The Los Angeles Rams drafted the sons of Ice Cube and Chris Tucker to recreate their famous father’s classic comedy Friday.
O’Shea Jackson Jr. and Destin Tucker headline the reimagined take, titled Thursday, starring alongside Terry Crews, YG, Kevin Dotson, Jared Verse, Byron Young and Big Boy as part of the team’s newest installment of its draft campaign. It dropped today ahead of the NFL Draft next week on all Rams digital and social platforms.
Friday, directed by F. Gary Gray from a script by Cube and DJ Pooh, came out in 1995 from New Line Cinema. It starred Cube as Craig and Tucker as Smokey, two friends who must come up with $200 they owe a local bully or there won’t be a Saturday. Agency partners at TBWA\Chiat\Day Los Angeles worked with the Rams to develop an reimagined version for the draft, one that “celebrates the cultural impact” of Friday in the communities where Rams fans live.
They even filmed at the original Friday house located in the West Athens neighborhood southeast of SoFi Stadium headquarters in Inglewood. Thursday is designed to focus on the anticipation and excitement of the draft and who could eventually land on the Rams.
“This project is a celebration of Los Angeles — the city we call home — and its culture, creativity and global influence,” said Rams chief marketing officer Kathryn Kai-ling Frederick. “Friday is more than a movie; it’s a cultural touchstone. By reimagining it through Thursday, tying it to the draft, and connecting it to real fan experiences across the city, we’re creating something that truly represents LA.”
Thursday is a piece of a slew of fan-facing draft activities. Those include the Zillow Draft House, a pop-up near Cinépolis Inglewood in Hollywood Park that is now open featuring a branded living room, a small-scale turf football field and a retail experience. From April 23-25, the Rams will host at Hollywood Park a Rams Block Party presented by Zillow that will feature carnival-style rides and games, “Main Street” activations and spaces to watch the NFL Draft live. Proceeds benefit the Rams Foundation.
Jackson is a veteran actor who made his debut by portraying his father in Straight Outta Compton. More recently, he starred in the Sundance title Idiots. His other credits include Swagger, Cocaine Bear, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Just Mercy, Den of Thieves, Ingrid Goes West, Godzilla: King of the Monsters and more. Tucker is an actor, writer and musician. He stars in the short film W.T.A.F.
A behind the scenes image from filming of the Los Angeles Rams draft special Thursday.
Brevin Townsell/Los Angeles Rams
A behind the scenes image from filming of the Los Angeles Rams draft special Thursday.
Brevin Townsell/Los Angeles Rams