What do Halle Berry and Lena Waithe have in common besides being iconic, influential, and strong figures? Their new show, Boomerang, of course. The duo is teaming up to bring back the 1992 movie as a 10-episode series on BET. The movie starred comedic Eddie Murphy and one of Hollywood’s break out stars, Halle Berry.
Waithe has been known for her compelling storytelling through characters and her profound way of bringing that onto our screens through her shows The Chi, and co-writing for Masters of None. Waithe’s work was recognized at the Emmys where she became the first African-American woman to receive an award for comedic writing in Masters of None, a huge accomplishment. She will co-write for Boomerang, while she also serves as an executive producer along with Berry.
Waithe posted the news on her Instagram account.
Waithe does not dare to make a mock-up of the movie. “This is less of a reboot and more of a continuation of the original story,” added Waithe. “There’s no point in trying to remake a classic,” she noted of the Reginald Hudlin directed film based on a story of commitment phobia by star Eddie Murphy. “It can’t be done. So we want to create something fresh that speaks to a new generation. We hope people will come to the show with an open mind and ready to embrace the new world we’ve created!”
As for Halle Berry, she couldn’t contain her excitement of working with Waithe and reviving an important part of her life. “I’m thrilled to team up with Lena on this project as she is without a doubt a leading voice of her generation and a trailblazer in her own right,” Berry said in a statement Monday. “I’m truly excited to be a part of bringing this iconic and beloved film to the small screen.”
BET network president, Scott Mills, is all about originality and a good story when it comes to the current generation. “Partnering an icon such as Halle with a disruptor like Lena is a perfect blend for the creation of a project that tells a classic tale in a relevant voice,” he declared on this latest scripted endeavor by the Viacom owned outlet. “This partnership demonstrates BET’s commitment to the continued elevation of the brand, collective creativity and authentic storytelling.”
Boomerang will find itself a premiere date in 2019.