Though fans thought they were bidding a fond farewell to the iconic Tyler Perry character in 2019's A Madea Family Funeral, it turns out America's favorite matriarch has plenty more to say. Thus, Netflix has made way for a brand-new adventure in A Madea Homecoming, which arrives February 24 on the streaming platform.

Family Reunions are once more the order of the day, but this time the occasion is the graduation of Madea's great-grandson Tim (Brandon Black, Dear White People). When his best friend Davi (Isha Blaaker, The Flight Attendant) comes along for the ride, it draws another mighty matriarch from across the sea: Agnes Brown. Brown is played by none other than Brendan O'Carroll, who has made the role a UK sensation through the BBC series Mrs. Brown's Boys.

Related: Tyler Perry’s A Madea Homecoming Trailer Reveals Madea’s Age

Perry spoke to Screen Rant about how Madea's first post-retirement film has enabled him to tackle more more serious issues, as well as how much fun he had on set with costar O'Carroll.

a madea homecoming - tyler perry & brendan o'carroll

I never imagined Madea and Agnes Brown coming together on one screen, and now I cannot stop imagining it. I love this pairing so much. How did it first come to you, and how did you make it happen?

Tyler Perry: I was shooting a movie called Brain on Fire, and the director Gerard [Barrett] said, "Have you have you heard of Mrs. Brown?" I was like, "No, I haven't." He sent me some clips, and I was blown away. So, I reached out to Brendan and was like, "We got to do something together."

Five years later, the project showed up. I was like, "Okay, here we go," and it was the most fun that I've ever had filming with someone as Madea. The guy's hilarious. He's a genius.

Madea's really exploring issues that are incredibly relevant and topical today, like sexuality and police brutality, that are affecting not only black communities but our entire nation. Was it the platform or the times that allowed you to tackle that?

Tyler Perry: It's both. It's the time, it's the platform, and it's having an opportunity to speak to the world all at once. I didn't want to do something that was just a silly comedy without leaving people some thought - I never want to do that. This was a moment where we could bring it all together and have some conversation.

I'm hoping that it makes people laugh and opens conversation so that they can be changed in healing.

Your plays have so many family members, and you're always coming up with new ones. Then in the movies, we've got more family members that are sometimes the rearranged differently. How do you keep them in your mind together? What is the continuity of the Madeaverse?

Tyler Perry: Listen, I don't. I realized it's like my own family. We have so many extended people that show up each year at family reunions. And for me, since I've been Tyler Perry, the are really new family members coming out of the woodwork.

Everybody's got their own issues and got their own problems, so I just realized that a lot of families are really extended - and they're much bigger than we think. And hers is huge.

While I'm so glad that you brought Madea back, I'm actually really excited for A Jazzman's Blues. I know that that's been in the works for perhaps even longer. What has that experience been like, and what can we expect from the film?

Tyler Perry: The best experience I've ever had making a film was A Jazzman's Blues. 27 years in the making. I cannot wait for it to come out. It's on Netflix as well, and I'm super excited about it.

Brendan mentioned that you two might to take this on tour in 2023. What other Madea projects might be in the works?

Tyler Perry: [laughs] Brendan's such a jokester, so you never know when he's telling the truth. But I'm taking it one step at a time, because it's such an overwhelming time in my life, with the business and career and everything - and my son.

I'm just taking it one step at a time, so we'll see what's next.

More: Tyler Perry Explains Why He's Bringing Madea Back After Retiring Character

Tyler Perry's A Madea Homecoming lands on Netflix February 25.