It’s been many a year since Samuel L. Jackson graced the screen with his version of “Shaft” in 2000 (and even longer since the original with Richard Roundtree in 1972). Now both this father and nephew duo, along with Shaft III aka John Shaft Jr. aka JJ (played by Jessie Usher) the son of Jackson’s Shaft, are teaming up for “Shaft.” That enough Shaft for ya?
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First look photos show the three Shafts together, along with Shaft III’s lady-friend (played by Alexandra Shipp), all decked out in a key blaxploitation staple – black leather. According to a press release, “He may be a cybersecurity expert with a degree from MIT, but to uncover the truth behind his best friend’s untimely death, JJ — aka John Shaft Jr. — will need an education only his dad can provide. Absent throughout JJ’s youth, the legendary locked-and-loaded John Shaft agrees to help his progeny navigate Harlem’s heroin-infested underbelly. And while JJ’s own FBI analyst’s badge may clash with his dad’s trademark leather duster, there’s no denying family. Besides, Shaft’s got an agenda of his own, and a score to settle that’s professional and personal.”
With a more conscious effort of featuring black leads in American movies, it seems the resurgence of blaxploitation may be coming back, whether it be in remakes, reboots, or reimaginings. “Superfly” was the first, the 1972 hit remade in 2018 to mixed reviews and a reasonable return at the box office.
What’s next, remakes/reboots of “Coffy”? “Dolemite”? “Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song”? Given the very mild reception to 2018’s “Super Fly,” there’s a lot on “Shaft,” originally titled “Son of Shaft,” shoulders to bring blaxploitation into the 21st century.
It will be the fifth film in the series, and is directed by Tim Story (“Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer,” “Ride Along,” “Barbershop”), who says this entry in the series will be lighter than the others, claiming this will be an action-comedy (or comedy-action, he isn’t sure which one comes first).
“Shaft” will be released in the USA on 14th June 2019 nationally through New Line Cinemas, and internationally through Netflix. Maybe the millennial audience the movie is targeting will love it.
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