Looks like actors Jacob Latimore and Tosin Cole will be the “bad boys having a party” in the upcoming “House Party” reboot.
Aspiring club promoters and friends Damon (Cole) and Kevin (Latimore) are working for a janitorial service when they land the gig of a lifetime, cleaning basketball phenom Lebron James‘ house in Los Angeles. Kevin is tame and somewhat impressionable like Christopher “Kid” Reid’s character in the original “House Party” movie. Damon is a party boy, risk-taker like Christopher “Play” Martin’s character Peter in the first film.
Just as with its predecessors, there will be hijinks, comedy, and of course a house party. British actor Cole, 30, and Latimore, however, says this is “not a remake.”
In an interview with Raquel Harper on It’s Tricky, the 26-year-old “The Chi” star Latimore said, “I think when people see our version, I don’t think people are gonna really resonate it with a remake. Like, we really didn’t remake anything.”
To Latimore’s point, the franchise’s previous storylines centered around the leads as teenagers or in college. In the latest version, the two protagonists are well into their mid-20s, struggling financially as adults. Additionally, Kevin has more at stake than any other character in “House Party” history. He has a daughter to look after.
While the baseline may be the same as the others (have a party to solve a problem), it will be something new for this generation. House Party producer James said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that the movie has “an entirely new look for a classic movie.”
As seen in the trailer, Damon’s intrusive search of the client’s home reveals that they are polishing furniture and cleaning windows for the NBA phenom. In sharing the news with Kevin, Damon sees the house as a means to an end. Trying to get his hands on a win, a fledgling promoter convinces Kevin to throw a (Lebron James) house party to raise $10,000 for his daughter’s tuition.
Under the guise that the Los Angeles Laker power forward is throwing the party, Kevin and Damon’s house party attracts a slew of celebrities, including rappers Snoop Dogg, Kid Cudi, and Lil Wayne as well as Los Angeles Lakers player Anthony Davis, singer Tinashe, and Emmy-winning writer/producer Lena Waithe. From what is shown in the trailer, Lebron James, the unsuspecting house owner, will appear as a self-affirming hologram. However, the coolest popup may very well be made by Kid’n Play, the duo who started it all. As of now, there is no word on whether they will throw fans a bone and hit that Funky Charleston in the new film’s dance floor showdown. Still, fingers crossed!
In addition to those appearances, the movie already has a well-stocked cast of famous faces. Among the new film’s cast members are D.C. Youngfly (Wildin’ Out), Alvin Maldonado (The Last O.G.), Rotimi (Power), Karen Obilom (Games People Play), Melvin Gregg (Snowfall), and legendary comedian Bill Bellamy. The script for House Party (2023) was penned by Stephen Glover and Jamal Olori. They are both Emmy-winning writers for the FX show Atlanta. The film is being produced by James and his Springhill Entertainment partner Maverick Carter.
During a previous interview, James discussed why he decided to reboot the series, “Everyone I grew up with loved House Party. To partner with this creative team to bring a new House Party to a new generation is unbelievable.”
This will be the franchise’s sixth installment. In the 80s and 90s, Kid’n Play leveraged their fame as a hip-hop rap/dance duo to create the first three cinematic classics. House Party 4: Down to the Last Minute featured the popular late 90s/early 2000s group IMX. There was a remake 13 years later starring Tequan Richmond (Everybody Hates Chris), Rolonda Watts (Sister, Sister), and Keith Powers (The New Edition Story). They were both straight-to-video releases.
“House Party” is scheduled for release on January 13, 2023.
What do you think about the franchise getting another remake? View the trailer and tell us what you think.