Ice Cube’s “Last Friday” Gets Director As Movie Production Ramps Up

Ice Cube‘s “Last Friday” named Lawrence Lamont its director, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The filmmaker already has a comedy with Keke Palmer and SZA under his belt. He directed “One Of Them Days,” written by Syreeta Singleton and produced by a team that included Issa Rae and Deniese Davis. Its cast also included Katt Williams, Lil Rel Howery and Janelle James.

Lamont’s ties to Hip-Hop go well beyond that movie. Raised in Detroit, he built a body of work that includes videos for Big Sean and J. Cole. His own portfolio lists Sean’s “Single Again” and Cole’s “GOMD,” plus work with Sean and Jhené Aiko’s duo Twenty88. He also directed Snoop Dogg in a Menulog commercial.

Television brought another connection to Rae: “Rap Sh!t.” Lamont’s portfolio lists work on both seasons of the series. In a 2022 interview with Little Black Book, he described music videos as a place to develop storytelling skills while working with tight budgets and just a few minutes of screen time.

“One Of Them Days” gave him room to tell a longer story, with Palmer and SZA playing friends trying to avoid eviction after their rent money disappears. The comedy earned more than $50 million worldwide. TheWrap reported in June 2025 that TriStar was developing a sequel, with Lamont, Singleton, Palmer and SZA expected back at that stage.

For Cube, the director news followed two updates about getting “Last Friday” made. He told fans in Long Beach on July 17 that he and Mike Epps had turned in the script. The pair appeared together at a celebration of the films.

Then California announced on October 7 that New Line’s “Last Friday” was among 35 films awarded state production tax credits. The California Film Commission identified Cube as the movie’s star, writer and producer.

“I’m thrilled to produce Last Friday right here in Southern California, where our cast and crew lives,” Cube said in the state announcement.

He said the production planned to employ more than 180 local cast and crew members. Cube also pointed to the story’s roots in South Los Angeles, dating back to the first movie 31 years earlier.