Tyler Perry to write and direct film about America’s renowned all-black WWII female battalion

Tyler Perry has scooped another project on Netflix as the streaming giant announced the billionaire filmmaker will write and direct a movie about the gallant all-Black American female battalion that served in Europe during World War II. 

According to Deadline, the movie, titled Six Triple Eight, will be Perry’s fourth Netflix movie. The movie’s production will be centered around an article by Kevin M. Hymel. The article in question was published in the WWII History Magazine.

Known as the 6888 Central Postal Directory Battalion, the all-Black female battalion of the Women’s Army Corps was sent to parts of France and England to contribute to solving problems that the Second World War brought.

In September 2018, Face2Face Africa brought to light this piece of history that had for many years been swept under the carpet. The success of the formation of the all-Black female battalion was thanks to Mary McLeod Bethune, an African American civil rights activist who at the time, appealed to the then-first lady of America, Eleanor Roosevelt, to create more meaningful roles for Black women in the army to help balance out the shortage of soldiers. Bethune’s appeal gained the attention of the first lady who then helped the military create a space for an all-Black female group to work in the war in Europe.

In 1945, history was made when the first all-Black female battalion in the world was sent from the U.S. to serve in parts of Europe during the Second World War. With the main task of clearing several years of abandoned and backlogged mail in Europe, The 6888 Central Postal Directory Battalion was trained and sent off to help with managing the postal service in Europe.

The battalion sent to Europe was made up of 855 women who served under the command of Major Charity Williams. Their motto was, “no mail, no morale”, and they were popularly known as the “six triple eight”.

The women worked under dangerous and risky conditions in abandoned and infested aircraft and offices throughout the war. For their hard work, they were honored with the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal whiles they were still offering service. In March, President Joe Biden awarded the women Congressional Gold Medals. That is the highest honor by Congress.

Besides writing and directing, Perry will be producing Six Triple Eight with Nicole Avant (Her Excellency Productions) Keri Selig (Intuition Productions), as well as Carlota Espinosa Angi Bones and Tony Strickland (Tyler Perry Studios). 

Peter Guber of Mandalay Pictures is the executive producer.