"Last Friday" Still in Limbo? Here’s What We Know About the Final 'Friday' Movie

The Breakdown: Ice Cube and other stars from the Friday franchise have been talking about the final movie, Last Friday, for over two decades. Now, the film appears to finally be in the works.

Fans of the Friday franchise have been waiting for the latest installment to drop for years. The original film, Friday, was released in 1995. The cult classic introduced audiences to Craig Jones and Smokey, played by Ice Cube and Chris Tucker, respectively. The two friends, both young at the time, were navigating life in South Central Los Angeles. The film’s success led to sequels Next Friday in 2000 and Friday After Next in 2002.

Talks of a fourth film have circulated for years. In April 2017, John Witherspoon—who played Mr. Jones—hinted that a new movie had been greenlit.

“I was at the airport and I saw Ice Cube. Cube said they gonna do another Friday,” Witherspoon told Power 95.3’s GetUpCrew (via HuffPost). “He said he wants to meet with me last week—this week, but he couldn’t make it. But we’re going to meet next week to get things together.”

Witherspoon has since passed, but conversations about a final Friday film, titled Last Friday, continue. Here is what we know about the current status of Last Friday, which could be hitting theatres sooner than fans think.

Mike Epps says Last Friday is officially happening. In a March 4 interview with The Breakfast Club, the comedian – who played Day-Day in the franchise – confirmed that Ice Cube is working on a script for the film.

“Cube called me the other day and said, ‘We just finished the deal,’” the comic said. “So we doing Last Friday.”

Mike added that Cube plans to bring in a new generation of comedians alongside the original cast. “I haven’t seen the script but I’m pretty sure it’s good," he said. "And we gonna bring in the new comics. We gonna bring the DC Young Flys and all of them in with the OGs and it’s gonna be a good a** time.”

Ice Cube has expressed his desire to develop Last Friday for years, but production has faced several setbacks. In addition to the death of John Witherspoon, who played Willie “Pop” Jones, the film was left in limbo following leadership changes at Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group.

In 2024, Cube suggested that studio executives rejected his proposed storyline, leading to further delays. His plan involved Smokey running a shady rehab facility where he secretly kept and smoked patients' weed in the basement, but the idea was reportedly dismissed.

“Jail’s not funny; it’s too much time in jail; how can you make jail funny,’” Cube recalled being told (per Funk Friday). “And I’m like, ‘Man, y’all don’t know what the f**k y’all talking about.”

Despite past obstacles, a deal has apparently been reached, and the new film is in development. However, no release date has been announced, as production has yet to begin. For now, fans of the franchise will have to wait for updates on Last Friday from Cube or the other stars.