Mike Epps just confirmed something fans have been waiting for since 2002.
While sitting down with The Breakfast Club to promote his new comedy tour, the actor and comedian revealed that the fourth installment of the Friday film franchise has finally been green-lit after Charlamagne Tha God asked if he and Ice Cube have talked about Last Friday yet.
“He called me the other day, said we just finished the deal,” Epps said before giving the West Coast legend his flowers. “So, we doing the last Friday, man. And big shout-out to Cube; that’s another brother that has put so many brothers on, man, and don’t really get the props for it. Put me, Chris Tucker, Bernie Mac, I mean name ’em. This dude gave dudes opportunities.”
While he hasn’t seen a script for the film yet, Epps promises to continue Friday‘s legacy of introducing new comics to a wider audience. “I haven’t seen the script, but I’m pretty sure it’s good,” he said. “And we’re gonna bring in the new comics. We’re gonna put the DC Young Flys and all of them in with the OGs. It’s going to be a good a– time.”
He also remained hopeful that Chris Tucker will be onboard this time around, as the actor and comedian has been hesitant to reprise his iconic role as Smokey over the years. “People still love Chris Tucker, he’s still Smokey,” Epps said. “He laid it down, he positioned me to do it. So Chris, if you’re listening, we need you, baby boy. Come on back.”
Tucker seemed open to coming back to the film franchise that made him a star when talking with Big Tigger last year, ultimately putting the onus on studio executives. “It’s studios, and they gotta want to do it, and then it’s producers and all that stuff,” Tucker said. “It’s a lot that goes with it.”
The Friday franchise started with the original film starring Ice Cube and Tucker in 1995 followed by two Tucker-free sequels: 2000’s Next Friday and 2002’s Friday After Next.
You can watch the full conversation with Epps below.
