Coming 2 America: Eddie Murphy sequel to arrive on Amazon Prime before Christmas, report says

Comedy sequel comes more than three decades after the original

Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall starred in the 1988 comedy classic ‘Coming to America' (Paramount)

Eddie Murphy’s long-awaited sequel to his hit 1988 comedy Coming to America is reportedly set to be released directly on Amazon Prime Video this December.

According to Variety, the film, homonymously titled Coming 2 America, is being sold to Amazon Studios by its current distributor, Paramount. 

The report states that the deal is worth around $125m (roughly £97m).

Coming 2 America is expected to premiere on the streaming service one week before Christmas, on 18 December.

Coming to America, directed by John Landis (The Blues Brothers), starred Murphy as African Prince Akeem, who flees to New York City when he is faced with the prospect of an arranged marriage.

The sequel will see Akeem, now set to become king of Zamunda, discover he has an American son named Lavelle.

Arsenio Hall, Shari Headley, John Amos, Paul Bates and James Earl Jones are set to reprise roles from the original film.

Murphy has stepped back from regular acting roles over the past decade, appearing in just four live-action films. 

Murphy and Louie Anderson in the 1988 original (Paramount)

The most recent of these, 2019’s Netflix comedy Dolemite Is My Name, was hailed as a brilliant comeback for Murphy. 

Dolemite’s director, Craig Brewer, has also directed Coming 2 America.