Tyler Perry, creator and star of the “Madea” movie franchise, May 12 announced in a statement from ViacomCBS unit BET that he would resume production on the second seasons of two original TV series July 8 at his studio in Atlanta. Perry becomes one of the first Hollywood movie and TV executives to announce post-coronavirus production plans.
“BET is committed to investing in quality programming from top industry power players and giving viewers more of the content they love and expect from the brand across our platforms,” Scott Mills, president of BET, said in a separate statement.
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Perry’s series “Sistas,” about a group of single black women dealing with love and friendship, and “The Oval,” showcasing fictional life in the White House, are filmed on the actor/producer’s 330-acre converted army facility (acquired in 2015) that includes housing, greenspace and 12 sound stages.
Georgia in April became the first state to re-open select businesses, including movie theaters, despite the ongoing pandemic that has killed more than 80,000 people in the United States.
In an interview last month with Deadline, Perry outlined how he would sequester cast and crew on his studio grounds, among other safeguards, during production to minimize any potential spread of COVID-19.