Taye Diggs' Best Man Series Presence Explored

The Best Man is an American comedy-drama film released in 1999, starring Taye Diggs as Harper Stewart, a Chicago writer and the best man at his friend Lance Sullivan's wedding. The film was written and directed by Malcolm D. Lee and featured an ensemble cast including Nia Long, Morris Chestnut, and Regina Hall. The story revolves around Harper's upcoming novel, Unfinished Business, and the complications that arise when his friends discover the novel is based on their lives. A sequel, The Best Man Holiday, was released in 2013, and a limited series, The Best Man: The Final Chapters, premiered in 2022, with Diggs reprising his role as Harper.

Taye Diggs as Harper Stewart in The Best Man

In the 1999 film The Best Man, Taye Diggs plays the role of Harper Stewart, a commitment-shy writer and the best man at the wedding of his friend, Lance Sullivan, who is marrying Mia Morgan. Harper has written a book, Unfinished Business, which is based on his college life with his friends, including Lance, and does not portray them in a positive light. The book is set to be released at the same time as the wedding, and an advance copy has been shared with the group.

Harper travels to New York City to spend the weekend with old friends from college before the wedding. The group includes Jordan Armstrong, who is a love interest of Harper's, and upon whom one of the characters in his book is based. Jordan has a copy of the book and wants to sleep with Harper, creating a tense situation as his devoted girlfriend, Robyn, is frustrated by his unwillingness to commit to her.

As the wedding weekend progresses, Harper attempts to keep his book under wraps while also dealing with the advances of Jordan and the disapproval of Robyn. However, Lance eventually discovers the truth and attacks Harper, almost throwing him off a balcony. Despite this, Harper is able to repair his relationships and delivers a heartfelt speech at the wedding, earning the forgiveness of his friends.

The Best Man was directed by Malcolm D. Lee and also starred Nia Long, Morris Chestnut, Harold Perrineau, and Terrence Howard. It received positive reviews from critics and was a commercial success, with a worldwide gross of $34 million against a $9 million budget.

The Best Man Holiday sequel in 2013

The Best Man Holiday, the sequel to the 1999 film The Best Man, was released on November 15, 2013. The film was written, co-produced, and directed by Malcolm D. Lee, and starred a returning cast including Taye Diggs, who reprised his role as Harper Stewart.

The Best Man Holiday is a comedy-drama film that follows a group of college friends who reunite after 15 years during the Christmas holidays. The story explores how old rivalries and romances are reignited as the friends catch up.

In the film, Harper Stewart, a writer, experiences writer's block and financial difficulties. He is offered the opportunity to write a biography of his former best friend, Lance Sullivan, a New York Giants superstar. Harper's agent suggests keeping the project a secret, which creates tension as Harper tries to mend his friendship with Lance. Meanwhile, Lance's wife, Mia, invites Harper, his wife, Robyn, and their friends for Christmas, including Jordan Armstrong, Julian "Murch" Murchison and his wife Candace Sparks, Quentin "Q" Spivey, and Shelby Taylor. As the group spends time together, old tensions resurface, and they must navigate their complex relationships and rivalries.

The film received positive reviews from critics, who praised the performances of the cast, Lee's direction, and the blend of comedy and drama. It was also a commercial success, grossing $72.8 million worldwide. The Best Man Holiday provided a rich emotional palette and deeper exploration of the characters, making it a compelling sequel to The Best Man.

The Best Man: The Final Chapters series in 2022

The Best Man: The Final Chapters is an American comedy-drama television miniseries that premiered on Peacock on December 22, 2022. The series was created by Malcolm D. Lee and developed by Lee and Dayna Lynne North. It is set a few years after the events of The Best Man Holiday and stars a returning cast, including Taye Diggs, who reprises his role as Harper Stewart.

The series explores the evolving relationships and resurfacing past grievances of its characters as they navigate the unpredictable stages of midlife crises and renaissances. It provides a viewing experience that combines comedy, drama, and romance through relatable characters and their strong backstories.

In addition to Diggs, the cast of The Best Man: The Final Chapters includes Morris Chestnut as Lance Sullivan, Melissa De Sousa as Shelby Taylor, Regina Hall as Candace "Candy" Sparks-Murchison, Terrence Howard as Quentin Spivey, Sanaa Lathan as Robyn Stewart (Harper's wife), Nia Long as Jordan Armstrong, and Harold Perrineau as Julian "Murch" Murchison, Candace's husband.

The eight-episode series was filmed in New York City, New Jersey, and the Dominican Republic, and received mixed reviews from critics, with a 91% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 58 out of 100 on Metacritic.

Terrence Howard's memorable audition

Terrence Howard's performance in The Best Man (1999) is considered his breakout role. Playing the character of Quentin Spivey, Howard's acting was described by film critic Jason Clark as commanding the screen with "such abandon that one secretly wishes the film could have been all about his oddly captivating character".

Howard's performance earned him several accolades, including a win for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture at the 2000 NAACP Image Awards. He was also nominated for Best Supporting Male at the 2000 Independent Spirit Awards and Most Promising Actor at the 2000 Chicago Film Critics Association Awards.

Howard reprised his role as Quentin in the sequel, The Best Man Holiday (2013), and the limited series The Best Man: The Final Chapters (2022).

The impact of The Best Man franchise

The Best Man franchise has had a significant impact on both its audience and the industry. The original film, released in 1999, was written and directed by Malcolm D. Lee and starred an ensemble cast led by Taye Diggs and Nia Long. The story follows a group of friends as they navigate relationships, love, and friendship, with a particular focus on the experiences of upwardly mobile African Americans. The film received positive reviews from critics and is considered a landmark in Black cinema, normalising and mainstreaming the African American story.

The success of the first film led to a sequel, The Best Man Holiday, released in 2013, which reunited the original cast. This was followed by a limited series, The Best Man: The Final Chapters, which premiered in 2022. The franchise has been praised for its strong cast and well-defined characters, with all eight principal cast members receiving nominations at the 2000 NAACP Image Awards. Terrence Howard's performance was particularly well-received, earning him several nominations and wins.

The Best Man franchise has also had a significant impact on the careers of its cast and crew. For example, Howard's performance in the first film is considered his breakout role, and Lee has gone on to direct other successful films, including Girls Trip and Space Jam 2. The franchise has also been credited with providing opportunities for Black actors to play fully realised characters, rather than one-dimensional sidekicks or comedic relief.

In addition to its impact on the industry, the Best Man franchise has clearly resonated with its audience, as evidenced by the 14-year gap between the first two films. The story and characters are relatable, and the franchise has a strong fan base that continues to engage with the series and hope for further instalments.

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