The Best Man: What's Next For The Franchise?

Fans of the 1999 film The Best Man were delighted to see the cast reunite in 2013's The Best Man Holiday. The sequel, which takes place during the Christmas holidays, sees college friends reuniting after 15 years and discovering how easily old rivalries and romances can be reignited. A limited series, The Best Man: The Final Chapters, was released in 2022 and serves as the final instalment of the franchise, bringing the story to a close.

The Best Man: The Final Chapters

The plot of The Best Man: The Final Chapters follows Harper, Robyn, and their friends as they navigate evolving relationships and the challenges of midlife. The series is set a few years after The Best Man Holiday and explores how a decade can change people's lives. Harper, the main character, receives a proposal to turn his book into a Hollywood movie, which could be an opportunity of a lifetime. However, it might also reopen old wounds and cause tensions within the group of friends.

The series also delves into the characters' personal journeys, including parenting, activism, new and old love interests, and the complexities of being Black in 21st-century America. It is created by Malcolm D. Lee, who wrote and directed the original film, with the intention to showcase relatable and universal stories about Black people and their humanity.

Harper's book

Harper Stewart, played by Taye Diggs, is the author of the book that causes conflict among the group of friends in The Best Man and its sequel, The Best Man Holiday. In the first film, Harper's book is a novel seemingly inspired by and detailing the school exploits of his friends. The book reveals scandalous secrets between the friends, testing their bonds.

The book is a huge success, but by the time of The Best Man Holiday, Harper is under financial pressure. His agent suggests he write an autobiography with his friend, football star Lance. This, again, causes trouble for Harper and his friends.

In the trailer for The Best Man: The Final Chapters, Harper gets a proposal to turn his book into a Hollywood movie. This opportunity of a lifetime risks reopening old wounds, as the film production may expose the secrets Harper revealed about his friends.

College friends reuniting

The film centres on Harper (Taye Diggs), an author who writes a book about his friends and their exploits, causing scandal and testing their bonds. In the sequel, Harper is married to Robyn (Sanaa Lathan), and they are expecting their first child. Harper is also under financial pressure, and his agent suggests he write an autobiography about his friend, a big football star. This, of course, leads to more trouble.

The group of friends also includes Lance (Morris Chestnut), a star player for the New York Giants, and his wife Mia (Monica Calhoun); Jordan (Nia Long), a single and ambitious TV producer who previously dated Harper and is now in an interracial relationship; Julian (Harold Perrineau), who is now married to Candace (Regina Hall), a sweet-hearted former stripper; and Quentin (Terrence Howard), a rascal with a wise streak.

The film explores the hijinks and emotions that ensue when this group of friends reunites, including amusing performances, arguments, fistfights, and a tragic twist. It is a heart-warming comedy that captures the joy and complexity of reunions, where old scores are settled, and new memories are made.

The story continues with "The Best Man: The Final Chapters", a Peacock comedy-drama series that serves as the final instalment to the franchise. In this series, the group of friends navigates evolving relationships and the challenges of midlife, with Harper facing a proposal to turn his book into a Hollywood movie, potentially reopening old wounds.

Christmas holiday setting

The Christmas holiday setting of "The Best Man Holiday" serves as a backdrop for the reunion of old friends, creating a festive and nostalgic atmosphere. The film, released in 2013, is a sequel to the 1999 movie "The Best Man" and brings together the same group of college friends after 15 years. The setting is a suburban mansion, belonging to Lance and Mia, who got married in the previous film. As the friends gather, the Christmas atmosphere sets the tone for the rekindling of old rivalries and romantic feelings. The holiday trappings add to the sentimentality of the story, with at least 15 Christmas songs featured in the film.

The Christmas setting also provides a contrast to the serious and emotional moments in the film. One of the main characters, Harper, is facing financial pressure and is offered an opportunity to write an autobiography with his friend, a football star. This creates more trouble within the group, as old wounds are reopened. The festive atmosphere of Christmas, with its focus on joy and celebration, highlights the complexities and challenges faced by the characters.

In addition to the main plot, the Christmas holiday setting allows for amusing moments, such as an impromptu boy-band number performed by the male characters. The reunion during the holidays also brings to light the changes in the characters' lives since the last film. For example, Jordan, a single and ambitious TV producer, is now dating a white man, Brian, which is commented on by her friends. The Christmas setting provides a backdrop for both the light-hearted and emotional moments in the film.

The Christmas holiday setting of "The Best Man Holiday" is integral to the story, providing a mix of sentimentality, humour, and emotional depth. It sets the tone for the reunion of old friends, allowing for the exploration of changing relationships, the rekindling of old feelings, and the complexities of navigating midlife crises. The Christmas atmosphere, with its focus on celebration and joy, adds to the overall narrative and provides a unique context for the characters' journeys.

Overall, the Christmas holiday setting of "The Best Man Holiday" is a crucial element that enhances the story and provides a festive backdrop for the characters' journeys and interactions. It captures the spirit of the season while also delving into the serious and emotional aspects of their lives.

Cast and crew

The cast and crew of The Best Man Holiday include:

Cast

• Linden Liles-McCurdy
• Shailyn Pierre-Dixon
• Kelly (as Shai Pierre-Dixon)
• Paulina Abarca-Cantin
• John Michael Higgins
• Kid (voice) (as Haley Powell)
• Buddhist Monk (uncredited)
• Hot Co-Worker (uncredited)
• Lisa Michelle Cornelius
• Reality Show Star (uncredited)
• New York Giants Running Backs Coach (uncredited)
• Police Officer (uncredited)
• Giants Coach (uncredited)
• NY Giants Defensive Back (uncredited)
• Football Fan (uncredited)
• Football Player (uncredited)
• Sideline Photographer (uncredited)
• Stadium Fan (uncredited)
• Football Fan (uncredited)
• Santa Claus Football Fan (uncredited)
• #26 Atlanta Falcons (uncredited)
• Ball Boy (uncredited)
• Defensive Coach (uncredited)
• Funeral Guest (uncredited)
• Lonnie (Lance's Best Friend on Team #77) (uncredited)
• Football Player (uncredited)
• Police Officer (uncredited)
• Kweku Taylor-Hayford
• Ball Boy (uncredited)
• New York Giants Defense Coach (uncredited)
• Taye Diggs
• Monica Calhoun
• Terrence Howard
• Morris Chestnut
• Nia Long
• Regina Hall
• Sanaa Lathan
• Harold Perrineau
• Melissa De Sousa
• Eddie Cibrian
• Bill Carraro
• Spike Lee
• Sam Kitt
• Preston Holmes
• Sean Daniel
• John Michael Higgins

Crew

• Malcolm D. Lee (Writer/Director/Producer)
• Aleksandra Marinkovich (Production Design)
• Peter P. Nicolakakos (Key Makeup Artist: Buffalo Unit)
• Katie Bihr (Makeup Department Head)
• Jordan Brendan Finnegan (Executive in Charge: Blackmaled Productions)
• Preston Holmes (Unit Production Manager)
• Casey Erin MacIntyre (Assistant Head Carpenter)
• Chris Assells (Sound Effects Editor)
• Gregory Hedgepath (Supervising Sound Editor)
• David Williams (Dialogue Editor)
• Michael A. Morongell (Stage Engineer)
• Jeff Authors (First Assistant Director/Second Unit Director)
• Mike Morongell (Sound Utility: Buffalo Unit)
• Alyssa Veniece (Stunt Double: Melissa De Souza)
• Perry Hoffmann (Camera Operator: "B" Camera)
• Tim Limner (Best Boy Grip: Buffalo Unit)
• Tony Pacella (Best Boy Electric: Buffalo Unit)
• Bryan Patrick Stoyle
• Amanda Frances DeYager (Costume Supervisor: Buffalo Unit/Costumer)
• Sabrina Daneé Campbell (Promo Producer)
• Barrington Giles Kirven (Assistant to Director)
• Andrew Francis Fenady (Executive in Charge of Production)
• Stephanie A. Frederic
• Marie-Claude Harnois (Production Coordinator)
• James Keegan Jr. (Transportation Captain: Buffalo Unit)
• Davide Sauro (Assistant to Sean Daniel)

The Best Man Holiday is also set to be followed by a limited series, The Best Man: The Final Chapters, which will see the return of the original cast and crew, including:

Cast

• Taye Diggs
• Morris Chestnut
• Melissa De Sousa
• Regina Hall
• Terrence Howard
• Sanaa Lathan
• Nia Long
• Harold Perrineau

Crew

Malcolm D. Lee (Director, Executive Producer, and Showrunner)

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