SEO Title: Are They Gone Yet? Nick Persons Takes on Grandfatherhood

Meta Description: Are They Gone Yet? brings Ice Cube back as Nick Persons for a new family comedy chapter centered on grandkids, with Nia Long returning as Suzanne.

Focus Keyword: Are They Gone Yet

Secondary Keywords: Are We There Yet 3, Ice Cube new movie, Nick Persons, Nia Long, Are They Gone Yet plot, Are We There Yet sequel

Nick Persons Is Entering a New Chapter

The family comedy franchise that introduced audiences to Nick Persons is getting another installment, and its central character is facing a challenge unlike anything he encountered in his earlier adventures. Titled Are They Gone Yet?, the upcoming third film in the Are We There Yet? franchise will bring Ice Cube back as Nick Persons, with Nia Long returning as Suzanne Kingston.

Announced in June 2026, the project moves the story forward by placing Nick in the world of grandparenthood. After the original movies explored his transition from bachelor life to becoming a husband and stepfather, the new installment introduces another stage in his family journey.

The premise offers a fresh direction for the franchise while retaining its connection to the characters audiences first met in 2005. For longtime fans, the announcement raises an interesting question: How will Nick handle a new generation of family responsibilities?

From Reluctant Caregiver to Grandfather

When Are We There Yet? arrived in theaters in 2005, Nick Persons was a bachelor determined to win the affection of Suzanne, a single mother with two children. His decision to drive Suzanne’s children, Lindsey and Kevin, on a long road trip quickly turned into a chaotic experience that tested his patience.

Nick’s relationship with the children became a central part of the comedy. He was accustomed to managing his own life, but caring for two mischievous kids required him to rethink his priorities and learn how to connect with a family that did not initially welcome him.

The 2007 sequel, Are We Done Yet?, continued that progression. Nick and Suzanne were married, and their efforts to establish a home together produced another series of family complications.

Are They Gone Yet? takes the character beyond those earlier milestones. Its announced premise centers on Nick’s biggest challenge yet: grandkids.

The film’s direction suggests a continuation of the franchise’s broader theme of adapting to family life as circumstances change. However, the filmmakers have not yet released a full screenplay synopsis explaining the specific events that will bring Nick face-to-face with his new responsibilities.

Ice Cube Returns to a Character Audiences Grew Up With

Ice Cube’s return is central to the new installment. The actor helped establish Nick as a character whose confidence often clashes with situations he cannot control. His journey through the first two films provided the franchise with its signature combination of physical comedy, domestic conflict, and unexpected emotional growth.

In a statement reported by BroadwayWorld, Ice Cube reflected on the passage of time since the original movie premiered.

“We built something special with this franchise,” he said, adding that audiences had grown up with Nick Persons and that the character now has grandchildren.

His comments underline the generational dimension of the sequel. The story is no longer limited to a man learning how to fit into an existing family. Instead, it moves toward the changes that come when a family grows beyond the stage Nick experienced in the earlier films.

For Ice Cube, returning to the role also means reconnecting with a comedy franchise that remains closely associated with his screen partnership with Nia Long.

Nia Long Reprises Her Role as Suzanne Kingston

Nia Long is also confirmed to return as Suzanne, Nick’s longtime partner. Their relationship provides an important link between the original movies and the new chapter.

In Are We There Yet?, Suzanne’s relationship with Nick begins while she is raising Lindsey and Kevin. By the events of Are We Done Yet?, the couple has married and is trying to build a stable home for their family.

The third installment will revisit the pair at a different point in their lives. With grandparenthood at the center of the announced premise, Suzanne’s return allows the story to continue following the couple rather than introducing an entirely new family as its main focus.

Details about Suzanne’s role in the new story have not been fully disclosed. The extent of her involvement in particular plotlines, as well as the potential return of other characters from the earlier films, remains unconfirmed.

What Grandparenthood Could Mean for the Comedy

The shift toward grandparenthood creates several possibilities for the franchise without requiring it to abandon its established identity.

One potential source of comedy is the contrast between Nick’s earlier experiences raising children and the expectations that come with being a grandparent. Family roles change over time, and the habits that worked in one stage of life may not necessarily translate to another.

The new generation could also allow the film to explore changing family relationships. As children grow older and family responsibilities evolve, Nick may need to find a new balance between offering guidance and accepting that other people now make their own decisions.

These are potential storytelling opportunities rather than confirmed plot details. No complete synopsis has yet established how the movie will approach these themes or whether it will feature another major road trip.

Nevertheless, the announced premise provides a clear foundation for continuing the series: Nick has experienced the challenges of becoming a parent figure, and now he must navigate an unfamiliar generation of family life.

The Legacy of the Are We There Yet? Franchise

The original Are We There Yet? became a theatrical success, earning approximately $97.9 million worldwide, according to Revolution Studios. Its 2007 sequel, Are We Done Yet?, continued the story with Nick and Suzanne as a married couple adapting to suburban life.

The franchise later expanded to television through a sitcom adaptation that premiered on TBS in 2010. Terry Crews and Essence Atkins played Nick and Suzanne in that version, which ran until 2013.

The return of Ice Cube and Nia Long therefore represents a continuation of the original film series rather than a new adaptation of the same premise.

Nearly two decades after the second movie, Are They Gone Yet? has the opportunity to explore how its central characters have changed while maintaining the family-comedy identity that established the franchise.

Are They Gone Yet? Release Date and Production Status

As of October 17, 2026, Are They Gone Yet? remains in early development, and no official release date has been announced in the cited reports.

The film is being developed at Skydance Sports, with CubeVision and Broken Road involved in the production. Chris Hazzard and Mike Fontana are writing the screenplay. A director, additional cast members, and further production information have not been confirmed in the announcement reported by BroadwayWorld.

Although the project is sometimes referred to informally as Are We There Yet? 3, its reported title is Are They Gone Yet?. The year 2026 refers to the year the project was announced, not a confirmed theatrical release year.

A Familiar Family Faces a New Generation

With Ice Cube and Nia Long returning, Are They Gone Yet? will bring Nick Persons and Suzanne Kingston back for a new stage of their story. Its central premise shifts the franchise from the struggles of early family life toward the unexpected responsibilities of grandparenthood.

The exact plot remains under wraps, but the concept creates an opportunity to revisit a familiar comedy dynamic through the experiences of an older generation. Nick has already learned that family life rarely follows his plans. Now, with grandchildren entering the picture, he may have to discover that the next chapter comes with an entirely different set of challenges.