After we all survived the potential peril of Y2K, moviegoers arrived at the cinemas way back in 2000 for a serving of “Shaft.” The remake of the Blaxploitation classic, directed by John Singleton and starring Samuel L. Jackson in the lead role, did relatively well, earning $107 million worldwide off a $47 million budget. But after that, things went quiet. If there were any plans to make a followup, they didn’t really materialize. Earlier this year, it was reported that the property was going to rebooted entirely, but now things are taking a different turn.
Instead of an overhaul, New Line is now going to make a direct sequel — over fifteen years later — with Samuel L. Jackson returning to play the title role. But always looking to the future, and the possibilities of brand viability, “Survivor’s Remorse” star Jessie T. Usher has been cast as Shaft’s son, and the movie positioned as one of those passing-the-torch deals.
I’m not sure anybody was asking for this, but it was inevitable the property was going to be revisited at some point, so it’s not worth getting too worked up about it. “Black-ish” creator Kenya Barris has penned the script, while Tim Story (“Ride Along,” “Barbershop,” “Fantastic Four“) has been tapped to direct. The filmmaker is generally known for making bland genre far ranging from comedies to blockbusters, but here’s hoping he at least gives this “Shaft” sequel a bit of attitude. [Variety]
