Another Best Man Movie: Will There Be A Sequel?

The Best Man is a 1999 romantic comedy-drama film that explores the dynamics of a tight-knit group of young urban professionals. The movie spawned a franchise with a Christmas-themed sequel, The Best Man Holiday, released in 2013, and a limited series, The Best Man: The Final Chapters, released in 2022. While there are no announcements regarding another instalment in the franchise, there are other movies with a similar title, including an action thriller called The Best Man, released in 2023, about mercenaries taking control of a resort hotel during a wedding.

The Best Man Holiday (2013)

The Best Man Holiday is a 2013 comedy-drama film and a sequel to the 1999 film The Best Man. Written, co-produced, and directed by Malcolm D. Lee, the movie stars an ensemble cast featuring Morris Chestnut, Taye Diggs, Regina Hall, Terrence Howard, and others, all reprising their roles from the previous film.

The plot centres around the college friends Lance, Harper, Candace, Quentin, Robyn, Jordan, Murch, and Mia, who reunite after 15 years during the Christmas holidays. The friends discover that old rivalries and romances can be easily reignited. Harper Stewart, facing writer's block and financial troubles, reluctantly agrees to write a biography of his former best friend and superstar athlete, Lance Sullivan. Meanwhile, Lance's wife, Mia, has a terminal illness, which she asks Harper to help Lance accept. As the group catches up, old tensions resurface, and secrets are revealed, leading to a mix of humorous and dramatic moments.

The Best Man Holiday received positive reviews from critics, who praised the performances and Lee's direction. It was also a commercial success, grossing $72.8 million worldwide. The film received multiple accolades and nominations, including four nominations at the 45th NAACP Image Awards.

Following The Best Man Holiday, a limited series titled The Best Man: The Final Chapters premiered in December 2022, continuing the story with many of the original cast members returning.

The Best Man: The Final Chapters (2022)

The Best Man: The Final Chapters is an American comedy-drama miniseries that premiered on Peacock on December 22, 2022. Created by Malcolm D. Lee and developed by Lee and Dayna Lynne North, the series is a follow-up to the 1999 film The Best Man and its 2013 sequel, The Best Man Holiday.

The eight-episode series sees the return of the original cast, including Morris Chestnut as Lance Sullivan, Taye Diggs as Harper Stewart, Nia Long as Jordan Armstrong, Harold Perrineau as Julian "Murch" Murchison, Terrence Howard as Quentin Spivey, Sanaa Lathan as Robyn Stewart, Melissa De Sousa as Shelby Taylor, and Regina Hall as Candace "Candy" Sparks-Murchison.

The Final Chapters explores the evolving relationships and past grievances of the characters as they navigate the challenges of midlife, including marriage, parenting, health, romance, work, and identity. Harper, an up-and-coming author, gets the opportunity to turn his book "Unfinished Business" into a movie, while Quentin gets married and struggles to take over his family's business. Lance discovers new passions and faces difficult parenting challenges, and Jordan strives to find a work-life-love balance. Meanwhile, Candace pursues higher education, and her husband, Murch, fights for respect. Robyn searches for peace and her true place in the world, and Shelby, a Real Housewife, strives to be taken seriously.

The series received positive reviews, with a 91% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 58 out of 100 on Metacritic. Fans of the franchise praised the expansion of the story and the opportunity to see the characters beyond the facade of celebrations and holidays. However, some critics noted that the series struggled with its writing and pacing, and that prior knowledge of the previous instalments was necessary to fully appreciate the story.

The Best Man (2023)

Shane Dax Taylor's The Best Man (2023) is a low-budget DTV action thriller starring Dolph Lundgren, Brendan Fehr, and Luke Wilson. The movie is centred around a wedding where mercenaries with a vendetta seize control of a remote resort hotel, and it's up to the best man, the groom, and their drunken friend to save the day.

The film is set to take place at a remote resort hotel, with the story revolving around the wedding of Cal (Wilson) and his wealthy bride, Brook (Nicky Whelan). Cal's best man, Bradley (Fehr), and their mutual friend Axel (Lundgren), find themselves in a dangerous situation when mercenaries with a score to settle take over the venue. The plot takes an action-packed turn as the trio must put their soldier-of-fortune skills to use to save the day and protect the guests from the vengeful mercenaries.

The Best Man delivers slick and well-executed action that feels unrestrained by its budget. The movie also explores the bond between the main trio, adding emotional depth to the adrenaline-pumping scenes. While the plot doesn't deviate from expectations, the film is a prime example of a sturdy action programmer, reminiscent of the films that frequently graced theatres in the 1990s.

The acting across the board is solid, with Lundgren's portrayal of a grizzled, drunken Axel standing out. Fehr delivers a sturdy performance, and Wilson's affable charm masks deeper wounds, fitting well with his character. Whelan's role, although secondary, showcases her character's agency, and Taylor-Compton shines as Brook's wild-child sister, Hailey.

The Best Man is a throwback to the action films of the past, delivering a reasonably kick-ass dose of nostalgia. It achieves what it sets out to do, providing satisfying action and a few emotional beats along the way.

The Best Man (1999)

The Best Man is a 1999 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Malcolm D. Lee in his directorial debut. The film stars an ensemble cast led by Taye Diggs as Harper Stewart, an up-and-coming writer, and Nia Long as Jordan Armstrong, Harper's ex-flame. The cast also includes Morris Chestnut, Harold Perrineau, Terrence Howard, Sanaa Lathan, and Regina Hall in her debut role.

The film follows Harper, a committed bachelor, who has just written a soon-to-be bestselling and saucy novel, Unfinished Business, loosely based on the lives and loves of his group of friends from college. As Harper travels to New York City to spend the weekend with his friends, he is also set to be the best man at his friend Lance Sullivan's (Chestnut) wedding, with all his friends in attendance. However, when an advance copy of the book makes its way into Jordan's hands, Harper tries to keep it under wraps as the book is based on Lance's bride, Mia Morgan (Monica Calhoun), and her fervent past.

The film explores the dynamics of Harper's friend group, including Julian "Murch" Murchison (Perrineau), who is in a relationship with the domineering Shelby (Melissa De Sousa), and Quentin Spivey (Howard), a free spirit who is unable to settle down. As the story unfolds, secrets are revealed, and the friends' relationships are tested. The film received mostly positive reviews from critics, praising the strong cast and well-defined characters, and it was a commercial success, grossing over $34 million against a $9 million budget.

Following the success of The Best Man, a Christmas-themed sequel, The Best Man Holiday, was released in 2013, followed by a limited series, The Best Man: The Final Chapters, in 2022, both of which reunited the original cast.

The Best Man sequel plans

The Best Man, a 1999 American comedy-drama film, has had two sequels since its release. The first, The Best Man Holiday, was released in 2013 and followed the original cast as they reunited for a Christmas-themed wedding. The second sequel, The Best Man: The Final Chapters, premiered in 2022 as a limited series on Peacock.

The original film, written and directed by Malcolm D. Lee, centres on Harper Stewart, an up-and-coming author whose debut novel has been selected by Oprah's Book Club. Just before his friend's wedding, Harper's secret—that his book is based on the bride's past—is guessed by the groom. The film explores the dynamics of a tight-knit group of young urban professionals and features an ensemble cast, including Taye Diggs, Nia Long, and Regina Hall.

The Best Man Holiday, also written and directed by Lee, takes place several years after the events of the first film. The group of friends reunites for the Christmas holiday, and the film explores their lives and relationships.

The most recent instalment, The Best Man: The Final Chapters, spans several years and follows the events of The Best Man Holiday. The series explores the characters as they navigate middle age and reckon with their pasts. It also introduces new characters and storylines, such as Lance's non-binary child.

While the series has received mixed reviews, it is notable for its exploration of the reckoning between Robyn and Harper, as well as its diverse cast of talented actors.

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