As previously reported, Katt was paired with host Shannon Sharpe in the Jan. 3 release. In the almost three-hour-long chat, Williams threw shots at several comedians and celebrities, including Rickey Smiley. Katt called out his former ‘Friday After Next‘ co-star for saying the Money Mike role was initially supposed to be his. Ice Cube clarifies the casting process and who contributed to the script. On January 5, Ice Cube went to social media to clarify Katt’s comments and Rickey’s reply. He acknowledged that everyone had “different perspectives” because the film was filmed over 20 years earlier. I thought that they were perfect for the role; I put them in a winning position. After giving flowers to several comedians, he delved into William’s comments. Ice Cube explained how casting works with him. Ice Cube said that Rickey gave Money Mike a try, but after seeing him and how he moved, we decided he’d be a much better Santa Claus. “For me, this was the perfect casting,” Ice stated. Ice Cube said that the role of Money Mike was already written when he saw Katt. Katt “enhanced” it. He said Money Mike originally had a “small part,” but when they began filming, Katt gave “magic.” Production continued “expanding“ his role…because he was “on point.” It’s not my style. You won’t find anything raunchy in any of my films. We did a movie called Players Club where the subject matter was a little raunchy, but for the most part, even that, we left it to your imagination.“
He added that, at that point in the careers of production staff, they would “listen to an extent” to actors. They would not “change the movie to suit any actor.” We do what feels right. If there had been a rape, the scene would have been included in the film. No reason to not shoot it. But that’s just not my style. This kind of stuff is not something I like to see in movies or on camera. And so, that was, to me, a little discrepancy there.”
Ultimately, Ice Cube revealed Katt came “prepared every day,” and they kept the cameras rolling because he was dropping “jewels.”
