Amazon Studios Gets Eddie Murphy's Coming 2 America

Coming 2 America, the upcoming sequel to the 1988 Eddie Murphy comedy Coming to America, has moved from a theatrical release to a streaming premiere with Amazon Studios, according to Variety. The deal has closed for a reported $125 million, and the movie is reportedly expected to debut December 18.

It's the sort of surprise announcement that should start to come as no surprise from Amazon, who recently and suddenly sprang an October 23 release date for Borat 2 on the world. It's also one of many films that Paramount Pictures--the studio behind Coming 2 America--has sold to streaming services this year, including Aaron Sorkin's Trial of the Chicago 7 and the action-comedy Lovebirds, which both went to Netflix.

Not much is known about the next outing for the Coming to America story, other than prior to Prince Akeem Joffer's (Murphy) arraignment as king of Zamunda, he discovers he has a son he never knew about in America--a Queens native named Lavelle. Alongside Murphy, Arsenio Hall (Black Dynamite, Blankman) will be reprising his role as Akeem's friend, Semmi. Tracy Morgan (30 Rock), Jay Pharoah (Saturday Night Live), and Garcelle Beauvais (Spider-Man: Homecoming) will be joining the cast.

Coming 2 America is directed by Craig Brewer (Black Snake Moan). It comes from a story by Murphy, and co-written by David Sheffield (The Nutty Professor), Barry W. Blaustein (Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment), and Kenya Barris (Shaft).