Culture

Movie Fans Aren’t Too Thrilled That ‘White Men Can’t Jump’ Is Being Remade With Jack Harlow

#White Men Can't Jump
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Movie Fans React To Jack Harlow 'White Men Can't Jump' Reboot

20th Century Fox/Disney


  • White Men Can’t Jump is a 1992 classic starring Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson.
  • The film follows two street basketball hustlers who at first try to hustle each other but then team up for a bigger score.
  • It’s now being reported that rapper Jack Harlow will star in the film and movie fans had some thoughts.

I was born in March of 1993. The original White Men Can’t Jump, which starred Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson, hit theaters a year prior in March 1992. And similar to our recent realization that *we* are now the demographic that the Super Bowl was aiming to please with this year’s halftime show, the fact that White Man Can’t Jump is already being remade also makes me realize how old I’ve become.

Not only is White Man Can’t Jump being remade barely three decades after it hit theaters, but it’s been supercharged with Gen-Zness as rapper Jack Harlow — who is actually dope but nevertheless, the point remains — has been cast in the lead role.

As you might well know, the internet doesn’t agree on much these days, but the reaction to Harlow being cast in the role has essentially been unanimous: thanks, but no thanks. And to be fair to Harlow, people are more focused on the fact that this isn’t a movie that needs to be remade than him actually being cast in it.

Calmatic is directing a script by Kenya Barris and Doug Hall. The film follows two street basketball hustlers who at first try to hustle each other, then team up for a bigger score.

Harlow will step into the role played by Woody Harrelson and the circumstances behind landing the starring role are exceptional. He got the lead role after his first ever screen audition, immediately winning over the filmmakers and execs, particularly Barris. [via Deadline]

Honestly, I understand Steven Spielberg remaking West Side Story, as it could introduce an entirely new generation of audiences to the movie. But White Man Can’t Jump just doesn’t feel right. The rule should be that an entire generation, 30-35ish years, is the demarcation line for what can and can’t be remade.

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