“The Best Man” Sequel Is Set To Begin Filming With Original Cast

Though rumors have swirled for over a year that the ’90′s classic film,”The Best Man,” would be be returning to theaters, it is now official and the entire original cast will be returning, reports BlackFilm.com.

After nearly 15 years apart, Taye Diggs (television’s Private Practice), Nia Long (Big Momma’s House), Morris Chestnut (Kick-Ass 2), Harold Perrineau (Zero Dark Thirty), Terrence Howard (Hustle & Flow), Sanaa Lathan (Contagion), Monica Calhoun (Love & Basketball), Melissa De Sousa (Miss Congeniality) and Regina Hall (Scary Movie franchise) reprise their career-launching roles in the next chapter to the film that ushered in a new era of comedy. When the college friends finally reunite over the Christmas holidays, they will discover just how easy it is for long-forgotten rivalries and romances to be ignited.

When the cast and crew met up for a 12 year reunion back in October of 2011, the rumors and wishful thinking spread like wildfire and now Universal Studios is making dreams come true.

Malcolm D. Lee, who wrote, directed and produced the original film, will be at the helm of Best Man 2. In the original film, a writer (Diggs) is preparing to be the best man for his football player buddy (Chestnut), and long-term girlfriend (Calhoun) but the timing is bad because the writer’s autobiographical novel is about to debut and it describes how the best man bedded the bride. Howard, Perrineau, Long, De Sousa and Lathan make up the wedding party.

“The Best Man was the right film at the right time. There were few films prior or since that film that spoke to the generation of African-Americans who I knew, lived, worked, loved and laughed with. I’ve been gratefully astounded over the years at the audience response to the film,” stated Malcolm Lee.

“People have often asked “Whatever happened to those characters? Did Jordan ever find a man? Does Murch stay with Candy? Do Lance and Mia live happily ever after?” I have never really taken the time to answer those questions. But they keep getting asked and in light of how it is in heavy rotation on cable TV it very well may be a sign that those questions need to be answered.”

The original grossed $35 million and opened at #1 at the Box Office when it premiered on October 22, 1999. The sequel is scheduled to hit theaters November 15, 2013.