Eddie Murphy.Photo: Michael Kovac/Getty
Eddie Murphyis practically delirious with excitement over his upcomingComing to Americasequel.
More than 30 years after the original hit theaters and became a comedy classic, the actor, 58, is hard at work on production of the follow-up — and as far as Murphy is concerned, so far so good.
“I’m just over the moon with how it’s turned out,” he said of the film’s progress, while in discussion withAntonio Banderas(his formerShrekvoice cast mate) forVariety‘s “Actors on Actors”video series.
Saying he and the crew behind the sequel found a “clever way” to update and continue the story of the 1988 original, Murphy expressed that of all the hits in his filmography,Coming to Americaseems to be the one fans most associate him with.
“I don’t know what it is about that movie, but that’s the one movie that I’ve done that, like, on Halloween people dress up like the characters, and people always say lines from that movie to me,” said Murphy, who also found box office success with franchises likeBeverly Hills CopandThe Nutty Professor.
He added: “We figured out a way to connect it, and that’s what we’re doing now.”
Currently titledComing 2 Americaand slated for an August 2020 release date, the project sees the return of cast members likeArsenio HallandJames Earl Jones, whileTracy Morgan,Leslie JonesandWesley Snipesjoin as new characters.
“It went so well, we just wound up on this next project together,” Murphy said of collaborating with Brewer, who also directed 2005’s Hustle & Flow.
Paramount/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock
On Instagram during production on the film, Brewer shared his excitement at tackling the much anticipated sequel, captioning a behind-the-scenes setphoto, “If I could only go back in time and talk to myself at 16.”
Back in April, Murphy and Hall, 63, teased fans with a glimpse at theircostume fittingfor the new film. On her Instagram, costume designer Ruth E. Carter posted photos with the two of them, hot off her Academy Award win for her work onBlack Panther.
“??GOOD MORNING MY NEIGHBORS! It’s official! Preliminary fitting for Coming to America 2 with Prince Akeem, Semmi and Oscar,” shecaptionedthe photos, which showed the two actors embracing her golden Oscar statuette.
source: people.com
