The famous street-wise detective odyssey Shaft is getting another installment. Richard Roundtree first played the character back in 1971. Then, almost 30 years later, Samuel L. Jackson donned the leather coat as his nephew, John Shaft II. Now, Entertainment Weekly has a first look at the next installment of Shaft, including the newest member to their family tree.
.@SamuelLJackson suits up again as 'Shaft' in exclusive first look https://t.co/MPRtLERejs @wbpictures
— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) December 20, 2018
The upcoming Shaft film stars Jessie T. Usher (Independence Day: Resurgence) as the estranged son of John Shaft II, a cybersecurity expert who’s forced to team up with his estranged father and great uncle. The film will bring together Roundtree, Jackson, Usher, and co-star Alexandra Shipp for an all-new case. The film is directed by Tim Story (Ride Along) which will pick up almost twenty years after Jackson first donned the leather coat back in 2000.
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“He joins the FBI, which is sort of anti-Shaft family values. So when he comes to me for help, it’s a matter of reshaping him,” Jackson said about the role his character’s son will play in the new movie. As far as his own take on the character? “He’s mellowed a bit,” Jackson explained. “He’s not quite as crazy and cynical. Maybe a bit more devil-may-care the last time we saw him. But still an extremely dangerous and funny character.”
The latest installment in the Shaft cinematic saga will hit theaters on June 14, 2019. You damn right.
