Netflix has released a first look at Tyler Perry’s upcoming wartime drama The Six Triple Eight, starring Kerry Washington.
The film is based on the true story of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only all-Black, all-female Women’s Army Corps unit to serve overseas during WWII.
Washington portrays Major Charity Adams, who leads the battalion in their mission to deliver hope and break barriers.
The star-studded cast includes Oprah Winfrey, Susan Sarandon, and Ebony Obsidian.
The film premieres on Netflix on December 20, 2024.
What is The Six Triple Eight about?
The Six Triple Eight tells the inspiring true story of the incredible and brave women of the first and only Women’s Army Corps unit of color to be stationed overseas during World War II.
The Six Triple Eight is based on the true story of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the first and only all-Black Women’s Army Corps unit stationed in Europe during WWII.
In February 1945, 855 women were tasked with clearing a massive backlog of 17 million pieces of mail, some with incomplete addresses, intended for servicemen overseas.
Despite facing segregation and poor living conditions, they accomplished their mission in just 90 days, half the time allotted.
Tyler Perry was inspired to make the film after connecting with Lena Derriecott King, a former member of the unit, who passed away at 100 in January 2024.
Perry told Netflix;
We sat in her house for a couple of hours just talking,
Perry
having a great conversation,
And when I left there I had a whole movie in my mind
that I wanted to write for her.
The cast of The Six Triple Eight features a star-studded ensemble, including Kerry Washington (Scandal, the upcoming Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery), Ebony Obsidian (Sistas, Master of None),
Milauna Jackson (A Jazzman’s Blues, How to Get Away with Murder), Kylie Jefferson (Tiny Pretty Things), Shanice Shantay (The Wiz Live!, Perfect Harmony), Sarah Jeffery (Across the Line, Charmed), Pepi Sonuga (Queens, Famous in Love),
Moriah Brown (Power Book II: Ghost, Raising Dion), Jeanté Godlock (The Simone Biles Story: Courage to Soar, Daybreak), Jay Reeves (Safety, All American), Jeffery Johnson (Bird of Paradise, Elkhorn), Baadja-Lyne Odums (Eddie’s, This Is Us),
Donna Biscoe (Hidden Figures, The Fundamentals of Caring), Gregg Sulkin (Runaways, Faking It), Scott Daniel Johnson (The Banker, A Man in Full), Susan Sarandon (Thelma & Louise, Dead Man Walking), Dean Norris (Breaking Bad, Unfrosted),
Sam Waterston (Law & Order, Grace and Frankie) and Oprah Winfrey (The Color Purple).