Deadline reports that James Earl Jones will be return for the sequel to Coming 2 America, reprising as King Jaffe Joffer with Paul Bates set to return as Oha. In addition, Wesley Snipes, KiKi Layne, Lesley Jones, and musician Rick Ross have joined the cast
The original starred Murphy as charming Prince Akeem of Zamunda who travelled to New York City to escape an arranged marriage, only to fall in love. Arsenio Hall, James Earl Jones, Shari Headley, and John Amos co-starred.
In the new film, Akeem is about to become king when he discovers he has a long-lost son in Queens and sets off to find him. According to The Hollywood Reporter, who broke the news of Layne and Jones’ casting, Layne will play Akeem’s daughter, who is “burdened with feeling like she is the son her father never had.” Snipes will play a new character named General Izzi, who rules a neighboring country to Zamunda.
Arsenio Hall and Jermaine Fowler co-star in the film which is helmed by Craig Brewer.
Shadow and Act had reported that “LaVelle” (Fowler) was a as a 30-year-old Queens hustler with a heart of gold. Raised by his mother, LaVelle wants a better life for himself, which could be right around the corner as he learns that he’s the possible Zamundan heir. LaVelle “has the gift of gab, able to crack wise with humor, but is by no means a clown” and he “struggles with discipline, authority and self-motivation.” Meeka (Layne), on the other hand, is the 20-year-old “proud and principled daughter of Zamunda” who is “athletic and skilled in the art of self-defense, but she is also measured in her temperament, always seeking a calm, diplomatic solution to conflict.” Meeka is beautiful and capable, but still holds anxiety over “wanting to be the son Akeem never had.” Her challenge is to show her father her true self and “be brave with her heart.”
Murphy, Snipes and Brewer all recently worked together on the biopic “Dolemite Is My Name” about provocative stand-up comedian Rudy Ray Moore.
“Coming 2 America” is produced by Murphy, Kevin Misher and “black-ish” creator Kenya Barris and hits cinemas December 18th 2020.
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