After years in various different stages of development, the sequel to 1988 Eddie Murphy comedy Coming To America is finally gearing up to shoot. Wesley Snipes is the latest to join the cast, alongside Saturday Night Live's Leslie Jones and If Beale Street Could Talk's Kiki Layne.
With Craig Brewer in the director's chair and Kenya Barris among those who have written the script, Coming To America (which may end up being called Coming 2 America) picks up the story of Prince Akeem (Murphy), who travelled to the States in the original looking for a woman not interested in his royal status or fortune. In the new movie, Akeem returns to America on the hunt for his long-lost son.
Snipes will play General Izzi, a man who rules a neighboring nation, and a character that didn't appear in the original. Layne's on as Akeem's daughter, who considers herself the son he never had – at least, until now. As for Jones, she's making a deal to play an unknown new character.
For Snipes, it'll mark a reunion with both Murphy and Brewer, as all three worked on_Dolemite Is My Name_, a biopic of musician and actor Rudy Ray Moore that should be out this year via Netflix and will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival this year.
In related news on the film, Deadline reports that Paul Bates will reprise his role as royal servant Oha, James Earl Jones is back as King Jaffe Joffer, Akeem's father, while Rick Ross is on as a new character.