Jamie Foxx and Ken Jeong have both subverted ethnic stereotypes to great comedic effect. Now the two are teaming up.
In an unusual, if informal, partnership, Foxx and Jeong have each agreed to star in movies written by the other, says Foxx, the former “In Living Color” star.
Foxx has agreed to take a lead role in a new movie Jeong will produce called “After Prom.” The buddy comedy is about two old high school friends, one “a jock and the other a cool dude,” as Foxx puts it, who must now steer their teenage children through their own prom gantlet.
Meanwhile, in an exchange of sorts, Jeong will star in “All-Star Weekend,” a comedy Foxx is developing at his production company about two friends who find themselves fans of opposing NBA stars. One man will be an ardent supporter of Kobe Bryant and the other LeBron James, Foxx told The Times, because “when you get down to it, those are really the two types of basketball fans out there.” (Foxx is actually a Mavericks man, but a promo line with the words “fan of Dirk Nowitzki” doesn’t have the same ring.)
Foxx, who initially talked about “All-Star” to BET, is writing and directing “All-Star,” which will put a new spin on the usual sports buddy-comedy by having the buddies on opposite sides of the sports divide. The movie will be financed and produced independently, and Kevin Hart will also star. Foxx will likely take a cameo part in the film.
Jeong has seen his stock rise since playing outrageous criminal Mr. Chow in the “Hangover” movies, not to mentioned that great “Knocked Up” cameo that preceded it. The prospect of watching him act opposite the man who gave us queen-of-ugly Wanda on “In Living Color,” among other memorable characters, will have comedy fans as excited as Mr. Chow at a coca factory.
More immediately, Foxx will be seen in Quentin Tarantino’s “Django Unchained” this Christmas, which will have him playing a slave in the period revenge story. And next summer he’ll appear as the leader of the free world in Roland Emmerich’s action tale “White House Down.”
“I look at it as I get to show the evolution in this country,” Foxx said. “I play a slave and then turn right around and play the president of the United States.”
Source: LA Times