By: Renae Richardson
Some things are never really done, and the announcement of “Are They Gone Yet?” is a perfect reminder. Ice Cube and Nia Long fans recently received an unexpected surprise with news that another installment in the “Are We There Yet?” franchise is in early production. The update instantly pulls audiences back to the early 2000s, when Ice Cube stepped into a different kind of story, one rooted less in edge and more in family.
At the time, that shift mattered.
Before “Are We There Yet?” Cube had already built a reputation through projects like Boyz n the Hood, Friday, Barbershop, Beauty Shop, Anaconda, The Players Club, and All About the Benjamins. His presence carried a certain expectation, which made this pivot feel both surprising and intentional.
A Different Lane That Still Fits
Are We There Yet? Image Source: Columbia Pictures
What made the film work is that it did not abandon who Cube was. It simply expanded him. “Are We There Yet?” centers on Nick Persons, a self-assured ladies’ man who develops an interest in a woman with two children. Winning her over meant navigating the far more complicated task of winning them over first, and Lindsey and Kevin Kingston had no plans to make that easy. The result was a fast-moving, comedic 95-minute journey that gradually reshaped Nick’s priorities. What begins as a pursuit turns into something more grounded. By the end, Nick is not just invested in Suzanne, played by Nia Long, but in the full reality of her life. That evolution set the stage for what came next.
Growth Brings New Pressure
Two years later, “Are We Done Yet?” picks up with Nick and Suzanne married and moving forward. The relationship that once felt like a challenge now comes with responsibility, a new baby, and a move. Their move to the suburbs signals growth, but it also introduces a new kind of stress. Nick is no longer trying to impress a family. He is trying to hold one together. The humor remains, but it is now tied to the pressures of maintaining stability, reinforcing the film’s central question. “Are we done yet?” For many, that chapter felt complete.
A Return That Reflects the Moment
In the years since, the Parsons have been largely absent from the screen. The franchise felt like a contained story tied to a specific era. Now, revisiting long-dormant properties has become a defining trend in the industry. What once might have felt unnecessary now feels expected. Nostalgia continues to drive interest, especially when characters have aged alongside their audience. Ice Cube addressed the return directly, noting that the connection has endured.
“We built something special with this franchise. Audiences grew up with Nick Persons, and now Nick’s got grandkids. Time flies.”
That passage of time is exactly what makes this return feel less like a repeat and more like a continuation.
The Story Moves Forward
With Ice Cube’s production company working alongside Broken Road and Skydance, “Are They Gone Yet?” will revisit Nick and Suzanne in a new phase of life as grandparents. That shift opens the door for a different kind of comedy, one shaped by generational change and lived experience rather than early relationship growing pains. It also raises a quiet question about how these characters have evolved in the years audiences did not see. There is no release date yet, which is expected, given that the project is still in pre-production. What is clear, however, is that this is not just a return built on recognition. It is an attempt to extend a story that has aged along with its audience.
Whether it lands will depend on how well it balances nostalgia with something new.
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