Some franchises just won’t die and that is especially true in Hollywood who will keep any franchise going if they can continue to turn a profit out of it. The first Barbershop released in 2002, was a massive financial success and appealed to a wide audience who related to its humour, hot topics and themes that it tried to address, particularly in dealing with racial issues and stereotypes. Repeated sequels and and even offshoots (2004 spin-off, Beauty Shop), along with a TV show have kind of eroded the popularity and also diluted what was a unique concept at the time into rehash after rehash that seemed intent on repeating the same formula.
And it looks like they are persisting with the franchise even further with the next iteration in the franchise, Barbershop: The Next Cut, whose trailer has been released.
It’s been more than 10 years since our last appointment at Calvin’s Barbershop. Calvin (Ice Cube) and his longtime crew, including Eddie (Cedric the Entertainer), are still there, but the shop has undergone some major changes. Most noticeably, our once male-dominated sanctuary is now co-ed. The ladies bring their own flavor, drama and gossip to the shop challenging the fellas at every turn. Despite the good times and camaraderie within the shop, the surrounding community has taken a turn for the worse, forcing Calvin and our crew to come together to not only save the shop, but their neighborhood.
And it looks like not much is going to change. Despite being set many years later, the formula seems to be pretty much the same, with similar topics and themes repeating themselves, except only with a bigger ensemble cast this time, which includes Common, Regina Hall, Anthony Anderson, Lamorne Morris, Eve, and Nicki Minaj.
The script is being written by Tracy Oliver (Awkward Black Girl) and Kenya Barris (Black-ish) and the film will be directed by Malcolm D. Lee (The Best Man Holiday), who are all mainstays of the genre, so I don’t expect anything fresh to come out of this. I’m sure there is a wide audience for this genre and I’m sure it will still be quite successful financially nonetheless.
Barbershop: The Next Cut is due out on 15 April, 2016 in the U.S.
Last Updated: January 19, 2016
