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Working and living abroad is the dream of many people across the world. Getting to explore new places, meet new people, and experience new cultures is exciting in real life and on the screen. Going to another country to do your work brings out another type of energy, and that journey is what inspired the series Expats.

Series and movies that deal with living abroad often aren’t only about being a fish out of the water but are often introspective journeys that explore isolation and what it means to be yourself. Expats created a passionate fanbase, and there are plenty of great shows and movies for those fans to watch if they need something similar.

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When Eddie Murphy debuted on SNL in 1980, he instantly became the show’s biggest star — in large part because of the characters he created. And it definitely was characters, as in plural, as in many more than just one. In fact, they’ve transcended era, too, as they’ve remained some of the most well-known in SNL history, particularly Gumby, Buckwheat, Mr. Robinson and Murphy’s take on James Brown.

For the most part, Murphy crafted them with the help of the writing duo Barry W. Blaustein and David Sheffield, both of whom would later play a big part in Murphy’s film career, writing Coming to America, Nutty Professor and several other of his movies.

I recently caught up with Blaustein about his time writing with Murphy on SNL, who, during our call, shared the financial advice James Brown gave Murphy, why Gumby’s creator loved Murphy’s twist...

James Brown, the Hardest Working Man in Show Business, was an Eddie Murphy staple, both in his stand-up comedy…

…and on Saturday Night Live, where Murphy played Brown multiple times — most famously on James Brown’s Celebrity Hot Tub Party. Originally, Murphy wasn’t convinced the sketch was a good idea. “I actually didn't think that was funny until we did it,” he told Jimmy Fallon in 2011.

The concept was the brainchild of Barry Blaustein and David Sheffield, two SNL writers who would go on to co-write several Murphy movies, including Coming to America, Boomerang and Nutty Professor. “You know, I think it was an herb-induced sketch,” Murphy said, remembering the pitch going something like this:

Blaustein/Sheffield: (inhaling a joint) You know, if he was James Brown in a hot tub…

Murphy: James Brown in a hot tub?!?!

Blaustein/Sheffield: No, listen. (Taking another hit and holding in...

Coming to America is coming to Paramount+. The beloved 1980s comedy starring Eddie Murphy, which is currently without a streaming home, will be added to the Paramount-owned service next month.

Set to arrive on Paramount+ on Aug. 1, 2024, Coming to America stars Murphy as Akeem Joffer, the crown prince of the fictional African nation of Zamunda who travels to the United States in the hopes of finding a woman he can marry who will love him for who he is and not for his status. The comedy film also stars Arsenio Hall as Akeem's friend, Semmi; James Earl Jones as Akeem's father, King Jaffe Joffer; John Amos as Cleo McDowell; Madge Sinclair as Akeem's mother, Queen Aoleon Joffer; and Shari Headley as Lisa McDowell, Akeem's love interest and Cleo's eldest daughter.

Related 'I Forced Myself to Stop': Eddie Murphy Recalls Retiring Trademark Laugh

Exclusive: Eddie Murphy reflects on...

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Eddie Murphy’s first entry in the romantic-comedy genre was Boomerang, released by Paramount Pictures on July 1, 1992 — and which will be reissued on Blu-ray for the first time June 28.

Murphy, who became a top name of the 1980s with franchises like 48 Hours and Beverly Hills Cop, hatched an idea of himself as a ladies’ man who meets his match. The star then connected with Barry Blaustein and David Sheffield, two writers he’d met at Saturday Night Live who worked with him on Coming to America (1988), to pitch a movie in the vein of Alfie and Annie Hall.

Boomerang focused on Marcus (Murphy), an affluent, womanizing advertising exec who has the tables turned on him after he falls hard for his new boss (Robin Givens). Helmed by Reginald Hudlin, who’d made his directorial debut with the 1990 comedy House Party, Boomerang featured a predominantly Black cast,...

Coming 2 America Review — Coming 2 America (2020) Video Movie Review, a movie directed by Craig Brewer, written by Kenya Barris, Barry W. Blaustein, David Sheffield, and starring Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, James Earl Jones, Shari Headley, Garcelle Beauvais, Clint Smith, Leslie Jones, John Amos, Tracy Morgan, Wesley Snipes, Louie [...]

Continue reading: Video Movie Review: Coming 2 America (2021): A Fun Sequel that Entertains and Plays it Safe...

The absence of Eriq La Salle meant that there were references to Soul Glo heir Darryl Jenks in Coming 2 America, but the creators have revealed the planned cameo scene they originally had in mind. In the first Coming to America movie, La Salle played Darryl Jenks, heir to the Jheri curl-like company called Soul Glo. No one who has seen the movie can ever forget the jingle heard in the brand's television commercials, and many fans were hoping to see some kind of Easter egg referencing Soul Glo or Darryl in the sequel.

Unfortunately, Eriq La Salle was not interested in reprising the role of Darryl for Coming 2 America. In a new interview with Rolling Stone, Coming 2 America co-writer David Sheffield and director Craig Brewer have revealed how they would have included La Salle's character if the actor had accepted their offer to return. As Sheffield explains, Darryl...

Despite Coming 2 America receiving decidedly mixed reviews, the comedy sequel has already been a hugely successful release for Amazon, and now, star Eddie Murphy has revealed that he has plans for a third go-round...but don't hold your breath. Coming 2 America took a long time to make it to screens, and according to the comedian, the same would apply to Coming to America 3.

" There's an idea for a Coming to America 3 that I have, but it doesn't happen for 16 years. I have to be 75 to do it, and not make me up like 75 but really be 75."

Seeing as Coming 2 America took more than three decades to come to fruition, and considering the huge success the movie has seen so far, it's not too surprising to learn that Eddie Murphy would apply the same approach to Coming 3 America. No, wait, that doesn't work. Anyway, Coming to America 3 would...

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“Coming 2 America” proves that audience are still itching to see Eddie Murphy onscreen, no matter how long he takes between films. In a recent interview promoting “Coming 2 America,” Murphy bluntly explained why he stopped acting for so many years. “I was making shitty movies,” he said. “I was like, ‘This shit ain’t fun. They’re giving me Razzies…Motherfuckers gave me the ‘worst actor ever’ Razzie. [So I thought], ‘Maybe it’s time to take a break.”

The film, which premiered on Amazon Prime Video on March 5, picks up 30-plus years after the original. Prince Akeem (Murphy) is happily married to Lisa (Shari Headley), and living in Zamunda with his wife and three daughters.

The new comedy sequel Coming 2 America has been named as the most-watched streaming movie in a given weekend during the pandemic, this according to Amazon and the ratings firm Screen Engine/Asi. In October, Amazon picked up the rights to the anticipated movie for an exclusive streaming release on Amazon Prime. In a statement released on Monday, Head of Amazon Studios Jennifer Salke explained how it all paid off by touting the sequel's success.

"The Zamunda Royal family has arrived and audiences around the globe welcomed them enthusiastically! The premiere of Coming 2 America has far exceeded any of our wildest expectations," Salke said. "It's clear an entire new generation of fans have joined the enormous loyal fanbase who already adored the magical world created by global phenom Eddie Murphy, the incredibly talented filmmaking team and the hilarious, all-star cast of existing and newly-cemented legends. Coming 2 America is the perfectly fun,...

In its first weekend on Amazon Prime, Eddie Murphy’s “Coming 2 America” became the most-watched streaming film since movie theaters closed due to Covid-19 nearly a year ago, according to Amazon and Screen Engine/Asi.

The sequel to the ’80s comedy about an African prince traveling to New York to find true love topped “The Spongebob Movie: Sponge On The Run,” which was originally set for theatrical release but instead became a launch title for the new Paramount+ streaming service. “Coming 2 America” was also initially set to be a Paramount theatrical release, but was sold to Amazon as part of a series of sales of Paramount films to various streaming services.

Along with “Coming 2 America” and “Spongebob,” the top five most-watched streaming films of the weekend on Screen Engine’s charts were Netflix’s “To All the Boys: Always and Forever” and “I Care A Lot,” along...

For fans of Coming to America, one of the biggest joys of Craig Brewer’s recently released sequel, Coming 2 America, was seeing the multiple nostalgic nods to the original hit. Actress Vanessa Bell Calloway, last seen hopping on one foot as Eddie Murphy’s bride-to-be, was still hopping. Peaches and Sugar Cube, two rappers who made a brief yet memorable club appearance 33 years ago, re-emerged here for the climax. But with Eriq La Salle not returning to portray the Soul Glo heir Darryl Jenks, one planned scene never made it past the ideation stage.

After a decades long wait, Coming 2 America recently premiered on Amazon Prime Video, and many fans say it's Wesley Snipes who steals the show as new character General Izzi. Serving as a direct sequel to Coming to America, the new movie brings back Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall to reprise their many roles from the original. Even so, it appears to be the original character played by Snipes that a lot of viewers enjoyed seeing the most.

"Wesley Snipes stole the show for me! Him and is Step Team," one fan writes on Twitter.

#Coming2America Wesley Snipes stole the show for me! Him and is Step Team. pic.twitter.com/ww2vmjm7VK

— Ayokari Hoyes (@AyoSoJoyful) March 5, 2021

"The best part of this movie is Wesley Snipes. This man funny," another fan posted.

The best part of this movie is Wesley Snipes...

Craig Brewer is a white filmmaker not unaccustomed to Black-centered stories. Barring his 2000 indie debut, “The Poor & Hungry,” and his 2011 “Footloose” remake, his films predominantly feature African-American protagonists. Brewer based his Memphis-set Southern rap drama “Hustle & Flow” on his friendships with hip-hop artists Al Kapone, Juicy J, and DJ Paul. (John Singleton produced the film.) The blaxploitation-influenced “Black Snake Moan,” whose framed poster features a provocative, menacing Samuel L. Jackson standing over a chained daisy-duke wearing Christina Ricci, peaks from behind Brewer’s shoulder, while hanging on his wall.

Brewer is still riding high from his first Eddie Murphy collaboration — the widely successful “Dolemite Is My Name,” a light-hearted biopic of blaxploitation icon Rudy Ray Moore that garnered the best reviews of the filmmaker’s career while ushering a comeback for Murphy. An ‘80s cinema fanatic, “The Breakfast Club” and “Purple Rain” greatly impacted the Memphis filmmaker, as did...

Photo: ‘Coming 2 America’/Amazon Studios ‘Coming 2 America’ has an opening sequence that may strike you as old-fashioned, with its sweeping aerial footage, grand orchestral score, and fade-in-and-out credits. Of course, if you revisited the original ‘Coming to America’ in anticipation of its sequel, you’d see the immediate resemblance--the original opens in exactly the same way, except its painted-set Xanadu-esque depiction of Zamunda is replaced by modern CGI and Rick Ross’ Georgia megamansion. Much of the film pays direct homage to its predecessor in this way, and it’s actually quite charming to see such a thorough cast reunion after 33 years--not only do Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall reprise their starring roles as Prince Akeem of Zamunda and confidante Semmi, but so do a myriad of supporting cast members including Shari Headley, James Earl Jones, John Amos, Louie Anderson, and Vanessa Bell Calloway. Even the film’s original writers returned,...

Coming 2 America (film on Amazon Prime); Cast: Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Jermaine Fowler, Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan, KiKi Layne, Shari Headley, Teyana Taylor, Wesley Snipes, James Earl Jones; Direction: Craig Brewer; Rating: * * and 1/2 (two and a half stars)

By Vinayak Chakravorty

You'd be okay with all that goes on if you loved the first film. Coming 2 America essentially tries to be more of the same. Which is what most sequels do, except that this one comes a good 33 years after the original released.

Back in 1988 when Coming To America released, Eddie Murphy was a superstar. Revisiting a brand of comedy that seemed cool over three decades ago can be a tough deal, and Murphy is obviously banking on his fan base of yore to sail through.

Well, one thing is clear. At 59, Murphy has lost none of the vim. He strikes vintage form with comic timing and reloads the infectious,...

Coming 2 America movie review is here. The 2021 American comedy film serves as a sequel to the original 1988 film starring Eddie Murphy. Directed by Craig Brewer from a screenplay by Kenya Barris, Barry W Blaustein and David Sheffield, Coming 2 America is based on characters created by Eddie Murphy. The second installment in the Coming to America film series stars Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Jermaine Fowler, Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan, KiKi Layne, Shari Headley, Teyana Taylor, Wesley Snipes and James Earl Jones.

Originally to be theatrically released by Paramount Pictures, the film's distribution rights were sold to Amazon Studios due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Coming 2 America is released on Prime Video on March 5, 2021.

Coming 2 America Movie Review

Those who have treasured the 1988 comedy which is now a classic on its own, some may even call it as a cult will obviously have a level of expectations from its...

Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on Wbgr-fm on March 4th, 2021, reviewing the new film “Coming 2 America,” streaming on Amazon Prime Video beginning March 5th, 2021.

Rating: 3.5/5.0

He’s back! African Prince Akeem of Zamunda (Eddie Murphy) is about to be king, and worries that he doesn’t have a son … Zamunda requires a male heir, and he has three daughters. But when he finds out he actually has a son (Jermaine Fowler) back in America, after having had a brief fling with Mary (Leslie Jones) back in 1988, he goes back with sidekick Semmi (Arsenio Hall) to retrieve his son, to train him to be King.

“Coming 2 America” will stream on Amazon Prime Video beginning March 5th. Featuring Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, James Earl Jones, Jermaine Fowler, Leslie Jones and Tracy Morgan. Screenplay by Kenya Barris, Barry W. Blaustein and David Sheffield.

As Amazon Prime Video’s premiere of sequel Coming 2 America ends decades’ worth of wait for fans of the 1988 Eddie Murphy comedy classic, Coming to America, it seemed as good a time as any to look back at the first attempt to capitalize on the franchise, the 1989 spinoff television pilot. Indeed, it’s an endeavor of which few fans are aware, and a fascinating failure during an era in which television was churning out cinematic-inspired sitcoms left and right.

Of course, the Coming to America movie was a resounding success, a widely-accessible romantic comedy that permeated pop culture in a manner evocative of the A-list heyday of star Eddie Murphy. The 1988 film, put in the stable hands of director John Landis, wrought $288 million worldwide box office success, which made the notion of a sequel seem inevitable, despite how long it would take. However, the property first became fodder for...

I don’t envy the job of anyone tasked with taking a classic Eighties comedy — Coming to America, say — and making a decades-later sequel that tries to please its guaranteed audience. Namely, everyone who loved the original, people who’ve rewatched it a million times, who have Soul Glo memes saved on their phones, who know every word to Sexual Chocolate’s song who — as in my case — grew up in families where Coming to America was probably the only consensus movie that everyone from my grandmother down to myself...

Every so often, we get sequels that move a story forward, that enrich beloved characters and the world they inhabit, or that upends and deconstructs the first movie entirely. But most of the time, we get safe, stodgy, repetitive follow-ups like “Coming 2 America,” which goes out of its way to make sure that every joke from the first movie comes out to take another bow.

If there’s any gag from 1988’s “Coming to America” that director Craig Brewer can’t reprise or restage, he will literally roll the clip from the first movie so we can take it in all over again. This feels less like a movie and more like one of those reunion specials where the cast of a beloved old TV show returns to play their characters again, recreating their pratfalls and repeating their catchphrases.

Viewers who weren’t amused by “Coming to America” certainly...

Before watching Coming 2 America, try to think of some successful comedy sequels. If the best you can conjure up is Wayne’s World 2 or 22 Jump Street then that really speaks for itself, doesn’t it? More difficult than the traditional comedy sequel is the many-years-too-late variety of retread. Just ask Zoolander 2 or Dumb and Dumber To. Rehashing the same jokes and running them into the ground, reusing the old beloved catchphrases, and hitting the same story beats typically set comedy sequels up for failure, no matter how nostalgic audiences may be for the original. For every Borat 2, there are 10 Hangover 2s.

The team behind Coming 2 America knows this. They even acknowledge it with a joke in the movie. It’s obvious that the everyone involved with Coming 2 America, including returning stars Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall, director Craig Brewer, and screenwriters Kenya Barris, Barry W. Blaustein,...

A sequel made decades after the first movie is often a cause for some concern, and Coming 2 America is no different, especially considering the rollercoaster ride that Eddie Murphy's career has been over the last few years. Well, in a bizarre crossover, these worries would have been realized for many, with Murphy revealing that the highly anticipated Coming to America sequel almost featured a cameo from The Nutty Professor family, The Klumps.

"There was a scene in this Coming 2 America we just did. There was a scene where the Klumps, remember the circumcision scene? Originally, the Klumps kind of popped up in that scene. In the long run, it was too hard a left, and it would have been too expensive to do. So yeah, they were in this thing."

Ultimately, after a period of reflection and no doubt an angry email from the accounts department, the...

In the late 1980s, screenwriter Barry Blaustein was at a Los Angeles Clippers game watching Michael Cage – a six foot nine rebounding machine known almost as much for his vibrant Jheri curl as his domineering talent – when an idea hit him. He and his writing partner, David Sheffield, had been working on a script with Eddie Murphy called The Quest, about an African prince who travels to America to find a wife. Staring at Cage’s formidable follicles, Blaustein thought back to 1970s commercials for Afro Sheen hair products. He...

Coming 2 America stars Tracy Morgan, Leslie Jones, Wesley Snipes, Jermaine Fowler, Bella Murphy and KiKi Layne reenact the original comedy’s “Soul Glo” ad in this bonus clip ahead of the film’s global premiere March 5th on Amazon Prime Video.

In Coming to America, Eddie Murphy’s Prince Akeem vied for the affections of Lisa against Eriq La Salle’s Darryl, the heir to Soul Glo; a commercial for the Jheri curl-inducing hair products that plays through a store window during the film and inspires Akeem to cut his hair to woo Lisa.

Amazon gifted the Super Bowl audience with a new trailer for Coming 2 America. Eddie Murphy and crew are back to bring Zamunda to the rest of the world. Just don't mistakenly call it Wakanda. Murphy is back playing multiple characters, just like he did in the iconic original movie, while introducing a brand-new generation to Akeem and Semmi. 2021 is the perfect time for the long-awaited sequel, and thankfully, we don't have to wait too much longer to see it.

Set in the lush and royal country of Zamunda, newly-crowned King Akeem (Eddie Murphy) and his trusted confidante Semmi (Arsenio Hall) embark on an all-new hilarious adventure that has them traversing the globe from their great African nation to the borough of Queens, New York - where it all began. Original cast favorites from Coming to America return including King Jaffe Joffer (James Earl Jones), Queen Lisa (Shari Headley), Cleo...

Amazon Studios has shared the second trailer for the much-anticipated Coming 2 America, the sequel to the 1988 Eddie Murphy comedy that premieres on the streaming service of March 5th.

Building off the first trailer that premiered in December, the new preview brings the action first to Queens and then the fictional country of Zamunda, where Murphy’s King Akeem faces a potential military coup led by a general played by Wesley Snipes. In order to stop the takeover, King Akeem and his confidante Semmi (Arsenio Hall) venture back to America...

The full-length trailer for the long-awaited comedy sequel, Coming 2 America, has arrived, ready to put a smile on all our weary faces. The movie, which comes some thirty-plus years after the original, brings back Eddie Murphy as Akeem Joffer, former Prince, now King of Zamunda, alongside Arsenio Hall as best friend Semmi.

Set after the events of the first film, Coming 2 America finds former Prince and newly-crowned King, Akeem Joffer, all set to become King of Zamunda when he discovers he has a son he never knew about in America - a street savvy Queens native named Lavelle. Honoring his royal father's dying wish to groom this son as the crown prince, Akeem and Semmi set off to America once again. Beginning in the lush and royal country of Zamunda, Akeem and his trusted confidante Semmi embark on an all-new hilarious adventure that has them traversing the globe...

Coming 2 America has just gotten a new official poster ahead of its debut on Amazon Prime Video next month. Originally, the anticipated Coming to America sequel was set to release in theaters last year, but the premiere was canceled due to the pandemic. Amazon has since picked up the rights for an exclusive debut on Prime with a Coming 2 America release date now set for March 5.

A previously-released Coming 2 America teaser poster gave us a look at Prince Akeem Joffer returning to New York with Eddie Murphy reprising the iconic role. Amazon's new poster shows off its entire ensemble cast, featuring a mix of several returning stars from Coming to America along with many newcomers to the franchise. You can take a look at it below.

Coming 2 America brings back Eddie Murphy as Akeem Joffer, Arsenio Hall as Semmi, Shari Headley as Lisa, John Amos as Cleo McDowell,...

Amazon Studios will exclusively release Coming 2 America globally on Prime Video March 5th, 2021. Today came a new announcement…

Official Statement from the Royals of Zamunda:

Our exalted ruler of Zamunda and cinematic icon turns 90-years-old this Sunday, January 17th. Please join us in wishing James Earl Jones the most royal of birthdays!

#HappyBirthdayJEJ

Set in the lush and royal country of Zamunda, newly-crowned King Akeem (Eddie Murphy) and his trusted confidante Semmi(Arsenio Hall) embark on an all-new hilarious adventure that has them traversing the globe from their great African nation to the borough of Queens, New York – where it all began.

Coming To America 2 stars Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Jermaine Fowler, Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan, KiKi Layne, Shari Headley, with Wesley Snipes and James Earl Jones. Also starring John Amos, Teyana Taylor, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Paul Bates, Nomzamo Mbatha, Bella Murphy.

Screenplay by Kenya Barris and Barry W. Blaustein & David Sheffield,...

'Coming 2 America' trailer is out now.

Amazon Prime Video dropped the official trailer for the Eddie Murphy-led upcoming comedy film 'Coming 2 America' and it doesn’t disappoint at all.

The rom-com film is a sequel to 1998's hit comedy flick 'Coming to America' and sees the 59-year-old actor reprises his iconic role as Prince Akeem Joffer, the Prince of Zamunda.

The new trailer kicks off with the voice of James Earl Jones, who plays Akeem's father King Jaffe Joffer, who orders him to return to America to find his son about whom he knew nothing.

"You must heed my words before I'm gone, my son," he says. "Now you will be king. But the throne must pass to a male heir. Akeem, it appears, you have a son. He must be found," as per The Hollywood Reporter.

The first movie follows...

Eddie Murphy is back in one of his most iconic roles. Yes, Prince Akeem is again going to tickle our funny bones. A sequel to Coming to America had long been spoken about, but it finally happened. Moreover, we now have a Trailer for Coming 2 America which we can pour over. Of course, the film notably got acquired by Amazon Studios and will drop on Amazon Prime Video in March, so we have a bit of a wait (one that excludes it from any Oscar consideration this year). Still, it’s something exciting, and you can see the Trailer at the end of this post… The movie is, obviously, a Coming to America sequel. The synopsis is as follows: “Set in the lush and royal country of Zamunda, newly-crowned King Akeem (Eddie Murphy) and his trusted confidante Semmi (Arsenio Hall) embark on an all-new hilarious adventure that has them...

The first Coming 2 America trailer has been released, and many fans of the original are most excited to see the return of Randy Watson and his band, Sexual Chocolate. In the original Coming to America, Eddie Murphy famously played several additional characters in addition to his lead role as Prince Akeem. Perhaps the most popular of his secondary characters is Randy Watson, the energetic soul singer who performs with Sexual Chocolate in a particularly memorable scene, much to the delight of the barbershop crew.

We knew that Coming 2 America would be bringing back several returning characters, and a new trailer officially reveals that Sexual Chocolate is back. We're only given a brief look at the band in the trailer, but Randy is back in action rocking the same hairstyle and polyester clothing he wore over three decades ago. The confirmation that the fan favorite character is back is...

Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall make a return trip from their African home to Queens, New York in Coming 2 America, the long-awaited sequel to the 1988 original, and the new film’s trailer hits many of the expected marks.

Amazon Studios, which acquired the film from Paramount, will release it domestically via Amazon Prime Video on March 5.

Many of the gags in the trailer (watch it above) stem from the actors playing dual roles. They are not only King Akeem (Murphy) and his confidante Semmi (Hall) from the fictional nation of Zamunda, but also, thanks to the magic of cinema, hair and makeup, two wisecracking barbers in a barbershop.

The setup for the encore trip to New York is provided by James Earl Jones, who plays Akeem’s father. “Before I am gone,” he says, he wants Akeem to know that his throne must be passed to a male heir. “Akeem,...

Amazon dropped the trailer for “Coming 2 America” Tuesday, featuring Eddie Murphy reprising his iconic role as Prince Akeem from “Coming to America” — actually, that’s King Akeem now — and taking on a few other parts you’ll remember from the 1988 comedy, plus some new ones.

And not to be outdone, Murphy’s “Coming to America” co-star Arsenio Hall — who is back as Akeem’s trusted confidante, Semmi — is also playing multiple roles again.

Per Amazon, “Set in the lush and royal country of Zamunda, newly-crowned King Akeem (Eddie Murphy) and his trusted confidante Semmi (Arsenio Hall) embark on an all-new hilarious adventure that has them traversing the globe from their great African nation to the borough of Queens, New York – where it all began.”

Watch the trailer above to see Murphy as the royal Akeem, the old barber he played in “Coming to America,” an overweight rock-and-roll musician character,...

Amazon Studios gave us our first glimpse at Coming 2 America, the sequel to the beloved 1988 comedy Coming to America. The film hits the streaming service on March 5th.

The teaser includes a whirlwind of characters from the previous film — many of which are played by stars Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall. The movie follows King Akeem (Murphy) and his friend and advisor Semmi (Hall) as they leave their home country of Zamunda to retrieve Akeem’s lost heir — in Queens, New York. The original film — directed by John Landis...

Amazon Studios has unveiled the first trailer for “Coming 2 America,” which sees the return of Eddie Murphy as the charming Prince Akeem.

In the upcoming sequel, Prince Akeem, who is set to become the king of the fictional country of Zamunda, finds out he has a son he never knew about — a street-savvy Queens native, Lavelle. To honor the former king’s dying wish to raise his grandson as the crown prince, Akeem and his younger brother, Semmi, once again leave for America.

The 1988 “Coming to America,” directed by John Landis, introduced Murphy as a young royal who moves to New York City to escape an arranged marriage. Murphy’s co-stars James Earl Jones and Arsenio Hall will also reprise their roles as King Jaffe Joffer and Semmi, respectively. They will be joined by Jermaine Fowler, Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan, KiKi Layne, Shari Headley, Wesley Snipes, John Amos, Teyana Taylor,...

Over three decades after Eddie Murphy starred as Prince Akeem in “Coming to America,” the comedian is bringing the character back — this time as the newly crowned King Akeem — in “Coming 2 America.” Below, find the first trailer for the long-awaited sequel. The movie, originally planned for theatrical release by Paramount, will instead drop on Amazon Prime Video on March 5. It follows Akeem as he returns to New York City in a quest to reunite with his long-lost son (Jermaine Fowler), a Queens native whom Akeem must groom to be the next crown prince of Zamunda.

Here’s Amazon’s official synopsis: “Set in the lush and royal country of Zamunda, newly-crowned King Akeem (Eddie Murphy) and his trusted confidante Semmi (Arsenio Hall) embark on an all-new hilarious adventure that has them traversing the globe from their great African nation to the borough of Queens, New York – where it all began.

In anticipation of the imminent release of the Coming 2 America trailer, the first official teaser poster has now been released by Amazon Studios to tide fans over. Featuring Eddie Murphy's Prince Akeem Joffer flashing a million-dollar smile as he returns once again to these United States, the long-awaited sequel promises to be a worthy follow-up.

Picking after the events of the first film, newly-crowned King Akeem Joffer (Eddie Murphy) is set to become King of Zamunda when he discovers he has a son he never knew about in America - a street savvy Queens native named Lavelle (Jermaine Fowler). Honoring his royal father's (James Earl Jones) dying wish to groom this son as the crown prince, Akeem and Semmi (Arsenio Hall) set off to America once again. Beginning in the lush and royal country of Zamunda, Akeem (Eddie Murphy) and his trusted confidante Semmi (Arsenio Hall) embark on...

After revealing the first photos of Eddie Murphy and other returning Coming to America stars, Amazon Studios has unveiled our first look at the newcomers to the cast for the upcoming sequel Coming 2 America. On Thursday, several photos were released of Murphy as Akeem, Arsenio Hall as Semmi, Shari Headley as Lisa, and James Earl Jones as Akeem's father. We also got a peek at Murphy once again playing multiple characters in the barbershop along with Hall playing one of the patrons.

Now, another batch of images reveal who the returning stars will be working with in Coming 2 America. This includes Jermaine Fowler as Akeem's long lost son, Lavelle; KiKi Layne as Akeem's first daughter, Meeka; Wesley Snipes as General Izzi, the antagonist; Tracy Morgan as Reem, Lavelle's uncle; and Leslie Jones as Lavelle's mother. Additionally, a look at Paul Bates returning as the royal servant can also...

The wait for Coming 2 America is going to be a few months longer than we thought, as Paramount Pictures has set March 5, 2021, as the worldwide release date for the upcoming sequel. Originally scheduled to release in theaters next month, it had been previously reported that the sequel would be heading straight to Amazon Prime Video for a digital release instead of its initial plan to debut in theaters. As the streamer has officially closed the deal with Paramount, the new release date has been revealed in a joint statement submitted to the press on Friday.

"Coming to America was a cultural phenomenon that is one of the most loved and celebrated comedies of all time," Jennifer Salke of Amazon Studios said in the statement. "What could be better than a return to Zamunda?" producer Kevin Misher added.

Directed by John Landis, the first Coming to America was released in...

Amazon Studios has acquired worldwide rights to Coming 2 America from Paramount Pictures. This long-awaited sequel to the iconic comedy Coming to America will launch worldwide in over 240 countries and territories on Prime Video on March 5, 2021.

Set in the lush and royal country of Zamunda, newly-crowned King Akeem (Eddie Murphy) and his trusted confidante Semmi(Arsenio Hall) embark on an all-new hilarious adventure that has them traversing the globe from their great African nation to the borough of Queens, New York – where it all began.

Original cast favorites from Coming to America return including King Jaffe Joffer (James Earl Jones), Queen Lisa (Shari Headley), Cleo McDowell (John Amos), Maurice (Louie Anderson) and the motley barbershop crew. Joining this star-studded ensemble are Wesley Snipes, Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan, Jermaine Fowler, Bella Murphy, Rotimi, KiKi Layne, Nomzamo Mbatha and Teyana Taylor, making Coming 2 America the most anticipated comedy film of the year.

Amazon Studios has confirmed that it has acquired worldwide rights to keenly anticipated sequel “Coming 2 America” from Paramount Pictures, and has set a March 5, 2021 date to launch on Amazon Prime Video.

Variety reported that the deal was being hammered out last month.

The film is a sequel to John Landis’ 1988 comedy “Coming to America,” which grossed more than $288 million worldwide. In that film, the pampered Crown Prince Akeem (Eddie Murphy) of the African nation of Zamunda travels to Queens, New York, accompanied by his confidante Semmi (Arsenio Hall), and goes undercover to find a wife that he can respect for her intelligence.

In the sequel, directed by Craig Brewer (“Dolemite Is My Name”), newly-crowned King Akeem and Semmi embark on a new adventure that has them traversing the globe from Zamunda, back to Queens. Original cast members from “Coming to America” return including James Earl Jones, Shari Headley, John Amos and Louie Anderson.

Amazon Prime has finalized acquisition of worldwide rights to “Coming 2 America,” the long awaited sequel to the 1988 comedy classic starring Eddie Murphy, and will release it to subscribers globally on March 5, 2021, the company announced Friday.

Paramount originally slated the movie for a Dec. 22 opening in theaters. But after the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted the year’s theatrical release schedule, the studio began talks in October to sell “Coming 2 America” to Amazon in a deal worth around $125 million.

The sequel, which reunites Murphy with his “Dolemite Is My Name” director Craig Brewer, is set 30 years after the original as Murphy’s Prince Akeem prepares to ascend to the throne of the fictional African nation of Zamunda — only to discover that he has a long-lost son named Lavelle who lives in Queens.

To respect his father’s dying wish, he returns to America to find Lavelle and groom him as the new crown prince.

Amazon will release their acquisition of Paramount Pictures’ Eddie Murphy sequel Coming 2 America on March 5, 2021. The movie was originally slated for a Dec. 18 theatrical release before Paramount unloaded the feature to Amazon for $125M in a global rights deal, as we first told you.

It’s another be global pic launch for Amazon on Prime Video under Studio Boss Jennifer Salke in the wake of Borat Subsequent Movie Film which was watched by “tens of millions of viewers” per the streamer in its first weekend. Coming 2 America will be available in over 240 countries and territories.

Set in the lush and royal country of Zamunda, newly-crowned King Akeem (Eddie Murphy) and his trusted confidante Semmi (Arsenio Hall) embark on an all-new hilarious adventure that has them traversing the globe from their great African nation to the borough of Queens, New York – where it all began. Original cast favorites from...

Returning cast includes Arsenio Hall, James Earl Jones and Shari Headley.

Amazon Studios has confirmed it has acquired worldwide rights from Paramount to Coming 2 America and will debut the comedy on Prime Video on March 5, 2021.

The move comes amid the pandemic and marks the latest tentpole to leave the Paramount fold after The Trial Of The Chicago 7 went to Netflix, which also took the studio’s Lovebirds.

Eddie Murphy plays newly-crowned King Akeem of Zamunda, the pampered former prince from Paramount’s 1988 gobal hit, who along with his trusted confidante Semmi (Arsenio Hall) embarks on a globe-trotting adventure that...

Coming to America star Louie Anderson has revealed he has filmed a scene for the upcoming sequel Coming 2 America. He also feels convinced that the movie will top a billion dollars at the box office. After portraying McDowell's employee and management hopeful Maurice in the original 1988 movie, Anderson was tapped to appear in the sequel. Confirming his involvement, Anderson praised his fellow cast and crew members before going on to predict incredible success for the movie when it's released in 2020.

Despite being asked repeatedly, however, Louie Anderson stops short of revealing any details about the plot, who he'll play, or how his character factors into the sequel, noting he didn't want to violate the Nda he signed.

"I can't say anything except it was the greatest experience. It's such a great movie. People are going to go crazy for it. I think it's going to do a billion dollars!

We hope you're hungry for some McDowell's, as Coming to America star John Amos is now confirmed to reprise his role in the upcoming sequel. Dubbed Coming 2 America, the follow-up brings back Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall as Prince Akeem and Semmi, respectively. James Earl Jones has also been reported to be back as King Jaffe Joffer along with Paul Bates reprising Oha, the king's loyal servant. Also reported to be featured in new roles in the sequel are Wesley Snipes, Leslie Jones, Jermaine Fowler, rapper Rick Ross, and Kiki Layne as Akeem's daughter.

Directed by John Landis using a screenplay written by David Sheffield and Barry W. Blaustein, Coming to America was first released in theaters in 1988. In the classic comedy movie, Eddie Murphy stars as the crown prince of the fictional African country of Zamunda. Hoping to find true love, Prince Akeem travels to the United States while...

Coming 2 America will officially include Arsenio Hall as he returns to play Semmi. It has been speculated for the last few months that Hall would be returning to take part in the sequel, but it hasn't been confirmed until now. Eddie Murphy is coming back to play Prince Akeem again, but a lot has changed since the original movie from the 1980s.

Arsenio Hall plays Semmi, the trusted assistant and best friend to Akeem and the sequel will focus on their adventure from the nation of Zamunda back to America after Murphy's Akeem learns about a son that will be the new heir to his throne.

Coming 2 America has been talked about for decades. The first installment hit theaters in 1988 and is now considered a comedy masterpiece. Eddie Murphy has been asked about the sequel countless times, but now he can confirm that it's actually happening, 31 years after the original.

Jermaine Fowler is set to play one of the leads opposite Eddie Murphy in Paramount’s sequel “Coming 2 America,” sources tell Variety.

“Hustle & Flow” helmer Craig Brewer is on board to direct the pic with the studio planning an August 7, 2020 release.

Plot details of “Coming 2 America” are unknown, as are the details of Fowler’s character.

Kenya Barris, who is executive producing, has been attached since 2017 to rewrite a script by original “Coming to America” writers Barry Blaustein and David Sheffield. Murphy is producing alongside Kevin Misher.

The original movie starred Murphy as a charming African prince who traveled to New York City to escape an arranged marriage. Arsenio Hall, James Earl Jones, Shari Headley, and John Amos co-starred in the the pic, which was a major hit, grossing nearly $300 million at the worldwide box office.

Fowler stars as Franco Wicks on “Superior Donuts” for CBS alongside Judd Hirsch and Katey Sagal.