Starring: Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Shari Headley, KiKi Layne, Wesley Snipes (Expected) Genre: Comedy / Cultural Satire / Family
The Synopsis
The King is Bored in Paradise The King is back in Queens, but the neighborhood has definitely changed. Coming 3 America: The Royal Hustle finds King Akeem Joffer (Eddie Murphy) officially retired from the throne, having successfully overseen the transition of power to his capable and progressive daughter, Queen Meeka (KiKi Layne). While Meeka handles complex state affairs and international trade deals with royal finesse, Akeem finds himself desperately bored in the palace. His days consist of judging floral arrangements and participating in endless, highly structured royal activities—a far cry from his hustling youth in Queens.
The Attack on the Legacy Akeem’s sabbatical is abruptly canceled when he receives a frantic call from the United States. The legendary McDowell’s brand—and his father-in-law Cleo’s legacy—is facing bankruptcy due to a brutal, hostile corporate takeover orchestrated by a ruthless, AI-driven conglomerate called “Future Eats.” This mega-corporation plans to bulldoze the iconic restaurant and replace it with a high-end, overpriced, organic smoothie shop. For Akeem, this isn’t just about fast food; it’s an attack on his family, his memories, and the true spirit of Queens.
Back on the Pavement King Akeem and his faithful royal aide, Semmi (Arsenio Hall), swap the comforts of Zamunda for the gritty pavement of New York once again. This time, they must navigate a completely gentrified Queens. The familiar streets are now lined with $15 artisanal latte shops, “dog psychic” studios, and tech bros who have zero respect for the classics. Akeem and Semmi, using hilarious and often malfunctioning new disguises—Semmi as a venture capitalist and Akeem as a retired, cranky real estate investor—must go undercover to sabotage the corporate takeover from the inside.
Old School vs. New Cool The heart of the film remains the iconic barbershop. Clarence, Saul, and Morris (all played by Murphy and Hall, of course) are still holding court, but their business is struggling. They are fighting the tide of “online appointment scheduling,” “contactless payment,” and “social media engagement.” They desperately need Akeem’s old-school, personal touch and Semmi’s knowledge of new-world scams to survive the modern economic jungle.
Meanwhile, back in Zamunda, Queen Meeka (KiKi Layne) and Queen Lisa (Shari Headley) must run interference with the royal council, who are baffled and insulted by Akeem’s prolonged absence in the “primitive world.”
Coming 3 America: The Royal Hustle is a hilarious, touching, and chaotic battle of heritage versus hype. It proves that while you can take the King out of Queens, you can never, ever take the hustle—or the royal dedication to a good, greasy double cheeseburger—out of the King.