Jamie Foxx dropped an unofficial trailer for his long-shelved comedy, ‘All-Star Weekend,’ teasing that it may finally see the light of day. The film, which Foxx directed, co-wrote, and starred in, was shot in 2016 but has remained unreleased due to its provocative content.
On Sunday, Foxx posted an unofficial trailer for the film on his Instagram, accompanied by a caption that hinted at a potential release in 2025: “The movie we couldn’t release a while back…but I got a sneaky feeling we might have to drop this bitch…the vibe is right…. UNOFFICIAL TRAILER… #leak What do you get when you combine 8 championships rings with 4 gold medals 3 Oscars and some of my homies ALL STAR WEEKEND! … stay tuned 2025. And congratulations to the whole USA Olympic basketball team! Let’s laugh.”
‘All-Star Weekend’ is a sports-comedy that centers on two basketball fanatics, played by Foxx and Jeremy Piven, who embark on a road trip to attend the NBA All-Star Game. Along the way, they encounter a series of eccentric characters, leading to a series of comedic and controversial situations. The ensemble cast includes Robert Downey Jr., who portrays a Mexican man, and Gerard Butler, who plays a Russian gymnast enthusiast. Foxx himself takes on multiple roles, including a white, racist police officer.
The film also stars Eva Longoria, Snoop Dogg, Luenell, Ken Jeong, Benicio del Toro, Jessica Szohr, Porscha Coleman, Terrence Terrell, Corinne Foxx, Tyrin Turner, The Game, DJ Khaled, French Montana, Inanna Sarkis, Jasmine Waltz, RD Whittington, and Floyd Mayweather Jr.
The film’s provocative nature, particularly the use of actors portraying characters of different ethnicities, led to its indefinite shelving. In an interview with CinemaBlend in 2022, Foxx acknowledged the challenges of releasing the film in today’s cultural climate, stating, “It’s been tough with the lay of the land when it comes to comedy. We’re trying to break open the sensitive corners where people go back to laughing again. We hope to keep them laughing and run them right into ‘All-Star Weekend’ because we were definitely going for it.”
Foxx also drew a comparison between Robert Downey Jr.’s role in ‘All-Star Weekend’ and the actor’s previous controversial role in ‘Tropic Thunder’ (2008), where he portrayed a Black character in a satirical manner. “I called Robert, I said, ‘I need you to play a Mexican,’” Foxx shared. “I said, ‘Sht, you played the Black dude [in ‘Tropic Thunder’] and you killed that sht.’ We got to be able to do characters.”
The decision to shelve the film was reportedly due to concerns about its potential to offend audiences, particularly in a time when Hollywood is increasingly sensitive to issues of cultural appropriation and racial representation. Despite this, Foxx’s recent social media activity suggests that he believes the time may be right for the film’s release.
Jeremy Piven, who stars alongside Foxx, also reposted the trailer with a caption praising Foxx’s vision: “Thank you @iamjamiefoxx being the genius that you are and writing and directing this! You guys up for a comedy with a little bit of an edge to it?”
As Hollywood continues to grapple with the fine line between comedy and controversy, the potential release of ‘All-Star Weekend’ raises questions about the evolving standards of humor and the role of satire in modern cinema. Whether the film will indeed be released in 2025 remains to be seen, but if it does, it could spark significant debate about what is considered acceptable in the realm of comedy today.
For now, fans of Foxx and the star-studded cast will have to wait and see if ‘All-Star Weekend’ will make its long-awaited debut—or if it will remain a curious, controversial chapter in Hollywood history.