Ice Cube and Mike Epps confirm the fourth installment in the Friday franchise is officially happening, with production eyed for late 2026
After years of false starts and studio roadblocks, Last Friday is finally happening. Ice Cube and Mike Epps made it official during a recent appearance on Entertainment Tonight, confirming that the long-awaited fourth installment in the Friday franchise has a signed deal, an active writing room, and production expected to begin later this year.
“It’s going down. It ain’t going up. It’s going down,” Epps told the host.
One of the most exciting developments is who’s in the writers room. Epps first revealed the writing team during a November 2025 appearance on The Breakfast Club, sharing that he had been sitting in a room with Ice Cube, Aaron McGruder, the creator of The Boondocks and Black Jesus, and original Friday co-writer DJ Pooh. “The movie [is going to] be crazy,” Epps said at the time, adding that McGruder’s involvement brought “top-tier writing” to the project. He expanded on the news during a January 2026 appearance on Club Shay Shay, saying simply: “It’s going to be off the hook.”
The biggest question surrounding the film has always been whether Chris Tucker will return as Smokey, the role he walked away from after the original 1995 film. For the first time, there’s real reason for optimism. “We’ve been talking to him and he wants to come back,” Epps confirmed. Cube added: “He’s one of the best. I think he’s going to do it.”
Plot details are being kept close to the chest, but Cube and Epps confirmed that Craig and Day-Day are back, and the story will center on the gentrification of the neighborhood. When asked where the characters are now, Cube was cryptic: “They ain’t top flight no more.”
The road to Last Friday has been anything but smooth. For years, Cube publicly accused Warner Bros. of blocking the fourth film, alleging the studio rejected multiple scripts and used the hashtag #FreeFriday on social media. In a 2024 interview, he revealed one rejected script involved Craig and Day-Day running a dispensary before landing in jail, where they reunite with Smokey at a bogus rehab facility. The pieces finally fell into place in 2026.
The two are also marking the franchise’s 30th anniversary with a one-night-only live event. Titled Everyday’s Friday: Lyrics, Loungin’ and Laughing, the show is scheduled for July 17 at the Long Beach Amphitheater, featuring a live performance from Ice Cube, a headlining stand-up set from Epps, and guest appearances from Warren G and Scarface. Fans who show up dressed as their favorite Friday character will have a chance to win cash prizes of up to $2,000. Tickets are on sale now.
The original Friday, released in 1995 and directed by F. Gary Gray, became a cultural touchstone and launched or elevated the careers of Chris Tucker, Bernie Mac, Kat Williams, Terry Crews, and many others. The franchise has generated over $121 million at the box office across three films.
Ice Cube has been pushing for a release by April 2027.