In the world of comedy and film, Friday After Next holds a special place in pop culture. The holiday-themed third installment of the Friday series not only brought the familiar antics of Craig and Day-Day but also introduced a memorable new character: Money Mike, a smooth-talking hustler who became a scene-stealer thanks to the incomparable Katt Williams. But according to Ice Cube, the iconic role wasn’t always destined for Katt Williams—originally, comedian Ricky Smiley was in the running for the part.
In a recent interview, Ice Cube shared the behind-the-scenes story of how Katt Williams ended up snagging the role of Money Mike, a character that would go on to become one of the film’s most unforgettable moments.
“The truth is, we had Ricky Smiley come in first, and we tried him in a few different roles to see which one worked best,” Ice Cube explained. “Ricky went for Money Mike, but we quickly realized he was better suited for a different character, Santa Claus, in the film. So, we started seeing how he could work in that role. Meanwhile, we were still looking for the perfect fit for Money Mike.”
Enter Katt Williams.
“Katt came in, and it was like he was born to play Money Mike,” Ice Cube recalled. “He came in so prepared and just nailed it. There was no acting needed. It was like he was Money Mike already. The role came to life instantly, and we knew right away that he was the one for the job.”
Katt Williams’ portrayal of Money Mike brought a level of energy and charisma that elevated the character to new heights. His performance was so magnetic that it transformed what was initially intended to be a minor role into one of the most memorable parts of the film. In fact, Ice Cube revealed that they even kept the cameras rolling to capture more of Katt’s improv genius.
“Once we saw Katt, we just let him go,” said Ice Cube. “We kept feeding him lines, letting him improvise, and he just ran with it. We knew we had something special on our hands. Money Mike became a huge part of the movie, and Katt just stole the show.”
It’s clear that Katt Williams’ comedic magic helped make Friday After Next a standout in the Friday franchise. His portrayal of the fast-talking, street-smart character made Money Mike an instant fan favorite.
And as for Ricky Smiley? He ended up delivering a standout performance as Santa Claus, proving that sometimes, the best characters are the ones you never see coming.
The way Ice Cube tells the story, the making of Friday After Next was filled with moments of spontaneous brilliance. Katt Williams’ ability to improvise, combined with his natural comedic timing, cemented his role in the Friday legacy as one of its most unforgettable characters.
