The Hollywood Reporter has learned that NBA star LeBron James, alongside his SpringHill Entertainment partner, Maverick Carter, will be producing New Line Cinema‘s House Party reboot, reviving the comedy franchise that began in 1990. The original film landed two sequels, one in 1991 and the other in 1994.
James spoke with THR about the new project, saying: “This is definitely not a reboot. It’s an entirely new look for a classic movie. Everyone I grew up with loved House Party. To partner with this creative team to bring a new House Party to a new generation is unbelievable.”
Atlanta writers Stephen Glover and Jamal Olori will be penning the screenplay, and a star-studded soundtrack is in the works as well. Maverick Carter said that they are “trying out some ideas for musicians to be cast in and to be a part of the project.” He also added that a cameo by James is possible, especially after his well-received performance in Universal’s Trainwreck: “There’s no plan for it now, but he’s a fantastic actor, and if he wants a role, Stephen will find a great role to put him in.”
The original House Party movie starred the rap duo Kid ‘N Play. The 1990 version finds Kid (Christopher Reid) deciding to throw a party where he plans to blow the roof off the joint with his rhyming skills, so he and his friend Play (Christopher Martin) throw a huge party while Play’s parents are away. The day of the party, Kid is grounded by his father and he has to sneak out of the house to get to the party, where he is confronted by several rival rappers, as well as a bevy of adoring girls. House Party quickly became a fan favorite, with an inventive script and Reginald Hudlin’s assured and very funny direction making the film all the more memorable.
