“Last Friday” is finally moving forward, with Lawrence Lamont tapped to direct Ice Cube’s long-awaited comedy sequel, nearly 24 years after the franchise’s last theatrical release. Lamont, the filmmaker behind “One of Them Days,” will direct the fourth Friday movie for New Line Cinema, according to The Hollywood Reporter on Tuesday, October 27. Ice Cube is writing, starring in, and producing the film, returning to the comedy series he helped launch in 1995.
Lamont’s hiring gives the project a creative leader after years of conversations, delays, and hopeful updates from the people involved. He arrives with recent experience turning a chaotic day in Los Angeles into a hit comedy, something Friday fans know is familiar territory. His selection represents another concrete production milestone for a sequel that has spent years trying to make it to the big screen.
Before Last Friday, audiences met Ice Cube’s Craig Jones and Chris Tucker’s Smokey in the original 1995 comedy. Directed by F. Gary Gray and written by Cube and DJ Pooh, the film followed two friends navigating an increasingly complicated day in South Central Los Angeles. Its unforgettable characters, neighborhood humor, and quotable conversations helped turn the movie into a cultural staple. That success led to “Next Friday” in 2000 and “Friday After Next” in 2002.
Ice Cube returned for both sequels, while Mike Epps joined the franchise as Craig’s cousin Day-Day in “Next Friday.” Tucker played Smokey only in the original movie. Since then, the possibility of reuniting Craig and Smokey has followed nearly every conversation about another installment. As of the latest announcement, Tucker has not been officially confirmed for “Last Friday.”
Getting the fourth movie to this stage has taken time. In April 2025, New Line confirmed a deal for Cube to write and star in the project following years of uncertainty about its future. Earlier in 2026, Cube and Epps publicly discussed the sequel’s progress. Epps has confirmed plans to return, although the studio has not released a complete official cast list.
Those earlier conversations also offered a possible direction for the story: neighborhood gentrification, which involves changes to established communities as new development and rising costs affect longtime residents. No finalized plot synopsis has been announced, so the exact storyline and how much time has passed for Craig and Day-Day remain unanswered. What is confirmed is that “Last Friday” is being developed as another installment in the original franchise rather than a remake.
Behind the scenes, the production has secured another significant commitment. The California Film Commission lists the sequel for approximately $11.4 million in state tax credits, with plans for 40 filming days in California. Official records project 43 cast positions and 150 crew jobs. Those figures represent anticipated production employment, not confirmation of the actors who will appear in the movie.
Ice Cube has emphasized keeping the film connected to the place where the franchise began.
“I’m thrilled to produce Last Friday right here in Southern California, where our cast and crew lives,” he said in an October 7 statement released by California officials.
He also highlighted the story’s longstanding relationship with South Los Angeles and the opportunity to employ local film workers through the state’s production incentive program.
Lamont’s previous feature makes his appointment especially interesting. His 2025 directorial debut, “One of Them Days,” starred Keke Palmer and SZA as best friends scrambling to solve a financial crisis before their day completely falls apart. Produced on a reported $14 million budget, the movie earned more than $51 million worldwide and introduced Lamont to a much larger theatrical audience.
Before filmmaking, Lamont directed music videos for artists including Big Sean, J. Cole, Jhené Aiko, Snoop Dogg, and Nas. He received a breakthrough directing honor from the African American Film Critics Association for “One of Them Days” and an NAACP Image Award nomination. His new assignment on Last Friday puts him in charge of a franchise with its own comic rhythm, history, and expectations, while Ice Cube remains closely involved in shaping the story.
The new film also comes with the absence of several beloved performers from earlier installments. John Witherspoon, who played Craig’s father, Willie Jones, died in 2019. Tommy “Tiny” Lister Jr., remembered as Deebo, died in 2020, and Anthony “A.J.” Johnson, who played Ezal, died in 2021. Their performances helped establish the world the upcoming film will revisit, although no details have been announced about how the sequel will address their losses.
