Actor, filmmaker, comedian and playwright Tyler Perry is officially calling it quits on his "Madea" franchise, he announced during a SiriusXM interview Monday.
“I just don’t want to be her age [still] playing her,” he joked.
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The character Mabel Earlene “Madea” Simmons, played by Perry himself, first appeared as a 68-year-old in the 1999 stage play “I Can Do Bad All by Myself,” followed by the play and film, “Diary of a Mad Black Woman.”
According to Vanity Fair, Madea has appeared in dozens of productions since — and her films alone have grossed upwards of $500 million globally.
Perry wrapped up on the last series film, “Madea Family Funeral,” two years ago. The movie, set to premiere in March 2019, tells the story of a Georgia family reunion gone bad.
“Perhaps uncoincidentally, the forthcoming film will also mark the last collaboration between Perry and Lionsgate,” Vanity Fair reported. “The filmmaker has signed a deal with Viacom that will have him producing content across television, film, and short-form video platforms.”
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You can watch the full SiriusXM interview below:
Perry is also behind the soon-to-be-released Atlanta-filmed "Nobody's Fool" featuring stars Tiffany Haddish and Tika Sumpter.
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