Is there really a New Jack City movie upcoming on Netflix? Speculation explained

A still from New Jack City (Image via Amazon Prime Video)

New Jack City, the 1991 crime action film, has attained cult status over the years. Directed by Mario Van Peebles, this classic cop-vs-gangster film was not only received positively on its release but has also enjoyed a sparkling legacy.

The synopsis of the film on Amazon Prime Video reads:

“A gripping story about the rise and fall of a Harlem drug lord and the determined police officers who infiltrate his organization in an attempt to bring down his empire.”

Recently, New Jack City has grabbed the attention of netizens, as talks of a Netflix re-telling of the story is doing the rounds on social media. However, there's no official confirmation that a new New Jack City movie is going to be made in the near future.

It's not the first time that speculations have been made about a potential sequel or prequel to the film. Similar reports were heard at least twice in the past.

No New Jack City movie is coming on Netflix

On August 4, 2024, a Facebook user named Destinee Fritsch shared a poster of the film on the platform.

The poster shows the name New Jack City, with Sterling K. Brown allegedly in line to take over the character earlier played by Wesley Snipes. The caption claims that the remake would be in the form of a series.

The post carries a bit of synopsis and mentions several popular names as part of the cast. As of writing, the post has been shared on the platform around ten thousand times. However, the poster is a purely fan-made one, as is the caption. There's no official confirmation yet regarding any sequel or prequel to the 1991 movie.

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There were reports of a reboot in the past

Another New Jack City movie is not coming on Netflix (Image via Amazon Prime Video)

On September 23, 2019, Deadline published a report that claimed that Warner Bros was planning a reboot of New Jack City. Malcolm M. Mays was reportedly writing the screenplay, but this project never came to fruition.

Similarly, The Direct reported on August 10, 2024, that Barry Michael Cooper, the co-writer of the 1991 screenplay, posted on X on November 28, 2021, that the film was making a return to the screen. Barry’s post said:

“The Diary of NIno Brown: The Monster Reagan Created." Prequel. Sequel. Work In Progress. Soon. GOD Willing. #NewJackCity”

That, too, never saw the light of day.

New Jack City: Plot and cast

The plot revolves around Nino Brown, whose gang, the Cash Money Brothers, becomes the most influential drug ring in Harlem, with the introduction of crack cocaine. Scotty Appleton, an undercover NYPD detective, is given the responsibility to stop the gang.

What follows is a thrilling chase between cop and criminal, as webs of lies, deceit and undercover infiltration engulf the story. In the end, Nino is caught, and despite his cunning, meets his comeuppance.

The cast of the film includes: