The block’s favorite morning banter could soon echo in theaters again. Last Friday, the long-teased continuation of the cult comedy series, has entered active development with Lawrence Lamont set to direct and Ice Cube (O'Shea Jackson) back as writer, producer, and star.
New Line Cinema is shepherding the project, marking the first major Friday film in roughly 25 years. That span has only deepened the fandom’s appetite. Who will come back? Which corners of South Central will we revisit? Those questions are part of the fun of a reunion that feels more like a hometown block party than a franchise reboot.
Lamont—who earned attention for One of Them Days, a character-driven comedy starring Keke Palmer and SZA—brings a fresh voice to a legacy property. Ice Cube, one of the original creators, returns to the writer’s room alongside his production company CubeVision, with Bob Teitel and Michael Gruber joining as producers and Jeff Quatintz credited as executive producer.
After more than two decades, the Friday franchise is gearing up for a comeback on the big screen.
The original 1995 Friday, directed by F. Gary Gray, introduced Craig and Smokey—played by Ice Cube and Chris Tucker—and spun a deceptively simple slice-of-life tale into a lasting comedy touchstone. Ice Cube co-wrote that first script with DJ Pooh; sequels followed in 2000 (Next Friday) and 2002 (Friday After Next), and even a short-lived animated series popped up on MTV2 in the 2000s.
Details about Last Friday’s plot and which legacy characters will return remain under wraps, but production logistics are already in motion. The shoot is slated for Southern California and benefits from a California film incentive: New Line has secured approximately $11.4 million in production credits. The schedule calls for roughly a 40-day shoot, about 43 cast members, and a crew of 150—numbers that hint at a robust, locality-rooted production.
Lamont’s previous film was modestly budgeted—around $14 million—and went on to gross over $51 million worldwide, later enjoying a strong streaming presence on Netflix. That blend of indie spirit and mainstream reach may be exactly what helps Last Friday strike the balance between nostalgia and a contemporary update.
Fans should temper excitement with patience: no release date has been announced. But even at this early stage, the project's ingredients—an original creator at the helm of the script, a director coming off a breakout comedy, and significant studio backing—suggest a careful effort to honor what made Friday resonate while exploring new territory.
Expect familiar beats, new voices, and a soundtrack of neighborhood life—chaos included. Keep an eye on casting announcements; they will tell us whether this is a quiet reunion or a full-blown streetside celebration. Either way, the block has something to say again.
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