Actor Taye Diggs, 42, co-star of The Best Man Holiday, is just as excited about the movies release as fans of the franchise. After waiting 14 years for a sequel, Diggs is returning as the lovable Harper Stewart. The Best Man sequel has been in the making for years. Which is why Diggs admits that he was surprised when the movie was officially put into production.
“In all honesty, it seemed a little bit too good to be true,” he says of the prospect of a return. “So I told myself not to get too excited because movies — the idea — comes and goes. Funding drops. Unfortunately, films such as this, whether you want to call it a black film or African American, the industry is a little harder on movies such as this.”
“It feels good; these are all really great people, amazing actors as you all know,” Diggs explains, glowingly praising his co-stars, Sanaa Lathan, Nia Long, Morris Chestnut, Monica Calhoun, Terrence Howard, Melissa De Sousa and Regina Hall. “But we had such a good time outside of work on the first movie. I remember it more almost as a social event more so than a film because it was just like a party every day. It was a lot of fun. So it was just great to see all these faces again in this capacity.”
Diggs credits the success of the $100 million-grossing Think Like a Man with getting The Best Man Holiday turned around.
“I think when Think Like a Man came out and did really well … the industry took its cue from that. I think literally the week after it came out, I think I was offered the movie a week after. I am positive if that movie didn’t do as well as it did, a slew of black movies would not have gotten green lit. I’m thankful.” –joi pearson @joiapearson
