‘I Would Never’: Issa Rae Addresses Rumor That She’s Remaking the 1996 Film ‘Set It Off’

When talk began circulating that Issa Rae was co-producing a new version of the 1996 film “Set It Off” a lot of people said they were totally against it.

In fact, a near-campaign started on social media, and people said the “Insecure” actress has no business remaking the classic film.

Issa Rae talked about the possibility of remaking the 1996 film “Set It Off” during a recent interview. (Photo: Rich Polk/Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images)

Jada Pinkett Smith and Vivica A. Fox, who co-starred in the movie with Queen Latifah and Kimberly Elise, also spoke out against it. But now it seems all of the negative talk surrounding the project was premature.

That’s because Rae said she isn’t making a new “Set It Off” and is confused about how the rumor began.

It was something the 35-year-old told “Entertainment Tonight” on Tuesday, Feb. 4, while she and Lakeith Stanfield were promoting their new film “The Photograph.” 

“Oh, I would never remake a classic,” said Rae. “I don’t know where that came from.”

Rae’s words pretty much match what Fox said about remaking “Set It Off” when she spoke about it with “ET Live” in November.

“It’s a classic, leave it alone,” said Fox. “There’s absolutely no reason to try to redo it. It’s been done, and we did it so well that people are absolutely going to compare it to that, and I think that’s her taking on a tremendous chore, because that film has become a cult classic and some things are just better left.”

In September, Pinkett Smith spoke about a new “Set If Off” in Los Angeles at the premiere of her film “Angel Has Fallen.”

“If they decide to do an extension of it in some way, recast it in some way, I personally think that’s just something you leave alone,” she said. “It’s a classic, it’s done.”

Plus, Pinkett Smith answered a question about the possibility of the original cast doing a “Set It Off” sequel.

“Absolutely not,” she said emphatically. “I don’t know why people keep thinking that. … I know that we won’t, the original cast.”

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