Tracy Morgan, Wesley Snipes, Leslie Jones and KiKi Layne are among the comedy’s new cast members.
South African actress Nomzamo Mbatha and Garcelle Beauvais have joined the cast of Coming 2 America, Paramount’s sequel to its popular 1988 comedy.
They round out a cast of newcomers and returnees for the film, which stars Eddie Murphy and is being directed by Craig Brewer. The pic is set to begin shooting next week.
Tracy Morgan, Wesley Snipes, Leslie Jones, and KiKi Layne are among the new cast members, while Arsenio Hall, James Earl Jones and Shari Headley are among those reprising their original roles.
The first film saw Murphy play Prince Akeem, a spoiled prince from the fictional African nation of Zamunda, who arrives in Queens and in undercover fashion gets a job at a McDonald’s knockoff while trying to find a wife.
The new story sees Akeem, now set to become king, discovering he has a son he never knew about, a street-savvy Queens native named Lavelle. Honoring his father’s dying wish to groom his son as a newly crowned prince, Akeem must once again return to America.
Character details for Mbatha are being kept under wraps. Beauvais is returning to one of her first-ever roles, playing a rose petal priestess.
Paramount has set a Dec. 18, 2020, release date for the picture.
Mbatha is a name in her native South Africa, where he starred on the country’s hit soap opera Isibaya as well as the series Umlilo, on which she played a villain. She also starred in the feature Tell Me Sweet Something, for which she was nominated for best actress at the Africa Movie Academy Awards.
Mbatha is also the face for the South African takes on the brands Puma, Audi, Neutrogena and L’Oreal Hair, and also acts as UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador.
Beauvais will be seen in Netlfix’s upcoming Merry Happy Whatever, appeared in Starz’ Power, and counts Spider-Man: Homecoming among her recent movie credits.
Mbatha is repped by Pantheon, managers Krystal Thorpe and Pumza Nohashe and attorney Barry Littman. Beauvais is with Innovative Artists and Gilbertson Entertainment.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
