Fans of Eminem’s 8-Mile Movie starring Mekhi Phifer probably haven’t held their breath as it’s now been 20 years since its release – but in case they were, Mekhi has some unfortunate news.
TMZ caught up with the acclaimed actor while he was in Los Angeles on Monday (January 2) and asked if there would ever be a sequel to the 2002 film. Without mincing his words, Mekhi made it clear that that would never happen.
“Sometimes it’s just best to leave it alone. Once you’ve made it a classic, there’s no need to fiddle with it,” he said, while confirming that there was never any discussion of a second film.
When the interviewer commented on how interesting it would be to see Eminem’s character develop in a sequel, Mekhi agreed – but still kept himself and Em out of the conversation.
“It could be interesting, but I wouldn’t be there and I’m sure Eminem wouldn’t be either,” he said.
Coincidentally, Mekhi almost wasn’t even in the first part, revealing in a 2014 interview that he considered passing on the role because the film seemed cheesy.
“It was interesting because when it first came up I thought it sounded cheesy,” he told The Breakfast Club. “I thought, ‘No.’ And I was supposed to start with ER right before the movie started. And I was like, ‘No, I’ll just start the show, man.'”
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But after reading the script and meeting Eminem in Detroit, Phifer was in. He would eventually star in 8 Mile as Future – a character loosely based on Eminem’s best friend Proof.
“I didn’t emphasize it, but I read the script. And the script was really nifty,” Phifer said. “And then they flew me to Detroit. And then me and Em just got together and just started building. You know what I mean? And I said, ‘Yo, I like that cat.’ You know? And then Curtis Hanson, stupid director. It all just came together. You know what I mean? And we kind of wanted to stay true – Because it was loosely based on Em’s career and Em’s life and Proof… And I felt honored – especially RIP to Proof. To be able to show him in that light. Because I felt the film was really smooth. And I had fun portraying him.”
Mekhi Phifer also starred in the cult classic Paid In Full with Cam’Ron in 2002, and unlike 8 Mile, there have been talks of a sequel in 2020. Cam confirmed on Instagram that talks were going on at the time, but earlier this year , Dame Dash said he doesn’t expect any of the original cast in Paid In Full 2.
“You’re too old,” Dame, who produced the film, told Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay podcast in March. “They’re all 50 now. We’re doing Cocoon: Paid in full? It will be what? Paid in full: nursing home? They’re too old to play young characters.”
However, he still plans to direct a sequel, this time to tell the story of Harlem’s relationship with the buzz of the late ’80s and early ’90s.