After nearly a decade in limbo, Ride Along 3 is finally gaining traction.
Universal Pictures is in early development on the third installment, with Ice Cube and Kevin Hart in talks to return. Director Tim Story and producer Will Packer are also expected to reunite, bringing the franchise’s original creative team back together.
The breakthrough came after writer Daniel Gold delivered a new pitch that reportedly aligned the group after years of stalled ideas.
The original Ride Along (2014) was a breakout hit, arriving over MLK weekend and dominating the box office for three consecutive weeks. Made on a modest $25 million budget, it grossed more than $154 million worldwide, proving the power of pairing Hart’s high-energy comedy with Cube’s straight-man intensity.
Directed by Story and produced by Packer, the film followed Ben Barber (Hart), a fast-talking security guard trying to prove himself to his girlfriend’s brother, hardened Atlanta detective James Payton (Cube), during a chaotic 24-hour patrol ride-along.
Its sequel, Ride Along 2 (2016), expanded the world by taking the duo to Miami, where they faced off against a drug kingpin. While it earned less than the original, the film still pulled in over $124 million globally against a $40 million budget—cementing the franchise as a reliable mid-budget box office win.
Despite lukewarm critical reception for both films, audiences consistently showed up, drawn to the chemistry between Hart and Cube and the franchise’s blend of action and comedy.
Now, with Hollywood rediscovering the value of theatrical comedies and legacy franchises, Ride Along 3 could arrive at the perfect moment—bringing back a fan-favorite duo that hasn’t hit the big screen together in nearly ten years.