Comedy icons Mike Epps (“The Hangover,” “Death Wish,” “Girls Trip”) and Katt Williams (“Friday After Next,” “Norbit,” the upcoming “Father Figures”) will star opposite one another in the urban comedy “The House Next Door” – a sequel to Deon Taylor’s 2016 urban indie hit “Meet the Blacks.”
The pairing marks a reunion for Epps and Williams who last starred together in New Line’s 2002 hit “Friday After Next,” also a sequel in Ice Cube’s popular “Friday” movie franchise.
Deon Taylor (“Traffik,” “Motivated Seller,” “Supremacy”) is directing “The House Next Door” as well as producing the film with partners Roxanne Avent and Robert F. Smith. Mike Epps is a producer on the film via his Naptown Productions banner along with producing partner Niles Kirchner, who is executive producing. Katt Williams is executive producing as well.
In addition to Epps, who starred in “Meet the Blacks,” many of the original cast will return for the sequel, including Bresha Webb (“Ride Along 2,” “Marlon”), Zulay Henao (“Fighting”), social media star Andrew Bachelor (aka ‘King Batch’), and comedians Lil Duval, Michael Blackson and Tyrin Turner.
After surviving a night of terror and becoming a best-selling author, overstressed Carl Black (Epps) moves his family back to his childhood home where he hopes to work in peace and quiet on a new book that he owes his publisher. But when his quirky neighborhood becomes host to a mysteriously extravagant pimp (Williams), Carl’s work is interrupted after his dead-beat cousin becomes convinced the new neighbor is actually a vampire and is trying to steal Carl’s entire family away. Carl is forced to team up with an oddball cast of neighborhood characters as they take the fight to the vampire pimp in a hilarious battle for Carl’s family… and the future of his old hood.
Principal photography is set to commence next week in Atlanta, Georgia.
Said Taylor, “Mike and Katt are so comedically explosive together. I don’t know how we’re going to keep it together on set with these two at the top of their game, but we’re happy to have this as our problem to deal with! Audiences really responded to ‘Meet the Blacks’ so we’re happy to give them another dose of dysfunction with ‘House Next Door.’”
Mike Epps recently wrapped on “The Trap” which he stars in, wrote and produces under his Naptown Banner with Queen Latifah and Tip Harris. He also wrapped the independent film “Acts of Violence” opposite Bruce Willis.
“The House Next Door” continues a busy year for Taylor who wrote, directed and produced the thriller “Traffik,” which will be released by Lionsgate’s Codeblack Films in April 2018 and stars Paula Patton, Missi Pyle, Omar Epps, William Fichtner and Roselyn Sanchez. Taylor also wrote directed and produced the thriller “Motivated Seller” starring Dennis Quaid, Michael Ealy and Megan Good, and also produced, with Jamie Foxx, the comedy feature “All-Star Weekend,” starring Foxx, Robert Downey Jr., Gerard Butler, Eva Longoria, Jeremy Piven, Jessica Szohr – directed by Jamie Foxx.
To date, Taylor’s films have all been financed by his longtime business partner and lead investor, Robert Smith. Robert Smith founded Vista Equity Partners in 2000 and is the firm’s Managing Principal. Vista has consistently ranked as one of the top Private Equity Firms in the world over the past 10 years with over $3 billion in capital under management.
Mike Epps is represented by CAA, Primary Wave Entertainment, and attorney Todd Ruebenstein.
ICM Partners represent both Katt Williams and Deon Taylor and will handle worldwide sales of the film.
