“Coming 2 America” is expected to be released directly to streaming video before the year ends as a result of a deal between Amazon Studios and Paramount reported this week.
Variety reported on Tuesday, Oct. 13, that Paramount is closing a deal with Amazon to sell the film to online retailing and streaming behemoth for $125 million. Marketing tie-ins with McDonald’s and Crown Royal will be transferring to Amazon Prime along with the film.
The movie originally had been planned to release on Christmas, and now Variety reports the new release date will be Dec. 18.
Paramount has been in search of a new home for “Coming 2 America” for weeks. Now that the search is over, it is clear that the theater market is taking another big loss. Due to the closure of theaters and the lack of people coming in, theaters are suffering low gross sales, causing major films like “Coming 2 America” to be sold off to streaming services.
Eddie Murphy will be reprising his role as Prince Akeem in the sequel to the 1988 film. He will head to New York — Queens to be exact — after learning that he has a son, Lavelle, that he never knew about. Per his father’s wishes, Murphy will return to America to retrieve his son and bring him back to the African nation of Zamunda. There he will groom Lavelle to be the next crown prince.
Along with Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall will also be reprising his role as Semmi and James Earl Jones will reprise his role as King Jaffe Joffer. The film stars Jermaine Flowers, with appearances from Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan and Wesley Snipes.
Although many fans shared their excitement for the film, some questioned an element of the plot.
One person wrote, “I’m confused wasn’t he only interested in Lisa in the first movie when did he have time to sneak off, met a girl n get her pregnant.”
Some believed that the plot was going to have a surprise in it. Another person wrote, “Plot twist it’s not his son, it’s Arsenio Hall’s son.”
