COMING 2 AMERICA (2020): Amazon Studios Buys Sequel to Eddie Murphy’s 80’s Comedy
Amazon Studios Buys Sequel to Eddie Murphy’s Coming to America
Distributor Paramount Pictures is selling the anticipated sequel to Eddie Murphy‘s classic 1980’s comedy to Amazon Studios, in a $125 million deal, industry insiders said.
The studios are hammering out the final details of the Amazon-Paramount deal, including two marketing tie-ins with McDonalds and the whiskey brand Crown Royal, which are expected to transfer to Amazon with the film. Murphy, who both produced and starred in the film, has to give his blessing before the final deal can be made.
The sale is said to be a big priority for Jennifer Salke, chief of Amazon Studios, who has been searching for more commercially viable fare with the recent acquisition of the Borat sequel and another acquisition from Paramount in the Tom Clancy adaptation of Without Remorse starring Michael B. Jordan. Amazon Studios also picked up Regina King’s One Night in Miami, which is viewed as a likely contender at the Academy Awards.
Considering the ongoing movie theater closures and film release push backs, Paramount has recently been exploring various options for the tentative Christmas Day release of Coming 2 America, including selling the rights to in-house streamer CBS All Access, which belongs to their parent company Viacom.
John Landis directed the original Coming to America was in 1988, which had Murphy as the African prince Akeem, who comes to New York to escape an arranged marriage. Arsenio Hall, James Earl Jones, Shari Headley and John Amos co-starred in the movie, which grossed nearly $300 million at the box office globally.
In the sequel, Prince Akeem is set to coronated as king of his fictional African country when he discovers he has a son he never knew about in America. Akeem sets off to America to find his son and groom him to be the crown prince. Murphy, Hall and Jones are reprising their former roles in the film, which also stars Jermaine Fowler. Supporting cast members include Tracy Morgan, Leslie Jones, Arsenio Hall and Wesley Snipes.
Coming 2 America is one of several film projects that Paramount has sold off to streamers this year, including Aaron Sorkin’s Trial of the Chicago 7 and the comedy Lovebirds, both of which were bought by Netflix.
The expected streaming premiere date is December 18, sources added.
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