Nearly 20 years after that unforgettable cross-country road trip, Ice Cube and Nia Long are stepping back into one of the 2000s’ most beloved comedic pairings. The duo is set to reunite for Are They Gone Yet?, a brand-new sequel to the Are We There Yet? franchise—and this time, Nick Persons is facing a challenge no amount of patience can prepare him for: grandparenthood.
If you grew up watching Nick fumble his way through fatherhood, this one’s going to hit different.
The Return of Nick and Suzanne Persons
The franchise kicked off with 2005’s Are We There Yet?, where Nick, a committed bachelor, set out to win the heart of single mother Suzanne. What followed was a chaotic, kid-fueled road trip with her children, Lindsey and Kevin, that turned into a box office hit. The 2007 follow-up, Are We Done Yet?, kept the laughs going.
Now, Are They Gone Yet? picks up a new chapter in the lives of Nick and Suzanne. The longtime couple are no longer just navigating parenthood—they’re grandparents. And if history is any indication, that means a fresh wave of generational chaos.
Nia Long kept her reaction short and sweet, posting on social media: “This should be fun.” Fans agreed, quickly flooding timelines with excitement over the reunion.
A New Generation of Family Chaos
According to reports, the screenplay is being written by Chris Hazzard and Mike Fontana. While plot details are still under wraps, the premise is clear: Nick Persons is about to learn that being a grandfather might just be his toughest role yet.
Ice Cube reflected on the franchise’s staying power in a statement announcing the project.
“We built something special with this franchise,” he said. “Audiences grew up with Nick Persons, and now Nick’s got grandkids. Time flies.”
He also spoke on the new studio partnership behind the film: “Partnering with Skydance to bring this story to a new generation is exactly the kind of move CubeVision was built for, and I am excited for the new partnership.”
The timing makes sense. Nostalgia-driven revivals are having a major moment in Hollywood, with studios consistently betting on franchises that already have loyal, built-in audiences. Are They Gone Yet? taps directly into that wave, reconnecting with viewers who first met these characters as kids.
A Franchise That Keeps Growing
The Are We There Yet? universe stretched beyond the big screen long ago. In 2010, it inspired a TBS television adaptation starring Terry Crews and Essence Atkins. That series ran for three seasons and introduced the Persons family to a whole new audience.
For Ice Cube, the sequel lands during an especially busy stretch. The actor, rapper, and producer has also been developing the long-awaited Last Friday, a project that recently gained real momentum after years of speculation.
For Nia Long, Are They Gone Yet? adds another standout title to a career spanning more than three decades across film and television. Her reunion with Ice Cube gives longtime fans a chance to revisit one of the most recognizable on-screen duos of the era.
A director has not yet been announced, and no release date has been set.
There’s something powerful about watching characters age alongside their audience. The fans who laughed at Nick’s parenting disasters in 2005 are now adults themselves—some navigating parenthood or even grandparenthood of their own. Are They Gone Yet? isn’t just another sequel; it’s a full-circle moment for a generation that grew up with this franchise.
Keep it locked here for updates on casting, the director, and a release date as the project develops. In the meantime, drop a comment—are you ready to see Nick Persons take on grandparent duty?
