Wesley Snipes will join the cast of Eddie Murphy's Coming 2 America.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Snipes will play General Izzi who is the ruler of Zamunda's neighboring nation. Snipes is set to star alongside Arsenio Hall and Eddie Murphy who have signed on to reprise their characters from the 1988 original.
Along with the announced cast, Black-ish creator, Kenya Barris, has signed on to write and produce. Joining him as producers are Eddie Murphy and Kevin Misher who is producing the film through his Misher Films production company. Craig Brewer (Hustle & Flow) will direct the film which is reportedly being shot at Rick Ross' Atlanta estate.
Snipes' addition to the project is a rekindling of creativity between himself, Brewer, and Murphy. Per THR, the three worked together on the upcoming biopic of comedian Rudy Ray Moore, Dolemite is My Name.
In the first Coming to America, Murphy plays Prince Akeem. To escape an arranged marriage, Akeem and his best friend, Semmi (Arsenio Hall), take a trip to America in hopes to find Akeem's soulmate. In the new storyline, Akeem returns to America to find his long-lost son. The film began production this summer and Paramount announced that Coming 2 America will hit theaters on Aug. 7, 2020.
As reported by Collider, Snipes is going to be joined by Arsenio Hall who will reprise his role as Semmi. James Earl Jones and Paul Bates will also return as King Jaffe Joffer and Akeem’s servant Oha. Other major names include singer Teyana Taylor and comedian Michael Blackson, as well as Leslie Jones, KiKi Layne (who will play Akeem’s daughter), Rick Ross and Jermaine Fowler, who will play Lavelle.
Coming 2 America might be the resurgence of Eddie Murphy. In July, TMZ claimed that Murphy was in discussions to create a stand-up special similar to the deals brokered by Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle.
