Tom Lister Jr., who portrayed Deebo in the first two Friday films and planned on returning for this film, passed away on December 10, 2020. This is the second recurring cast member of Friday to pass away while attached to Last Friday.
Two scripts were written over the course of 8-9 years. Ice Cube wrote a draft in late 2011, and turned it in as of late 2012. Rumors went of a December 2013 release has been speculated. He wrote Smokey (Chris Tucker's role) in it, but Tucker has been reluctant to return. However, the film ended up in development hell due to that and budget not being met for over 3 years until New Line Cinema has a new leadership. Throughout 2017 and 2018, Ice Cube was writing another script alongside DJ Pooh (co-writer of the original Friday), and making sure it's "great." It was turned in as of Spring 2019, hoping for an April 2020 release, but New Line Cinema, and Warner Bros. Pictures told Ice Cube and DJ Pooh to rewrite scenes until John Witherspoon passed away on October 29, 2019. At Witherspoon's funeral, Ice Cube pointed out the fact that he turned in two screenplays that never had the greenlight.
In addition to being the fourth "Friday" film in the franchise, this is the second "Friday" film in which DJ Pooh helps Ice Cube write the script.
Although this is the fourth Friday film, this would be the second Friday film with Chris Tucker. Chris Tucker stated in early 2018 he would do the film "if it comes together right." Later that same year, he was still unsure if he and the cast would be able to recapture "the magic" of the first film.
"Last Friday" or "Final Friday" was the original working title for the previous installment Friday After Next (2002).
