Wesley Snipes joins 'Coming to America' sequel

Aug. 8 (UPI) -- Wesley Snipes has signed on to star in Paramount's upcoming sequel to Coming to America titled Coming 2 America, which will bring back original star Eddie Murphy.

Murphy is reprising his role as Prince Akeem, the royal leader of the fictional, wealthy African nation of Zamunda. Snipes is set to portray General Izzi, the ruler of a neighboring nation.

The sequel will follow Akeem as he returns to the United States to meet his long lost son, portrayed by Jermaine Fowler, the next heir to the Zamunda throne.

James Earl Jones and Arsenio Hall will also return as Akeem's father and best friend Semmi. Kiki Layne will star as Akeem's daughter.

Craig Brewer (Hustle & Flow) is directing with Murphy, and Kevin Misher and Black-ish creator Kenya Barris are producing. Barris rewrote the script by original Coming to America writers Barry Blaustein and David Sheffield.

Coming 2 America is set for release on Dec. 18, 2020.

Snipes will also star alongside Murphy in Netflix's Dolemite is My Name, which will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. The Rudy Ray Moore biopic follows the creation of 1975 Blaxploitation film Dolemite. Chris Rock, Keegan-Michal Key, Tituss Burgess, Craig Robinson, Mike Epps and Kodi Smit-McPhee make up the rest of the ensemble cast.