Cast Set For Tyler Perry’s Six Triple Eight
Kerry Washington will exec produce and star in Six Triple Eight, the WWII drama that Tyler Perry is writing, directing and producing for Netflix, which has now entered production.
Washington is joined in the ensemble with Ebony Obsidian, Milauna Jackson, Kylie Jefferson, Shanice Shantay, Sarah Jeffery, Pepi Sonuga, Jay Reeves, Jeanté Godlock, Moriah Brown, Baadja-Lyne Odums, Gregg Sulkin, with Dean Norris, Sam Waterston, Susan Sarandon and Oprah Winfrey.
The film based on an article by Kevin M. Hymel, published in WWII History Magazine by Sovereign Media, tells the true story of the only all-Black, all-female World War II Battalion. These 855 women joined the war effort with little knowledge of what exactly they would be doing, but were quickly given the mission of a lifetime: sorting through and fixing a three-year backlog of undelivered mail.
While this was a herculean task that most thought impossible, the women not only succeeded but did it in half the time they were given. Facing discrimination, unfamiliar land and a war-torn country, they persevered and sorted over 17 million pieces of mail, reconnecting American soldiers with their families and loved ones back home. The motto that kept them going each day was one they created themselves: “No Mail, Low Morale.”
The story of the 6888th Postal Directory Battalion has been kept out of history books, ignored by the national spotlight, until now — nearly 75 years later. On March 14th, 2022, President Joe Biden signed the bill for the women to receive the Congressional Gold Medal, Congress’ highest honor.
Six Triple Eight marks Perry’s fourth feature for Netflix following A Fall From Grace; A Madea Homecoming, which hit the Top 10 in 43 countries; A Jazzman’s Blues, which was in the Top 10 in 55 countries; and Adam McKay’s chart-topper Don’t Look Up, which had him as part of the ensemble. He’s joined as a producer on the pic by Nicole Avant for Her Excellency Productions, Keri Selig for Intuition Productions, Carlota Espinosa, and Angi Bones and Tony Strickland for Tyler Perry Studios. Peter Guber exec produces for Mandalay Pictures, alongside Washington.