In “Coming 2 America”, Eddie Murphy’s character, Prince Akeem Joffer, lives in an extensive fictional palace called Zamundan, but in reality, it is the megamont mansion of one of rap’s biggest names – Biggest Boss Rick Ross.
Ross offered his property to the film’s producers and mentioned on a virtual tour of the house that it is, in fact, used in Murphy’s last. In the video, Ross says there are usually “18-20 people” who want to see the mansion and that his team charges an entrance fee to take a look. Other films shot on the site include “Superfly”.
The palatial home in Woosley, Georgia, was the former residence of boxing legend Evander Holyfield and spans 109 rooms, 235 acres and more than 50,000 square feet, with Google Maps listing the place as a museum.
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“Coming 2 America” production designer Jefferson Sage told Architectural Digest that the huge rooms were perfect to be converted into a palace worthy of Zamundan’s royalty. “Our goal was to honor the original and update it,” he said. “We discussed the nature of fairy tales in Zamunda’s story and the lifestyle they have, where they come from and how they inform things.”
The set designers remade some of the rooms in Ross’ house, but used CGI for other more expensive renovations, such as tiles and walls. However, there have been some permanent changes to the house. “They changed the wallpaper in the dining room, so I asked them to keep it there,” Ross told Variety. “They also created that huge dining table for a 50- to 60-person dinner scene and left it to me as a gift. It’s gigantic. “
Decorator Doug Mowat licensed authentic African art from an art dealer in Paris to create the maximalistic, upholstered look that luxurious palace rooms have, and used Ross’ royal room for the royal suite.
“This is the ruling family of Zamunda for the past hundred years. We see ancestors in the paintings and we use layers and layers of ancient things that go back to tribal origins, ”said Sage.
Watch the streaming of “Coming 2 America” now on Amazon Prime.
Read the original story ‘Coming 2 America’ used rapper Rick Ross’ true home as the Royal Palace of Zamunda on TheWrap