Eddie Murphy’s Welcome 2 America release date set for spring 2021 on Amazon
Amazon Studios recently announced that they have acquired the release rights to the upcoming Eddie Murphy-helmed comedy Coming 2 America.
The film is set to be released on March 5, 2021 through Amazon Prime Video, according to Variety.
The movie is a sequel to the 1988 romantic comedy Coming to America, which was directed by John Landis and also starred Murphy, who came up with the story.
Coming soon! The Eddie Murphy comedy Coming 2 America has received a new release date of March 5, 2021 on Amazon Prime Video; the actor is seen in 2019
The production was a smash hit, grossing $350 million worldwide on a budget of $36 million.
The upcoming film will follow the soon-to-be-crowned Prince Akeem and his trusted aide Semmi as they return to New York City in search of a son, played by Jermaine Fowler, that the prince was previously unaware of.
Alongside the Beverly Hills Cop actor, the sequel will feature Arsenio Hall, James Earl Jones, and John Amos in costarring roles, all of whom appeared in the original film.
Added to the cast of the sequel are Tracy Morgan, Leslie Jones, Wesley Snipes, and Morgan Freeman, among others.
A modern classic: The original film was directed by John Landis and was released in 1988
Smash hit: The original film grossed $350 million worldwide on a budget of $36 million
The script will be written by former Saturday Night Live writers David Sheffield and Barry W. Blaustein along with Black-ish creator Kenya Davis.
After the success of the initial film, a TV pilot was produced but was not picked up as a show; it ultimately aired in 1989 as part of the CBS Summer Playhouse pilot anthology series.
Development on the sequel was first announced in 2017, but neither Murphy nor Hall were involved with the project at that point.
In January of 2019, it was confirmed that the sequel would be moving ahead with Murphy’s attachment and that Craig Brewer, who worked with the Shrek actor on 2019’s Dolemite Is My Name, would be directing.
A long time coming: The film’s development was first announced in 2017, with a full cast being named two years later
Back together: Coming 2 America will be directed by Craig Brewer, who worked with Murphy on 2019’s Dolemite Is My Name
The film was originally slated to premiere on August 5 before being pushed back to December 18, with the current pushed-back date owing to the global pandemic.
Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke stated that ‘Thanks to Eddie Murphy’s comedic genius along with the brilliant filmmakers, writers and fabulous cast, we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate this new adventure.’
Producer Kevin Misher added that ‘What could be better than a return to Zamunda? We are so excited for Amazon Studios to bring Eddie Murphy and Coming 2 America to a worldwide audience.’
The film was previously remade in India under the title My Dear Marthandan and in Hong Kong, where it was renamed The Fun, the Luck & the Tycoon.
Still at the helm: Like he did for the first film, Murphy will write the story for the upcoming sequel; the actor is seen in January