Universal Pictures is revisiting one of its most commercially reliable comedy properties, as early movement emerges on a third “Ride Along” film. According to Deadline, the studio has entered preliminary discussions with the original creative team, signaling a renewed push after years of stalled development.
The Franchise Eyes a Long-Awaited Reunion
The studio is said to be exploring a continuation of the series with Ice Cube and Kevin Hart in talks to reprise their roles, alongside director Tim Story and producer Will Packer. While conversations remain in the early stages, the alignment marks a notable shift after years in which creative disagreements reportedly slowed progress.
A key development is the addition of screenwriter Daniel Gold, who has been brought on to pen the script following his work on the Canadian comedy-drama series “Workin’ Moms.”
The original “Ride Along” debuted in 2014, pairing Hart’s fast-talking security guard with Cube’s no-nonsense detective in a buddy-cop setup that leaned heavily on their contrasting personas. Despite a lukewarm critical reception, the film proved a major box office performer, turning a modest budget into a global haul exceeding $150 million and quickly establishing itself as a viable franchise.
That success carried into 2016’s sequel, which reunited the leads and expanded the cast while maintaining strong commercial returns, even as reviews remained largely unfavorable. Since then, however, attempts to mount a third entry have repeatedly stalled, despite periodic updates suggesting it remained in development.
The latest movement suggests a more coordinated effort may finally be underway. With the principal cast and filmmakers now reportedly aligned around a new creative approach, Universal appears to be testing whether the chemistry that drove the earlier pictures can translate into another theatrical draw nearly a decade later.
