Wesley Snipes Recalls Losing Role In First “Coming To America” To Actor Eriq La Salle: I Remember Being Sad

Wesley Snipes, Eriq La Salle

Wesley Snipes Recalls Losing Role In First “Coming To America” To Actor Eriq La Salle: I Remember Being Sad

Wesley Snipes might be starring in the highly-anticipated Coming To America 2. But he just revealed that if he had his way, he would’ve played the heartthrob Darryl Jenks in the original that was released in 1988. Unfortunately for Snipes, actor Eriq La Salle got that role.

Snipes said during a roundtable of him and his co-stars,

“I remember auditioning for ‘Coming To America,’ and I remember being so sad… I really wanted to be in the movie. I wanted to work with them. I was really contemplating what my purpose in life was after losing that to Eriq La Salle.”

Eddie Murphy, who will be reprising his lead role as Prince Akeem explained why Snipes didn’t land the role.

“Our look was too close to… You actually look more African than me…It had to do with types.”

Snipes joked that he would’ve loved to know that back then.

“That would’ve healed me. I was in the bathroom ‘Why am I even doing this man? I’m not gon’ quit. They not gon’ break me down man, they not gon’ break me down.'”

Murphy said everything has now come “full circle” as Snipes has signed on for the sequel.

“Now he’s playing the General Izzi, the villain… crushing it. Eriq is too light-skinned to play that.”

A little #ComingToAmerica talk?? pic.twitter.com/5W7VNIwzE2

— WS (@wesleysnipes) November 2, 2019

Murphy announced the news of a sequel earlier this year.

“After many years of anticipation, I’m thrilled that Coming to America 2 is officially moving forward. We’ve assembled a great team that will be led by Craig Brewer, who just did an amazing job on Dolemite, and I’m looking forward to bringing all these classic and beloved characters back to the big screen.”

It’s scheduled to be released in December 2020.

Do you think Wesley Snipes should have starred in the original Coming To America? Tell us in the comments!