Ice Cube Calls Out Hollywood Execs for Shutting Down New “Friday” Movie

Fans of the iconic Friday franchise have been waiting for a new installment, but Ice Cube revealed the unfortunate truth—Hollywood executives shut down his plans for another sequel. The legendary rapper and actor spilled the details during an appearance on Cam Newton’s Funky Friday podcast, blaming studio interference for halting his vision.

“Like, I know what it needs to be, and they don’t,” Ice Cube explained. He specifically called out Toby Emmerich, a former New Line Cinema exec, saying, “He wouldn’t make the movie. I was trying to get it made. I wrote a script, they said it was…”

Cube shared that his rejected script focused on a storyline involving jail, and he had hoped to bring back Chris Tucker for the project. However, studio executives dismissed the idea. “They was like, ‘Ah, jail’s not funny. It’s too much time in jail. How can you make jail funny?’ I’m like, ‘Man, y’all don’t know what the fk y’all talking about.’ Then they come out with Orange Is The New Black, Let’s Go To Prison, all these movies about that. And I’m like, ‘See? More Hollywood execs don’t know what the fk they’re talking.’”

When Cam Newton asked why Cube didn’t just take the project to another studio, he explained that it wasn’t an option. “It’s not that simple,” he said. “We did the movie through New Line, and they attached to all the sequels. Has to come out through New Line. I was trying to take the movie to another studio.” Despite his efforts, Ice Cube wasn’t able to move forward with the project.

While the Friday franchise seems stuck for now, fans can still celebrate Ice Cube’s return to music. The West Coast legend just dropped his new album Man Down, marking a major moment for his rap career.

Could fan support and public pressure finally convince New Line Cinema to greenlight the next Friday movie? Share your thoughts in the comments below—do you think it’s time for a return to the neighborhood?