EXCLUSIVE: We are hearing that Ride Along 3 is in early development at Universal with stars Ice Cube and Kevin Hart, director Tim Story, and producer Will Packer all in early discussions to return.
The news comes at a time when Uni has closed a deal with scribe Daniel Gold (Tough Guys) to pen the screenplay. While Cube, Hart, Story and Packer always wanted to do a third movie, they were often not in unison on ideas that have been floated over the years. Gold’s pitch, which is under wraps, got the foursome excited and on the same page.
No doubt, the big screen requires more comedies, and as the revived Bad Boys threequel and fourthquel have proved, beloved franchise action comedies are particularly solid box office bets. Nostalgia will no doubt be in threequel’s favor given that it’s been 10 years since Ride Along 2.
The first Ride Along came out in 2014 and was an immediate MLK weekend hit, debuting to $48.6 million over four days. legging out to $134.9M U.S. and more than $154M worldwide. Ride Along 2 bowed to $41M over four days and finaled at $91.2M domestic, $124.6M global. All in, the franchise has arrested $279M around the world.
In Ride Along, security guard Ben Barber (art) must prove himself to his girlfriend’s brother, top police officer James Payton (Ice Cube). In doing so, Ben rides along with James on a 24-hour patrol of Atlanta. In part two, the duo head to Miami to take down a drug dealer who is supplying drugs to Atlanta.
In addition to Packer, also in early talks to return as producers according to sources are Cube under his Cube Vision, which is run by his manager Jeff Kwatinetz; Hart under his Hartbeat Productions; and Story via his The Story Company. Cube is repped by UTA and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole, while Hart is repped by WME and 3Arts, Story by UTA and Johnson Shapiro, and Packer by CAA and Johnson Shapiro. Gold is repped by CAA, Underground and Grace Kallis.
Universal had no comment.
This weekend Packer has the Halle Bailey and Rege-Jean Page romance drama You, Me & Tuscany opening via Universal.
