Get ready to buckle up for another wild ride. After nearly a decade of stalled engines and false starts, the buddy-cop franchise Ride Along is finally shifting back into gear. Universal Pictures has officially put Ride Along 3 into early development, hiring a new writer and sparking talks to bring the original chaotic duo back to the big screen.
A Decade-Long Pit Stop
The journey to a third film has been anything but a smooth cruise. Following the box office success of Ride Along 2 in 2016, director Tim Story and the creative team quickly announced plans for a trilogy-capper. Yet, for years, the project idled in development purgatory. Despite consistent interest from stars Kevin Hart and Ice Cube, along with producer Will Packer, the team struggled to find a story concept that clicked for everyone involved, leaving fans wondering if Ben Barber and James Payton had made their last patrol.
New Writer Takes the Wheel
The key to jumpstarting the franchise? A fresh creative voice. Universal has enlisted Daniel Gold to pen the script for the threequel. Gold is best known for his work on the acclaimed Netflix/CBC series Workin' Moms, though this marks his first foray into feature film writing. According to sources, his pitch successfully ignited excitement across the board, convincing Hart, Cube, Story, and Packer that the time is right for another chapter.
This development proves that sometimes, the right idea is worth the wait. While the Ride Along films were never critical darlings, they thrived on the undeniable, explosive chemistry between its leads, translating to massive commercial success. The 2014 original hauled in $155 million globally, with the 2016 sequel following with a robust $125 million, cementing the pair as a reliable action-comedy draw.
The Hart & Cube Dynamic
Kevin Hart has built a formidable empire in the action-comedy space, from the Jumanji reboots to Central Intelligence. However, his pairing with the gruff, no-nonsense Ice Cube in the Ride Along series remains one of his most iconic and profitable team-ups. The formula of an over-eager security guard (Hart) trying to prove himself to his tough-as-nails future brother-in-law detective (Cube) struck a chord with audiences craving high-energy laughs mixed with car chases and shootouts.
With all four key players—Hart, Cube, Story, and Packer—now in early discussions to return, the pieces are finally aligning. This news will be a welcome relief for fans who have kept the hope alive for a proper conclusion to the trilogy. It joins a trend of beloved action-comedy franchises finding new life, much like the recent developments around Netflix's Extraction series or the enduring legacy of Sylvester Stallone's iconic Rambo franchise.
What's Next for the Franchise?
While the project is in its earliest stages, the hiring of Daniel Gold signals a clear intent to craft a script that honors the franchise's roots while offering a new spin. The challenge will be capturing the magic that made the first two films crowd-pleasers while giving audiences a reason to return after such a long hiatus. If the team can recapture that lightning-in-a-bottle dynamic, Ride Along 3 could secure its place among other action franchises perfect for a weekend marathon.
The road to production is still long, but for the first time in ten years, there's a clear green light ahead. The mismatched duo of Ben and James may finally get one last chance to argue, crash cars, and save the day, proving that some partnerships are too good to leave in the rearview mirror.
