Romance movies tend to make a return once Valentine’s Day rolls around. Black romance movies perfectly capture the intensity yet tenderness involved with Black love. Many films are rewatched every year and have been minted fan favorites, including “Love & Basketball,” “The Wood,” “Poetic Justice,” and more. Topping the list, “Love Jones” displays the ups and downs of falling in love. It is so relatable that fans have asked for a “Love Jones” sequel for years.
Set in Chicago, the movie follows Darius and Nina (played by Larenz Tate and Nia Long, respectively). Darius, a poet, meets Nina, a photographer, before his set at a poetry club. From there, the chase begins. The two explore if a relationship is right for them, break up several times, and even seek love elsewhere. In the end, they always end up in the same room.
The film’s ending explicitly alludes to Darius and Nina rekindling their romance, although they live in different cities. That said, viewers have demanded a “Love Jones” sequel since the film’s March 1997 release. After all, everyone wants to know if they live happily ever after.
The fans want what they’ve been asking for.
During an April 2016 appearance on “The Breakfast Club,” Tate shared that he and Long have heard fan demands for a sequel and would love to bring the project to life. However, he shared that they have yet to see a script that they could get on board with.
Interestingly, in August 2019, Tate posted a picture of him and Nia Long on his Instagram. He referenced their chemistry and hinted at a sequel with the hashtag #WeMightNeedToDoASequel. It is safe to say that continuing Darius and Nina’s love story is paramount to the leads of the ’90s romance.
Fans took the post as a sign that the sequel is in the works. Many fans left comments under the post praising the film and their roles.
Larenz Tate wants us to move on.
Although fans desire a “Love Jones” sequel, viewers may have to move on from the idea.
In an October 2023 interview with AL, Tate shared that it would be hard for the team to emulate the same magic a second time.
“It would be hard for us to catch lightning in the bottle twice,” the 48-year-old told the outlet. “So Nia [Long] and I have been trying to figure out what that would look like. But we feel like we should do something, but something different.”
He also stated that he and Long have scoured the options for a sequel, whether a movie or television series. None of those options were sufficient for them. The actors are deeply connected to “Love Jones” and their characters and want to do it justice. If they are going to do it, they want to do it right.
Tate also has other projects he wants to focus on. The “Power” actor told AL that if he reprised a role, it would be Quincy Jones, who he played in the 2004 film “Ray.”
Unfortunately, the “Love Jones” sequel won’t be happening any time soon. Still, the film remains a classic within the Black community. It introduced an era of Black movies that steered away from violence and negative stereotypes. That said, the brilliance of “Love Jones” continues to stand the test of time.
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