O’Shea Jackson Jr. says he has not heard a word about a role in his father’s long-awaited “Friday” sequel, and he has a plan if that stays true: “I will call mom.” Jackson, who played Ice Cube in 2015’s “Straight Outta Compton,” posted the joke on X on Tuesday, shortly after news broke of the film’s director. He wrote that he had received no emails or calls from his agent about the project.
The Hollywood Reporter reported that Lawrence Lamont, director of “One of Them Days,” is set to direct “Last Friday” for New Line. Ice Cube is writing, producing and starring, with Bob Teitel and Michael Gruber of CubeVision also producing. Jeff Kwatinetz is an executive producer. It is the first film in the franchise in 25 years. The last entry, “Friday After Next,” arrived in 2002.
Studio and production details point to a firm start. “Last Friday” will shoot in Southern California under the state’s production incentive program, and New Line received over $11 million. Plans call for 40 filming days, 43 cast members and 150 crew. The studio has not announced a cast.
Lamont arrives with fresh credits. His feature debut, “One of Them Days,” stars Keke Palmer and SZA. He won the AAFCA Breakthrough Director Award and earned an NAACP Image Award nomination for directing. Ice Cube produced the film.
Jackson has history with this sort of teasing. In April, he reacted to news that Ice Cube and Kevin Hart were in talks for “Ride Along 3” by writing that if he appeared in it, the cause was nepotism. He also defended his father against a fan who said the rapper-turned-actor peaked in the 1990s, listing franchises including “Barbershop,” “Ride Along” and the “Jump Street” films.
Jackson, Ice Cube’s oldest son, has built his own career with credits in “Ingrid Goes West,” “Long Shot,” “Just Mercy” and “Cocaine Bear.” A cameo would fit the sequel’s family-friendly buddy tone, and a call to his mother, Kimberly Woodruff, would be the cheapest casting route available. For now, the post reads as a joke from a fan and son. Ice Cube has not said whether Jackson will appear.
