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Ever since the 70s, Shaft has always been considered to be the ‘black James Bond’ and it was only a matter of time before we got a reboot/sequel in theaters. Now New Line Cinema has dropped a new trailer for Shaft, and it features appearances from three generations of John Shaft.
Check it:
JJ, aka John Shaft Jr. (Usher), maybe a cybersecurity expert with a degree from MIT, but to uncover the truth behind his best friend’s untimely death, he needs an education only his dad can provide. Absent throughout JJ’s youth, the legendary locked-and-loaded John Shaft (Jackson) agrees to help his progeny navigate Harlem’s heroin-infested underbelly. And while JJ’s own FBI analyst’s badge may clash with his dad’s trademark leather duster, there’s no denying family. Besides, Shaft’s got an agenda of his own, and a score to settle that’s professional and personal.
What I love about the trailer is that it even embraces the more questionable elements of the original films—especially the part where Shaft used to hit women. The trailer has Shaft II attempt to hit a woman only to be stopped by Shaft Jr. for being ‘mysoginistic’. I think only Samuel L. Jackson could ever justify lines where he says that hitting women is non-sexist since he’s an ‘equal opportunity ass-whooper.’
The movie actually looks pretty fun, and I’m sure a lot of people would love to see what it would be like to have three different Shaft characters come onscreen together. Arguably Jackson has the most presence of the three, but it’s also cool that original Shaft Richard Roundtree agreed to make a comeback for this movie.
Catch Shaft in theaters June 14.
