Queen Latifah and Jada Pinkett Smith are in final negotiations for the lead roles in the Universal comedy “Girl Trip,” TheWrap has learned.
Malcolm Lee (“The Best Man Holiday,” “Barbershop 3”) will be direct.
Regina Hall, who was previously cast in the film, will also star.
“Girl Trip” revolves around four friends on a trip to New Orleans during the yearly Essence Festival. The group of women rekindle their friendship, get wild on the dance floor (and a little drunk), find romance and even get into a brawl.
While Latifah and Pinkett Smith have been working together as producers on films like “Secret Life” and “Dear Mama,” “Girl Trip” marks the first time the two have appeared in a film together since the 1996 crime drama “Set it Off,” directed by F. Gary Gray.
The film is set to open July 21, 2017.
Will Packer (“Ride Along,” “No Good Deed”) will produce through his Will Packer Productions banner and James Lopez will executive produce.
Kenya Barris, creator of the hit comedy series “Black-ish,” and Tracy Oliver wrote the screenplay.
Vice president of production Sara Scott will oversee the project on behalf of Universal.
Pinkett Smith is represented by Paradigm, managers Miguel Melendez and James Lassiter, and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern.
Latifah is represented by CAA, Principato-Young Entertainment, and Eisenberg, Tanchum & Levy.