Tyler Perry is set to tell the origin story of Madea in a new Showtime drama set in 70s Atlanta
Tyler Perry is taking Madea to the small screen.
The entertainment giant, 51, is teaming up with Showtime to tell his signature character’s origin story in the dramatic series Mabel, according to Deadline.
Perry and Tim Palen-created series has already received a multi-script order for the show, which will follow Madea during her 20s in Atlanta, back when she was known as Mabel.
How it began… Tyler Perry is teaming up with Showtime to tell the story of Madea’s younger days in a new TV drama. The billionaire actor/filmmaker is seen in January 2020 above
The show is being scripted by twin sisters/writing partners JaNeika James and JaSheika James, who will executive produce with Perry and Palen.
The series description for Mabel explains the concept, saying: ‘Every great story has to start somewhere and every legend has a beginning.
‘Long before she was the force of nature known as Madea she was a smart, fierce, irresistible, dangerous, crazy 20-something black woman named…Mabel Simmons. When she moved to Atlanta in 1972 she set the city – and the world – on fire!’
The feisty Mabel ‘Madea’ Earlene Simmons – who has been played by Perry through the years – first appeared in the billionaire filmmaker’s 2000 play I Can Do Bad All By Myself, which was later adapted to the big screen in 2009.
Perry described the character as a ‘PG version’ of his mother and his aunt.
Firecracker: The series description says ‘Long before she was the force of nature known as Madea she was a smart, fierce, irresistible, dangerous, crazy 20-something black woman named…Mabel Simmons. When she moved to Atlanta in 1972 she set the city – and the world – on fire!’ Madea is seen in Madea’s Big Happy Family above
Close to home: Perry – who has played the feisty grandmother through the years – described the character as a ‘PG version’ of his mother and his aunt. He’s seen in A Madea Christmas above
Madea first appeared on the big screen in the New Orleans native’s feature film debut, 2005’s Diary of a Mad Black Woman.
The film was a blockbuster success, earning $50.7m domestically on a $5.5million budget.
Perry’s first feature film also launched a hit franchise for Lionsgate Studios, spawning nine live-action movies and one-animated flick.
Madea was a guest character on three episodes of Perry’s TBS shows House of Payne and was a running reference on Meet The Browns, though she never actually appeared.
Blockbuster: Madea first appeared on the big screen in 2005’s Diary of a Mad Black Woman, which earned $50.7m domestically on a $5.5million budget
She also had a cameo in the Oprah Winfrey Network comedy series, Love Thy Neighbor in 2015.
Perry will next appear on screen in Taylor Sheridan’s Western thriller Those Who Wish Me Dead opposite Angelina Jolie, Jon Bernthal, and Nicholas Hoult.
He also has a role in Adam McKay’s star-packed Netflix movie Don’t Look Up, working alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, and Cate Blanchett.
Perry is set to receive an Honorary Oscar at the 93rd Academy Awards in April 2021 as the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award honoree.
Honroed: Perry is set to receive an Honorary Oscar at the 93rd Academy Awards in April 2021 as the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award honoree