‘Girlfriends’ Creator Mara Brock Akil to Bring Young Adult Love Story ‘Forever’ for Netflix

The upcoming Netflix series Forever will tell the story of two Black teenagers navigating life and love.

The series comes from Mara Brock Akil (Girlfriends, Being Mary Jane), and is an adaptation of Judy Blume’s 1975 young adult novel Forever.

The series is described as “an epic love story of two Black teens exploring romance and their identities through the awkward journey of being each other’s firsts,” according to the official description.

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Lovie Simone and Michael Cooper Jr. will star in Mara Brock Akil's new series, Forever. A reimagining of the groundbreaking 1975 Judy Blume novel.

An epic love story of two Black teens exploring romance and their identities through the awkward journey of being each other’s… pic.twitter.com/Er6E22DX4m

— Strong Black Lead (@strongblacklead) February 15, 2024

Lovie Simone (Social Distance, Manhunt) and Michael Cooper Jr. (On the Come Up) have been cast as the show’s leads.

Simone will play Keisha Clark, “a young confident, smart, and fiery track star with clear dreams for life after high school.”

Cooper has been cast as Justin Edwards, “a young man who is a nerd at heart disguised in an athlete’s body. Justin dreams of playing D1 basketball and achieving more than his successful parents. Love will lead him to who he truly is.”

Regina King (One Night in Miami) is set to direct the first episode and executive produce alongside Brock Akil, Blume, Susie Fitzgerald, Erika Harrison, Sara White, Reina King and Shana C. Waterman.

King will next star in the Netflix biopic, Shirley, about Shirley Chisholm who was the first Black woman elected to the U.S. Congress.

Forever is Brock Akil’s first project under her overall deal with Netflix, which was announced in 2020, as previously reported.

“It is a dream to partner with the force of Netflix, for we have the same goals — telling human stories for a global audience,” Brock Akil said previously. “I’m excited to have a home that allows me the creative freedom and support to do what I do best — paint portraits and murals of women, Black people and anyone else whose story is missing from this golden age of television.”

A release date for Forever will be announced later.