Madea is making a comeback, this time to show fans what her life was like before she turned into the elderly and tough church lady they came to know and love.
The character will be featured in a new prequel series Tyler Perry is creating with producer Tim Palen for Showtime titled Mabel.
The one-hour drama will follow Madea when she was in her 20s, The Wrap reported Wednesday.
Here’s the official description: “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.”
Twin sisters JaNeika James and JaSheika James (Empire) will write the script and co-executive produce with Perry and Palen. Showtime has ordered multiple versions of the script for the potential series.
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Perry originated Madea in his popular stage plays, then brought the character to the screen in Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005). The most recent film in the hit franchise was 2019’s A Madea Family Funeral. The character is based off of Perry’s mother and aunt.
The Madea films along with Perry’s other ventures with OWN and BET helped him recently debut on the Forbes billionaires list.
No official release date or cast for Mabel has been announced.
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