Although actor and director Tyler Perry is best-known for the hilarious Madea movies, he recently put out a new war film called The Six Triple Eight, which explores an aspect of World War II history that few know about. Perry’s career first began on-stage in the late 1990s. Before becoming a highly influential and lucrative filmmaker, Perry wrote, produced, and starred in a number of plays which were later adapted to the big screen, including I Can Do Bad All By Myself and Diary of a Mad Black Woman. Through these projects, he became famous for his character, Madea.
In the intervening years, Perry has expanded his repertoire beyond his iconic character. In the early 2000s, he starred in Tyler Perry’s House of Payne, which ran for six seasons. He also delved into more dramatic projects, including the political drama, The Oval on BET. Perry has also been known to take on acting roles outside his own productions, such as Gone Girl, Don’t Look Up, and Vice. At this point, Perry is one of the highest-paid entertainers in the business, yet he continues making waves with new work like The Six Triple Eight.
Tyler Perry’s The Six Triple Eight Is Now Streaming On Netflix – What The WW2 Movie Is About
How The Six Triple Eight Is Different From Other WW2 Movies
Perry’s latest movie is The Six Triple Eight, which tells the true story of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. This group of workers were all-Black and all-female, and succeeded in sorting through thousands of letters that had become backed up during World War II. These women helped clear necessary lines of communication, yet they have long been overlooked by history. The movie is inspired by an article written by Kevin M. Hymel in the WWII History Magazine. It stars Kerry Washington, Ebony Obsidian, Milauna Jackson, Oprah Winfrey, and more.
The Six Triple Eight is a major change for Perry, who has never really delved into the historical or war genres in his career. Furthermore, this movie stands out by telling a story that has rarely been discussed before. Many World War II films strive to tell stories that have been underappreciated by the public, but the experiences of the 6888th have truly gone under the radar. In this way, The Six Triple Eight is a special project that deserves as much attention as it can get.
Why Tyler Perry Wanted To Make A WW2 Movie
Will Perry Make Any More War Films?
The Six Triple Eight is quite a departure from Perry’s usual projects, so many may be wondering what inspired him to tell this story. Ultimately, it seems as though the surprising nature of the story itself is what brought Perry on board. In an interview with USA Today, Perry explained that after receiving a pitch of the tale, he “started just getting [his] hands on as much information” as possible. He couldn’t believe that such a group existed, and that he had never heard of them before. This shock and interest is what lead him to make the film.
Related
20 Best War Movies Based On True Stories
Authenticity and accuracy are important for war movies, and none are more accurate than those which take inspiration from real-life war stories.
Now that Perry has dipped his toes into the war genre, there is a chance that he could continue on this path. Perhaps if he found even more stories of Black resilience within a war context, more films like The Six Triple Eight would happen. Of course, Perry is deeply busy at the moment, producing a number of series and movies. However, the unexpected story of The Six Triple Eight could mark a change for the iconic filmmaker.
The Six Triple Eight is a documentary released in 2019 that chronicles the experiences of the 6888 Central Postal Directory Battalion, an all-black female unit in World War II. It highlights their mission to clear mail backlogs in Europe while overcoming racism, sexism, and the challenges of wartime.
- Release Date
- December 6, 2024
- Runtime
- 72 minutes
- Director
- Tyler Perry
- Writers
- Kevin Hymel , Tyler Perry