Jackson will reprise his role as detective John Shaft in the sequel titled 'Son of Shaft', while Usher has been tapped to portray Shaft's son, an FBI agent and a cyber expert.
- Aug 19, 2017
AceShowbiz - John Shaft is back! Samuel L. Jackson is set to reprise his role as the hardcore detective in "Son of Shaft". Deadline is the first to report the good news, stating that the 68-year-old actor is negotiating a deal to return for the follow-up to 2000's "Shaft" which is expected to start filming this fall.
Jackson starred in the John Singleton-directed action thriller as the nephew of Richard Roundtree's original John Shaft, who also reprised his role from the Gordon Parks-directed action classic. The site reports that Roundtree is returning for the upcoming movie as well.
As for the lead role of Shaft's son, New Line has tapped "Independence Day: Resurgence" actor Jessie T. Usher. The character's name is not revealed just yet, but he is described as an FBI agent and a cyber expert. After long being estranged from his father, he finds himself teamed up with him. The partnership with his dad is an uneasy collision of old school meets new school.
The studio tried to find the right young actor for the splashy role for months, before the role went to Usher. The 25-year-old actor's biggest role to date came in Liam Hemsworth-led film "Independence Day". He returns as the lead of Starz's series "Survivor's Remorse", with the fourth season beginning August 20.
"Son of Shaft" will be directed by Tim Story, best known for Fox's first two "Fantastic Four" movies. The script is provided by Kenya Barris ("Girls Trip", "Black-ish"). The new "Shaft" film is produced by Davis Entertainment's John Davis and Barris. A release date is not set just yet.
Before returning as the iconic detective in the "Shaft" sequel, Samuel L. Jackson is taking on the role of a hitman in "The Hitman's Bodyguard", which started hitting U.S. theaters today (August 18). He stars alongside Ryan Reynolds, who portrays the titular bodyguard, in the Patrick Hughes-directed R-rated action-comedy flick.
