Lawrence Lamont to Direct Ice Cube’s New ‘Friday’ Comedy
WHO:
The Hollywood Reporter - Lawrence Lamont, filmmaker of *One of Them Days*, was tapped to direct *Last Friday*.
The Hollywood Reporter - Ice Cube co-created the *Friday* series, wrote the *Last Friday* script, will produce it, and will star in the film.
The Hollywood Reporter - Producers also include Bob Teitel and Michael Gruber of CubeVision; Jeff Kwatinetz is executive producing.
The Hollywood Reporter - New Line is making *Last Friday*, described as the first installment of its buddy-comedy movie franchise in 25 years.
The Hollywood Reporter - The original *Friday* starred Ice Cube as Craig Jones and Chris Tucker as Smokey. F. Gary Gray directed it, and Ice Cube and DJ Pooh wrote the script.
The Hollywood Reporter - Ice Cube starred in all three released *Friday* films; Tucker appeared only in the first.
The Hollywood Reporter - Lamont has worked with Big Sean, J. Cole, Jhené Aiko, Snoop Dogg, and Nas. He is represented by WME, ColorCreative, and Johnson Shapiro.
The Hollywood Reporter - *One of Them Days* stars Keke Palmer and SZA.
WHAT:
Billboard - Ice Cube and New Line Cinema have found a director for *Last Friday*; Billboard reports Cube has been trying to make the franchise’s final installment for quite some time.
The Hollywood Reporter - The first *Friday* follows Craig Jones and Smokey as they face problems involving jobs, girlfriends, exes, family, and death threats.
The Hollywood Reporter - The original film became a cult hit and led to *Next Friday*, *Friday After Next*, and the animated series *Friday: The Animated Series*.
The Hollywood Reporter - Lamont received an MTV Video Music Award nomination for “I Don’t F* With You” and won an MTV Video Music Award for “Light.”
The Hollywood Reporter - *One of Them Days*, a $14 million TriStar Pictures film, grossed more than $51 million worldwide, reached No. 1 on Netflix, and held that position for four consecutive weeks. Lamont received the AAFCA Breakthrough Director Award and an NAACP Image Award nomination for outstanding directing in a motion picture.
WHERE:
The Hollywood Reporter - *Last Friday* is planned to be filmed in Southern California; the original *Friday* is set in South Central Los Angeles.
The Hollywood Reporter - *One of Them Days* is a buddy comedy set in Los Angeles.
WHEN:
The Hollywood Reporter - *Friday* was released in 1995, *Next Friday* in 2000, and *Friday After Next* in 2002.
The Hollywood Reporter - The new film is planned for 40 filming days, with 43 cast members and 150 crew.
The Hollywood Reporter - The animated series briefly aired on MTV2.
WHY:
The Hollywood Reporter - New Line’s *Last Friday* is part of California’s production incentive program.
HOW:
The Hollywood Reporter - California awarded New Line $11.4 million to shoot *Last Friday* in the state.
The Hollywood Reporter - Lamont began by directing music videos, including Big Sean’s “I Don’t F* With You,” “Twenty88,” and “On Up,” before making his directorial debut with *One of Them Days*.
(UPDATED October 27, 2026 22:14 UTC)
Lawrence Lamont, who directed *One of Them Days*, has been tapped to direct *Last Friday*, with Ice Cube writing the script, producing and returning to star. New Line is making the first *Friday* film in 25 years, and plans to shoot it in Southern California after receiving $11.4 million through California’s production incentive program. The original 1995 buddy comedy starred Cube and Chris Tucker, spawned two sequels and an animated series, and the new film is planned for 40 filming days.