Lawrence Lamont to helm the newest 'Friday' comedy

by : Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

In a significant development for fans of the long-running 'Friday' film series, filmmaker Lawrence Lamont has been selected to direct 'Last Friday.' Lamont, whose recent work on 'One of Them Days' garnered considerable attention, is now set to bring his creative vision to this eagerly awaited continuation of the beloved buddy comedy franchise, marking its return after a quarter-century hiatus.

The upcoming movie will see Ice Cube, a co-creator of the original series, take on multiple roles, including screenwriting, production, and starring in the film. Accompanying him in the production efforts are Bob Teitel and Michael Gruber from CubeVision. The original 'Friday' movie, released in 1995 and directed by F. Gary Gray, achieved cult status by portraying the lives of Craig Jones, played by Ice Cube, and Smokey, played by Chris Tucker, navigating various challenges in South Central Los Angeles. The success of the initial film led to subsequent installments, 'Next Friday' in 2000 and 'Friday After Next' in 2002, with Ice Cube penning and starring in both sequels, while Tucker's involvement was limited to the first film.

Filming for 'Last Friday' is planned for Southern California and will benefit from the state's production incentive program, having secured $11.4 million. The project anticipates a 40-day shooting schedule involving 43 cast members and 150 crew members. Jeff Kwatinetz will serve as an executive producer. Lamont's career began with directing music videos for artists like Big Sean, J. Cole, and Snoop Dogg, earning him an MTV Video Music Award. His feature film debut, 'One of Them Days,' starring Keke Palmer and SZA, was a commercial and critical success, grossing over $51 million globally and topping Netflix charts for four weeks. Lamont received the AAFCA Breakthrough Director Award and an NAACP Image Award nomination for his direction of the film.

This new chapter in the 'Friday' saga represents an exciting blend of established comedic talent and fresh directorial insight. By bringing back familiar characters and themes while introducing new creative energy, the film is poised to resonate with both long-time enthusiasts and new audiences, reinforcing the timeless appeal of the franchise's unique humor and relatable storytelling.

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