Tyler Perry Watches Superhero Movies With His Son, but Has No Plans to Make One: ‘They’ve Never Been Something That I Enjoy’

As a movie critic with a soft spot for heartwarming dramas and historical epics that resonate deeply, I must say that Tyler Perry‘s latest venture, “The Six Triple Eight,” has undeniably left an indelible mark on my cinematic journey. His ability to breathe life into untold stories and bring them to the forefront of mainstream consciousness is nothing short of extraordinary.

Add Tyler Perry to the list of filmmakers not interested in directing a superhero movie.

In our conversation, he shared with me at the LA debut of ‘The Six Triple Eight’, a World War II movie, that it’s essential to have genuine interest in the subject matter. He confessed, ‘I’m not particularly fond of superheroes.’ In fact, they’ve never been something he takes pleasure in.

However, Perry said, “my son enjoys them, so we watch them together.”

Throughout his long and varied career, Perry has been responsible for crafting numerous films, TV shows, and stage productions. His most recent endeavor, “The Six Triple Eight,” is possibly his most ambitious project thus far. This Netflix movie, featuring Kerry Washington and a special appearance by Oprah Winfrey, recounts the remarkable tale of the unique all-Black female U.S. Army unit who served overseas during World War II.

Tyler Perry Watches Superhero Movies With His Son, but Has No Plans to Make One: ‘They’ve Never Been Something That I Enjoy’

Apart from mentioning that he’s working on a Christmas movie filled with gospel tunes, Perry also expressed some uncertainty about his filmmaking journey beyond his upcoming project, “A Jazzman’s Blues,” which is set to release in 2022.

Perry shared that ‘A Jazzman’s Blues’ was his very first creation and it took him 27 years to bring it to life. After completing it, he expressed a feeling of fulfillment, almost as if he had achieved all he needed to, which seemed to diminish his motivation for the next project.

But then he was pitched “The Six Triple Eight.”

Perry expressed his surprise when he discovered he was unaware of a significant story: the contribution of 855 African-American women during World War II. He found out that one of the reasons this history remained obscure is because many of these women returned home from war feeling ashamed. The women were subjected to rumors suggesting they had been sent overseas as concubines for Black soldiers. In reality, European women were dating Black soldiers, which upset some white soldiers, leading them to believe that the African-American women were in the military solely for that purpose. However, this was not the case.

Tyler Perry Discusses His Directorial Debut with Oprah Winfrey in ‘The Six Triple Eight’: ‘I Sought Something Deserving of Her’

The movie opens with a heartfelt tale based on true events involving Lena Derriecott King (played by Ebony Obsidian), a Black high school senior, and her Jewish boyfriend Abram David (Greg Sulkin). Before he departs for war, Abram proposes to Lena; however, he meets his end on the battlefield. Upon learning of this tragic news, Lena decides to enlist herself and become part of the 6888 unit.

In a critique by the main film critic, Peter Debruge, in EbMaster, he stated that the movie represents Perry’s “most significant and impressive full-length work yet.

Obsidian expressed how amazing everything felt, in a truly wonderful way, on the rug. This exceeded his wildest dreams. It seemed like we were paying tribute to these women tonight. The focus wasn’t on me; it was about the 6888 and their struggles. I was fortunate enough to be a part of something significant that I got to be a part of.

Check out more photos from the “Six Triple Eight” premiere below.