Tyler Perry dropped the emotion-packed teaser to his second film for Netflix titled A Jazzman’s Blues, a story about forbidden love and family secrets in the Deep South in the 1940s.
Perry penned A Jazzman’s Blues in the ’90s, and it was the first screenplay he wrote. He was going to drop the movie in 2006 but it never came to fruition.
“The landscape never agreed to it,” he told the outlet. “I wrote it in 1995 and waited for the right time to do it. I never figured out when was the right time because I was building the brand and doing the things that I knew my audience wanted. My focus was always making sure we had a hit. Because, as a Black person, it could change your whole career if you have a flop. But watching what’s happening now, many people in politics want to rewrite Black people’s history, marginalize it, change it, and water it down. I thought, ‘Here’s the time to tell the story.’ ”
Even though Perry penned the screenplay nearly 30 years ago — which stars Joshua Boone as Bayou and Amirah Vann as Leanne –— some social media critics claim the movie greatly resembles 2004’s The Notebook, which took place during the same time period in the Carolinas. Some are saying that A Jazzman’s Blues is simply the Black version of The Notebook. Another person claims that a film about Black people with no rights is Perry’s way to try to finally win over the predominantly White Oscar Academy.
Take a look at the clip from A Jazzman’s Blues, which opens on Sept. 23, 2022, then check out some of the mixed responses.
So this isn’t the black version of the Notebook?
— Sugar and Spice ♋️ (@debeaurahhh) August 24, 2022
Tyler perry's New movie feels very "the notebook" but with a singing male lead.
I will watch and love the hell out of it tho😩
— 💃we signed💅 (@Loluisawesome) August 24, 2022
Ohhhh it's got a "Notebook" kind of feel to it…can't wait!
27 yrs ago??? What else you hiding😀 Your sir are amazing..the universe sure gave us a gift when they gave us a man like you with brillance, humanity and talent!!! 💕💕— Serendipity🌊 (@SerendipityinFl) August 23, 2022
A period piece set when Black people have have no rights? Tyler Perry looking for an Oscar. https://t.co/QaUixOPMqc
— Tampico Papi (@ChuBakaFlocka) August 23, 2022
Not Tyler Perry casting a biracial woman to play a white woman in a reimagining of The Notebook, which will be set in the Jim Crow era. https://t.co/lv7wowAgCO
— 𝙱𝚎𝚌𝚌𝚊 💋🦋 (@MJFINESSELOVER) August 23, 2022
Tyler Perry is one of the few writer/producers that consistently employs african america actors, costume designers, makeup artists, hair stylists etc. The least you could do is support his projects.
— thebeautiful1 (@gina4368) August 24, 2022