Audio By Carbonatix
Pack your zip lines and grapefruits, the “Girls Trip” sequel is taking us to West Africa.
Writer-director-producer Tracy Oliver, who co-wrote the original 2017 romp, joined the Variety Studio presented by Audible at Sundance and provided an update on the anticipated reunion of Regina Hall, Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Tiffany Haddish.
Oliver, at the festival to promote the second season of her Amazon Prime Video series “Harlem,” said she had a “definitive ‘Girls Trip 2’ update. That it’s officially happening. I can say that.” She also provided a plot update, and while the film’s producer Will Packer “might kill me, we’re looking to set it in Ghana.”
One of Oliver’s “Harlem” stars, actor Shoniqua Shandai, screamed “Afrochella!” after Oliver dropped the news.
She refers to the annual Afrochella festival, Ghana’s premiere cultural and music event whose name borrows from the American flower crown convention Coachella.
Oliver confirmed that the ladies of “Girls Trip” will look to attend the festival, which has attracted prominent musical acts from the region, including Beyonce collaborate Shatte Wale. A production timeline is unknown as Oliver still needs to submit her script.
The first “Girls Trip” was a significant box office hit, grossing $140 million worldwide on a modest $16 million budget. Malcolm D. Lee directed the project, produced by Packer and co-written by Oliver and Kenya Barris from a story they conceived with Erica Rivinoja. It also launched the recently-embattled Haddish into superstardom.
Oliver has been on a festival tear the past year, premiering her acclaimed horror comedy “The Blackening” at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival. The movie, directed by Tim Story, was acquired by Lionsgate on the heels of TIFF and will release this coming Juneteenth.
“Harlem,” which stars Meagan Good, Grace Byers, Jerrie Johnson, and Shandai, will debut its season two in a weekly rollout on Prime Video starting Feb. 3.
Latest Stories
-
President Mahama is not sincere with Ghanaians on LGBTQ bill matter – Hassan Tampuli
14 minutes -
Gov’t to establish Prison Industrial Hub to equip inmates with income-generating skills – Prison Service boss
33 minutes -
Alhassan Tampuli donates cement, roofing sheets to support storm victims in Gushegu
34 minutes -
Alhassan Tampuli appeals for urgent support for storm victims in Gushegu
36 minutes -
The hypocrisy must stop; pass Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill now – Alhassan Tampuli to Mahama
40 minutes -
Imprisonment should be rehabilitative, not punitive – Ghana Prisons boss at UNGA
1 hour -
Ga Adangbe traditional priests petition Mahama over McDan aviation licence revocation
1 hour -
Anti-LGBTQ Bill: NDC’s arrogance is worrying – Hassan Tampuli
1 hour -
Let’s give OSP time to mature, not to scrap it – Hassan Tampuli
1 hour -
Nigeria convicts 386 Islamist militants in mass trials
2 hours -
Djibouti president wins election with 97.8% of vote, state media says
2 hours -
We don’t have mandate to deduct tax from rent allowance of security services personnel – Interior Ministry clarifies
2 hours -
Ablakwa receives Presidential Special Envoy on Reparations to advance global agenda
2 hours -
Christina Koch becomes first woman to travel around the moon on Artemis II
2 hours -
Epstein survivors’ calls to meet King Charles and Queen harder to ignore as US visit approaches
2 hours