMZ, as he was making his way to a flight, which you can watch below:

Whenever he’s been approached about the status of Last Friday, two motivations have always been made clear by Ice Cube: he wants to complete the story of Craig Jones and his vibrant neighborhood of characters, and he feels that he owes it to his fans to do so.

A new year is dawning, and with it a new possibility for New Line Cinema to put this final sequel into motion. Whether or not we’ll see Last Friday finally get the green light in fruition in the near future is something we can’t predict. All we can do is expect the fans to make their voices heard, and for Ice Cube to keep hope alive that it can all come together quickly when and if that go-ahead has been officially given.

Actor and comedian John Witherspoon, who was known for his comedic turns on shows such as black-ish, The Tracy Morgan Show and The Wayans Bros., as well as films like the Friday franchise, Dr. Doolittle 2 and Bulworth, died yesterday at the age of 77. After a loving statement from Witherspoon's family, which was posted to his personal Twitter page, confirmed his death, fans, and many of the celebrities he had worked with during his over 40 year career in film and TV, began to post tributes to the comic actor.

Rapper / actor Ice Cube was one of the first to post about John Witherspoon's death. Ice Cube, of course, starred in Friday and its sequels Next Friday and Friday After Next with Witherspoon, who played the father of his character in the franchise. Witherspoon was set to reprise his role in another upcoming sequel, Last Friday, but the film is in pre-production and hasn't begun filming yet. Here's the sweet and simple message Ice Cube posted:

Marlon Wayans, who also played John Withspoon's son, but on The Wayans Bros., which ran from 1995-1999 on The WB, has posted tributes to Witherspoon on his Instagram a few times since learning of his death. But, his first post in particular, is a wonderful remembrance of the man and what he's meant to him and his career. Take a look...

John Witherspoon's long career also included several gigs as a voice actor, and he is well-remembered for his work voicing Granddad on The Boondocks from 2005-2014. Oscar winner Regina King, who voiced Riley on the series and can currently be seen on Watchmen, took to Twitter to share her feelings on Witherspoon's passing:

Questlove, drummer and joint frontman for The Roots (which has served as Jimmy Fallon's Tonight Show house band since 2014), reached out on Instagram to post a beautiful tribute to John Witherspoon which explains why the comedian struck a chord with so many fans...

Comedian, actor and former late night talk show host Arsenio Hall, who has signed on to reprise his role alongside Eddie Murphy in the planned sequel Coming 2 America, also had some lovely words to offer for his fellow comedic legend:

Oscar nominated filmmaker Ava DuVernay, who's currently working on the Warner Bros. / DC comics film New Gods, also stepped up and added a very succinct thank you post for all the work John Witherspoon has done to her Twitter feed...

John Witherspoon, who most recently appeared in Black Jesus for Adult Swim as well as voicing a role in BoJack Horseman, is survived by his wife Angela and his sons, Alexander and JD. All of John Witherspoon's family and friends will be in our thoughts; he will be missed.

While the Marvel Cinematic Universe is already in full swing (no pun intended) making Tom Holland's Peter Parker a major player in this world, Sony is also spending this time focusing on highlighting the other major Spider-Man, Miles Morales, in the animation world. Miles' popularity has slowly grown since he was introduced to the comics in 2011, and at the of 2018, he'll be leading his own animated movie. There haven't been any official casting announcements yet, but there's word out that Sony may be looking at Ice Cube for a key supporting role.

In today's episode of Meet the Movie Press, host Jeff Sneider, who also runs The Tracking Board, slyly mentioned that Ice Cube is being considered to voice Miles Morales' dad in the animated Spider-Man movie. Sneider didn't provide any information about how Morales' dad, named Jefferson Davis, would fit into the story, but he did say that Ice Cube has a good relationship with Sony after working on the Jump Street movies. He also pointed out how a lot of actors don't turn down voice work since it's just "a day or two in the booth."

As Miles Morales' early adventures as Spider-Man progressed in the Ultimate universe, readers also learned about Jefferson Davis' past long before his son became a web-slinging hero. As a younger man, Jefferson frequently accompanied his brother Aaron on his illegal pursuits, and while Aaron never left the criminal life, Jefferson tried desperately to get out, and eventually succeeded. Jefferson loved Miles very much, but after he discovered his son was the new Spider-Man, that put a strain on their relationship, especially after he initially blamed Miles for the deaths of Aaron and Rio, his wife and Miles' mother. Thanks to the events of Secret Wars, not only was Miles Morales brought into the main Marvel universe, but so was his family, including Jefferson and a revived Rio.

As far as casting goes, Ice Cube would be a good choice to voice Miles Morales' father, and he's a big enough actor that his name on the poster and credits will surely draw more people in. The only major downside from him doing this is he likely won't get to play J. Jonah Jameson in the one of the Spider-Man: Homecoming sequels. After seeing him play Captain Dickson in the Jump Street movies, I can't be the only one who wanted to see him berate Peter Parker for not getting pictures of that blasted web-slinging menace. Regardless, if Ice Cube is cast in the animated Spider-Man movie, this will be his second movie voice role, previously playing The Candle Maker in The Book of Life.

Directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller, the animated Spider-Man movie swings into theaters on December 21, 2018.

Ice Cube is no stranger to playing a character with a short fuse. Even when starring in comedies, the famous musician-turned-actor is well known for taking on roles that have some anger issues that they should probably work on sorting out. His latest part in the new movie Fist Fight, a teacher named Mr. Strickland, is familiar in this way, but according to the actor, it was something new for him to play. This is particularly because Ice Cube saw it as an opportunity to play a guy with really justifiable rage, legitimately fighting against a system in desperate need of changing.

Prior to Fist Fight opening this past weekend, I had the pleasure of hopping on the phone to talk with Ice Cube about the new comedy earlier this month -- and right at the start of the conversation we talked about what made the part different than his previous movies. I asked about working on the character of Strickland and figuring out what makes him tick, and after comparing the role to another one of his most notable parts, he explained why he felt his latest was special. Said Cube,

Given the world that Strickland finds himself working in, it's not super challenging to discover why it is that he is so crazy angry at the world. Being a teacher, he has what should be one of the most rewarding careers on the planet, but instead he is surrounded by a failing administration and indolent teenagers who don't want to do any work. When we first meet Strickland in Fist Fight, it becomes clear that he learned many years ago that one of the only effective ways to get through to his students is to completely scare the crap out of them. This is certainly something that he does on a regular basis, though in the movie he does wind up taking his rage to the next level when he gets caught in a complicated situation with one of his co-workers, played by Charlie Day.

So while Fist Fight may not have been an opportunity for Ice Cube to really flex his wings and try something completely different than what he's done before, it was a chance for him to really work on a character and fully understand where it is that he's coming from. You can see the final result of his work in theaters now, with the new comedy arriving in cinemas nationwide this past Friday, and be sure to stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for more from our conversation with the star!

Sometimes it's best not to overthink things. After all, the simplest premises have a tendency to yield the best results. Richie Keen's Fist Fight (his debut as a feature director) abides by that idea to a fault, and the result is a mostly hilarious and gut-busting entry to the hard-R raunchy comedy genre. Fist Fight is not a movie for the whole family, but if your head is already in the gutter when you walk into the theater, then you will have a splendid time watching the insanity gradually unfold. What this film lacks in inventiveness it more than makes up for in kinetic energy and a sense of fun.

Even if you know nothing about Fist Fight going in, the title alone should give you a reliable sense of direction. Mr. Campbell (Charlie Day) is a mild-mannered teacher trying to keep his head low and his job safe through a series of layoffs during the last day of school. By contrast, Mr. Strickland (Ice Cube) is a no-nonsense hard-ass who will stop at nothing to ensure that his students receive a proper (albeit terrifying) education. When Strickland goes too far during one of his classes, Campbell reports his colleague to the principal (Dean Norris), which causes an enraged Strickland to challenge him to a fist fight after school. What follows is a race against time as Campbell, the school's horny guidance counselor (Jillian Bell), and clueless gym teacher (Tracy Morgan) attempt to find a way out of the fight before the final bell of the day rings.

Fist Fight shows a commendable commitment to its core premise and uses every tool at its disposal to continuously increase the tension and ramp up the stakes. From the opening moments of the movie, it tells that audience that it exists in a heightened reality. The students at this school are animals, and the decent members of the school's faculty seem wholly outnumbered by a wide array of delightfully deranged lunatics. Fist Fight's basic story wouldn't work if the film took place over the course of several days, but the combination of these psychopathic personalities and the ever-present ticking clock moving closer and closer to the titular brawl turns the movie into a hilarious pressure cooker of a farce. What we have here is a film that isn't ashamed to embrace what it ultimately is, and watching Charlie Day's psyche deteriorate as the story progresses is simply too much fun to ignore.

Sometime around the release of Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, we noticed a significant trend develop in the comedy world. Rather than rely on the strength of their scripts, films (particularly the ones produced by Judd Apatow) started shooting hours of "shot reverse shot" footage and editing the improv of the actors into something cohesive. While Fist Fight uses the method to fill out its run time with some great moments (I honestly could watch Tracy Morgan riff all day long), I was taken aback by how much of the film's best comedic moments actually avoided using that well-worn technique. Fist Fight isn't a one trick pony; running jokes are planted early in the film that pay off by the climax, utterly vulgar sight gags seem meticulously orchestrated, and classic slapstick comedy is on full display.

That said, there is still plenty of improv in this film, and you certainly get the feeling that large segments of Fist Fight's second act came together in the editing room. For the most part, the movie feels coherent enough, but there's a discernible sense that certain characters (particularly Christina Hendricks' character) were supposed to have more prominent roles in the original cut of the film. However, I found myself laughing at so many scenes (specifically the ones featuring Jillian Bell) that it ultimately felt easy to forgive the movie's sins. While some of the jokes don't land as well as Fist Fight thinks they do, the story keeps the humor coming so fast (and the supporting cast is so uniformly charming) that it becomes hard to dwell on the misfires.

Of course, the main reason Fist Fight genuinely works is the wonderfully antagonistic chemistry between its two leads. Ice Cube doesn't necessarily reinvent the wheel with his tough guy portrayal of Mr. Strickland -- you could easily swap this character out for his characters from the Jump Street or Ride Along franchises. However, he has an excellent dynamic with his co-stars, and he works as a perfect counterpoint to the real star of Fist Fight: Charlie Day. Seriously, the guy is a Swiss Army Knife of comedy, as he combines the manic energy of Will Ferrell, the awkward nice guy routine of Ben Stiller, and even the raw physicality of Buster Keaton into something fantastic. This movie is Day's first real time to shine outside of It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia and he definitively proves that he can anchor a comedy by himself.

If you're in the mood for an escapist comedy (and if you don't easily get offended by all raunchy content), then Fist Fight is worth your time. It doesn't utilize the most original premise in the comedy genre, but it milks its concept for all its worth through an arsenal of entertaining performances and a profound sense of comedic tension.

Ice Cube is the textbook definition of a multi-hyphenate. He gained noteriety with his music, but since the mid-90s he has been flexing his movie muscles as an actor, writer, director and producer. He's surely best known for his work in front of the camera at this point, but he's also been an important shot-calling presence behind big recent titles like Ride Along, Barbershop: The Next Cut, and the upcoming Fist Fight. Interestingly, it's actually this relationship between his seen and unseen roles that plays into why he prefers to produce his own films: he knows he's going to bear the public pressure as the face of a project, and always wants to be sure that what he's making is up to his personal standards.

With Fist Fight arriving in theaters this week, I recently had the pleasure of hopping on the phone with Ice Cube to talk about the new film -- and one subject that I raised was his role as a producer. I asked him if being a producer has an effect on the way he approaches both projects and roles, and he explained how he views his role behind the camera and what his intentions are with each new movie. Said Cube,

Of course, being a producer is hardly a new development for Ice Cube, as it's a gig that he's had on his business card ever since he co-wrote the script for Friday. Since then, he has been a guiding force in many of his own franchises (Friday, Barbershop, Are We There Yet?, and Ride Along), as well as multiple television shows and the Oscar-nominated Straight Outta Compton. Some of Cube's greatest successes have come when he's kept a hand on the wheel, and Fist Fight very well could wind up being the latest.

Directed by Richie Keen, the new comedy stars Charlie Day as a mild-mannered teacher who finds himself in serious trouble when he rats out one of his fellow educators (Ice Cube), leading his co-worker to be fired. Incredibly pissed off at the public school system and the man who lost him his job, Cube's character challenges Day's to a fight after school -- leading the protagonist to try and find any way out of the confrontation. Fist Fight is arriving in theaters this Friday, February 17th, and be sure to stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for more from my interview with Ice Cube!

Warning: MAJOR spoilers ahead for xXx: The Return of Xander Cage

Marketing a movie is a seriously tough task. You have to know what footage to show, as well as when to show it. On that note, many of you already know that xXx: The Return of Xander Cage's marketing campaign spoiled the presence of Ice Cube's Darius Stone earlier this month when a trailer dropped featuring the badass super spy. I recently had the chance to talk to xXx 3 director D.J. Caruso about the spoiler, and he admitted that the cameo was supposed to be a secret from audiences. Caruso explained:

D.J. Caruso's comments about the Darius Stone spoiler seem to highlight the fundamental disconnect between a film's production team and its marketing team. As the director of the movie, Caruso wanted the secret to remain intact for as long as possible to maintain the effect. However, as the film screened for more and more crowds, it became increasingly evident that they wouldn't be able to keep it a secret forever, at which point the decision was made to own the spoiler and save face. We could likely debate that decision until the end of time, but D.J. Caruso ultimately seems to wish that he could've played coy about the cameo a bit longer.

Of course, there's an argument to be made that the Darius Stone cameo never even needed to be a secret in the first place. His presence in the movie doesn't have a huge influence on the plot of the film, and Ice Cube is still an insanely bankable star. In the eyes of the folks at Paramount, it probably felt like a smarter bet to get people excited about the cameo rather than worry about whether or not it would be spoiled. There's credence to both stances on the issue.

Full disclosure: we're surprised that the secret stayed hidden for as long as it did. During my conversation with D.J. Caruso about the latest xXx film, he told me that the project was conceived with Darius Stone's cameo in mind, and Ice Cube joined the project relatively early in its development. The fact that we were not able to definitively confirm the spoiler until that TV spot came out earlier this month is somewhat commendable when we consider the numerous movies that are often spoiled by leaked set photos.

What do you think? Should Paramount have kept the Darius Stone cameo a secret or were they wise to get ahead of the potential spoilers? Let us know what you think in the comments section below!

xXx: The Return of Xander Cage is currently in theaters.

Warning: MAJOR spoilers ahead for xXx: The Return of Xander Cage, turn back now if you don't want to know which character is returning!

We're only one week away from the release of xXx: The Return of Xander Cage, and the hype for the film has officially peaked. It's been a decade and a half since we last saw Vin Diesel's ultimate super spy kick some ass (and look dope while doing it), so we're aching to see what Mr. Cage has in store. That said, a new promo for the upcoming sequel has officially confirmed that the titular badass will apparently be joined by his successor, Darius Stone. Check out the trailer below to see for yourself.

That's right, folks; that trailer confirms that Ice Cube's Darius Stone will appear during the events of xXx: The Return of Xander Cage. It's been well over a decade since audiences last saw Stone (although that's still more recent than Xander Cage's last appearance), and I have to say that it's a welcome return. The character took over as the new xXx during the events of xXx: State of the Union when Xander Cage was presumed dead in Bora Bora, but now it seems that both of these badasses will share the silver screen. We will have to wait and see if one movie can hold all of that attitude.

I honestly hope that Darius Stone's appearance in the new xXx movie isn't just a cameo because he definitely would make a great addition to Xander Cage's team. Despite the fact that Vin Diesel kicked the franchise off as the extreme athlete-turned spy in 2002, Darius Stone's origins were a bit more conventional -- albeit equally badass. Rather than rely on athleticism or sports expertise, Stone was a former Navy SEAL with a wide variety of espionage and combat skills. To see him work alongside Vin Diesel's less conventional secret agent would provide the upcoming film with an excellent sense of balance with regards to the type of action for us to expect.

We're ultimately really not that surprised to see that xXx: The Return of Xander Cage has managed to find a way to incorporate Darius Stone into its plot. Regardless of how big his role in the film is, it's already becoming clear that the creative team behind the upcoming xXx sequel have endeavored to make the franchise more ensemble-oriented. This seems to indicate that Vin Diesel has learned from the success of the Fast & Furious films. Although Xander Cage grounds the entire affair, the film's marketing campaign has placed a heavy emphasis on the creation of the team to work alongside the titular spy. This includes Ruby Rose's Adele Wolff and Nina Dobrev's Becky Clearidge. Who knows? If The Return of Xander Cage is successful, we may even see spin-offs for all of these characters.

CinemaBlend will bring you all of the latest and greatest information related to the upcoming release of xXx: The Return of Xander Cage as more details become available. The third installment in the xXx franchise will blast its way into theaters on January 20. Stay tuned for more details!

Check out a full trailer for xXx: The Return of Xander Cage for an even better look at the upcoming spy adventure!

It's been nearly 200 years since his heyday, but Charles Dickens remains one of the most admired authors of all time, especially when it comes to remaking his bodies of work on the big screen. While A Christmas Carol is arguably his most popular book to adapt as a movie, Oliver Twist comes in a close second. Now Disney is gearing up to release a new version of the eponymous orphan's tale, this time with Ice Cube as one of the leads.

It was announced earlier today that Ice Cube has been cast as Fagin in a new Oliver Twist movie. This reimagining is described by THR as a "modern musical" that will cross many genres, including hip-hop. However, Cube's involvement doesn't stop at acting. He is also co-writing the script with Jeff Kwatinetz, and both men, along with Wicked's Marc Platt, are attached as producers. As for directing, Hamilton's Tony Kail has been tapped to oversee this musical.

Obviously different Oliver Twist adaptations take their own creative liberties with the source material, but the basic tale revolves around an orphan named Oliver who ends up on the streets and is soon brought into a gang of juvenile criminals led by Fagin. The most recent Oliver Twist movie released was the 2005 Roman Polanski-directed adaptation starring Ben Kingsley, but as the THR report implied, it sounds like the movie from Disney will be a contemporary re-telling, akin to the recent Annie remake. As far as Ice Cube playing Fagin, the actor has previous experience playing tough characters, so we can definitely picture him as a sinister figure manipulating a band of kids to steal on his behalf. It's also worth noting that given Hamilton's astounding success over the last year (which includes earning 11 Tony Awards), Tony Kail's involvement definitely bodes well for this being a compelling musical.

Longtime Disney fans will remember that this isn't the first time the studio has put their own spin on Oliver Twist. Back in 1988, they released Oliver & Company, which saw a homeless kitten being taken in by a gang of dogs in 1980s New York. This new movie, though, will be the House of Mouse's first go at telling the tale in live action. Like most of Disney's musicals, presumably Oliver Twist will be rated PG so the whole family can enjoy it, though don't think that Ice Cube, Tony Kail and the rest of the creative team won't shy away from some of the darker elements.

We'll keep you apprised on how Disney's Oliver Twist movie is progressing as more information comes in, but in the meantime, let us know what you think about this take in the comments below. Ice Cube can next be seen in Fist Fight, which hits theaters on Feb. 17, 2017.