Rapper and actress Nicki Minaj has signed on to join the growing cast of MGM's upcoming comedy sequel Barbershop 3. She will play a new character named Draya, who works as a beautician in the beauty shop area of the Barbershop. The role marks Nicki Minaj's second big screen performance, after making her feature debut on last year's The Other Woman.

Barbershop and Barbershop 2: Back In Business stars Ice Cube (Calvin Palmer), Cedric the Entertainer (Eddie) and Eve (Terri) are reprising their roles for the sequel. New casting additions include Common and Regina Hall, but no details were given for their characters. It isn't clear at this point if other original franchise stars such as Sean Patrick Thomas (Jimmy), Troy Garity (Issac), Michael Ealy (Ricky) and Leonard Earl Howze (Dinka) will also come back for the follow-up.

Malcolm D. Lee (The Best Man) is directing from a script by Kenya Barris (Black-Ish) and Tracy Oliver (The Neighbors). George Tillman Jr. and Robert Teitel are producing through their State Street Productions company, although it isn't known when filming may begin. Barbershop and Barbershop 2: Back In Business have earned more than $140 million combined at the global box office.