Tyler Perry is at work on a Madea prequel series for Showtime. Perry is a Hollywood powerhouse thanks to his extensive career in both TV and film. Madea is by far his most well-known character, with Perry playing her in countless projects over the years. He debuted Madea in a 1999 play titled I Can Do Bad All By Myself. However, she didn't make her first film appearance until 2005's Diary of a Mad Black Woman, also Perry's first feature credit. The movie kickstarted the performer's impressive career.
In the years since, Madea has become the leader of a full-fledged franchise, appearing in 11 movies total. The most recent, A Madea Family Funeral, came out in 2019. Though it received largely negative reviews, the film made $75 million at the global box office. A Madea Family Funeral serves as the end of the Madea series, with Perry announcing his retirement from the role in 2018. However, now it seems the character may be back for one last hurrah.
Variety reports Perry is currently working on a Madea prequel series for Showtime. The potential show is titled Mabel and would focus on Madea when she was "a smart, fierce, irresistible, dangerous, crazy 20-something black woman named Mabel Simmons." The prequel show would be set in 1970s Atlanta, and the network has already ordered several scripts. Perry and Tim Palen serve as creators and executive producers of Mabel, while twin sisters JaNeika and JaSheika James (Empire) will write and executive produce.
Considering Perry's retirement from Madea, the news about the prequel show comes as a bit of a surprise. However, since the series would focus on a much younger version of Madea, it's unclear if Perry will reprise the role or if another actor will step in. While it's hard to imagine anyone else in the part, Perry was quite clear about his decision to move on from the character. It would be interesting to see another performer's take, though they would certainly have big shoes to fill.
As of now, the Madea prequel series is still in the development phase, so it's hard to know for sure if it will go to series. However, Showtime ordering multiple scripts bodes well for the show's future. It seems like a near-guaranteed hit for the network. The Madea films have always been reliable box office hits, so it's clear the audience is there. Additionally, it's now been over two years since Madea's last appearance, leaving those who enjoy the franchise hungry for more. All of this could spell success for the Madea prequel series.
Source: Variety