Tyler Perry still hasn’t slowed down.
The renowned entertainment figure and head of Tyler Perry Studios near Atlanta, GA, is bolstering his remarkable portfolio by finalizing a first-look television series partnership with the streaming powerhouse Netflix.
According to Deadline, this joint venture comes on the heels of an exclusive film deal announced between Perry and Netflix in October 2023.
With the support of the streamer, Perry has already delivered movies such as “A Madea Homecoming” and “A Fall from Grace,” with forthcoming releases to include “Six Triple Eight,” starring Kerry Washington, and “Mea Culpa,” starring Kelly Rowland.
The Perry-directed drama “Beauty in Black,” is the inaugural project under the new Netflix series agreement and will tell the story of two women, Kimmie and Mallory, whose lives overlap in compelling and unexpected ways. As in much of Perry’s work, the show will likely explore facets of the Black community and bring to light vital conversations about Black and brown representation in film and television. Perry will produce the 16-episode drama series alongside Angi Bones, president of original programming at Tyler Perry Studios, and Tony Strickland, executive vice president of studio production and operations.
The reveal underscores Perry’s relentless pursuit of achievement in the entertainment industry. The past few years of Perry-led wins include a four-picture contract with Amazon Studios Prime Video and a continuing, though slightly strained, alliance with (BET), where he’s produced projects including “Sistas” and “The Oval.”
As AFROTECH previously mentioned, Perry was named to Forbes’ list of “World’s 10 Highest-Paid Entertainers” for the second consecutive year in 2023. Alongside other Black business leaders, such as Byron Allen, Perry also attempted to purchase greater ownership of BET. Despite Perry’s reported $2 billion bid, Paramount declined to sell a majority stake in BET Media Group.
The choice elicited disappointment from the director at being unable to secure ownership of a brand that he’s helped to build and popularize.
Perry expressed his sentiments at the time, stating, “I was disappointed about it for a number of reasons. The way it happened was disrespectful in a lot of ways,” he told a group at the Bloomberg Equality Summit held at The Gathering Spot, per The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
While Perry retains a minority stake in BET’s subscription-based streaming service, BET+, his subsequent collaborations with Netflix demonstrate a commitment to expanding the reach of his endeavors beyond BET and a willingness to bring his talents to platforms where they are most valued.
With this deal, Tyler Perry’s status as one of the most sought-after entertainers will likely continue through 2024.
