COMEDY superstars Mike Epps and Katt Williams are teaming up to star in the urban comedy “The House Next Door,” a sequel to the 2016 indie horror comedy “Meet the Blacks.” Deon Taylor, who directed “Blacks,” is directing and producing with partners Roxanne Avent and Robert F. Smith. Epps is also producing via his Naptown Productions shingle. Epps starred in “Blacks” and is reprising his role as Carl Black, who, in the original film, moved his family from Chicago to Beverly Hills only to find out it was the city’s annual 12-hour purge, a timeframe where all crime is legal. In the new movie, which begins shooting this week in Atlanta, Black is now an over-stressed but best-selling author who moves his family to his childhood home so he can find peace to write his new book. But when an extravagant pimp (Williams) moves into the neighborhood, Black becomes convinced that the man is actually a vampire bent on stealing his family. Original castmembers returning for the sequel include Bresha Webb, Zulay Henao, social media star Andrew Bachelor (aka King Bach), and comedians Lil Duval, Michael Blackson and Tyrin Turner. The pairing of Epps and Williams marks a reunion for the two comedians who last starred together in New Line’s 2002 “Friday After Next.” Epps recently wrapped “The Trap,” a comedy he wrote and stars in with Queen Latifah and Tip Harris. Williams’ next big-screen appearance will be in “Father Figures,” an Owen Wilson and Ed Helms comedy that opens in December. Taylor is a prolific filmmaker who has several movies in post, including the thriller “Traffik,” which stars Paula Patton and Missi Pyle, and “Motivated Seller,” starring Dennis Quaid. He also produced the comedy “All-Star Weekend,” which stars Jamie Foxx.(SD-Agencies) |