The Six Triple Eight: release date, teaser, cast, plot and everything we know about the Tyler Perry film

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 Kerry Washington in The Six Triple Eight.
Kerry Washington, The Six Triple Eight. | Credit: Bob Mahoney/Perry Well Films 2/Courtesy of Netflix

While Tyler Perry is known for making movie watchers laugh with his famous rough-around-the-edges matriarch Madea, as of late he's ventured into more dramatic projects, and he'll do so again with a new movie, Six Triple Eight for Netflix.

Just recently, he took his fans on a journey into the past with the Netflix film A Jazzman’s Blues, which centered around an unsolved murder, forbidden love and US race dynamics. He also had a new Madea movie, A Madea Homecoming, release on the streamer in 2022. Six Triple Eight continues this partnership.

Helping Perry tell this harrowing story onscreen are some major players in Hollywood, including Kerry Washington, Susan Sarandon and Oprah Winfrey. Keep reading to find out what else we know about Six Triple Eight.

Six Triple Eight release date

The Six Triple Eight premieres in select theaters on December 6, before premiering on Netflix on December 20. For those interested in watching the movie on the streamer, you'll need a subscription to Netflix. Currently, the platform offers several options for would-be subscribers.

Six Triple Eight plot

Here is an official synopsis for the film:

"The Six Triple Eight is inspired by the first and only Women’s Army Corps unit of color to serve overseas in WWII. Despite facing racism and sexism - and grueling working conditions - they were committed to serving their country with honor and distinction. Given an extraordinary mission and united in their determination, these unsung heroes delivered hope and shattered barriers.

"Written and directed by Tyler Perry, the film stars Kerry Washington as Major Charity Adams, the commanding officer of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. Produced by Tyler Perry, Nicole Avant, Angi Bones, Tony L. Strickland, Keri Selig and Carlota Espinosa, the film features an ensemble cast including Ebony Obsidian, Milauna Jackson, Kylie Jefferson, Shanice Shantay, Sarah Jeffery, Pepi Sonuga, Moriah Brown, Jeanté Godlock, Susan Sarandon, with Dean Norris, and Sam Waterston, and Oprah Winfrey. Based on the article by Kevin M. Hymel, the film features an original song written by Diane Warren and performed by H.E.R., with choreography by Debbie Allen."

For more information on this special group of women, we encourage you to visit The Army University article tilted "No Mail, Low Morale."

Six Triple Eight cast

Tyler Perry and Kerry Washington laughing at the ceremony for his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Tyler Perry and Kerry Washington laughing at the ceremony for his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

As already mentioned, Six Triple Eight is loaded with some Hollywood titans. For starters, leading the project is Kerry Washington. While she will forever be the incomparable Olivia Pope from Scandal, she has also starred in projects like Little Fires Everywhere, American Son, Django Unchained, Save the Last Dance and most recently, The School for Good and Evil. By the way, Washington has previously worked with Perry on the film For Colored Girls.

Joining the actress in the movie is Oscar-winner Susan Sarandon. Sarandon has been in some pretty iconic movies such as Thelma & Louise, Dead Man Walking and Stepmom. Most recently she fronted the drama series Monarch.

Rounding out the all-star cast are the following:

  • Sam Waterston (Law & Order)

  • Oprah Winfrey (Greenleaf)

  • Ebony Obsidian (Hunters)

  • Milauna Jackson (A Jazzman’s Blues)

  • Kylie Jefferson (Tiny Pretty Things)

  • Jeanté Godlock (Daybreak)

  • Moriah Brown (Raising Dion)

  • Baadja-Lyne Odums (Ruthless)

  • Gregg Sulkin (The Throwback)

  • Shanice Shantay (The Wiz Live!)

  • Sarah Jeffery (Charmed)

  • Pepi Sonuga (Pam & Tommy)

  • Jay Reeves (Safety)

  • Dean Norris (Claws)

Six Triple Eight teaser

Check out this brief teaser for The Six Triple Eight released by Netflix.

Six Triple Eight director, Tyler Perry

Putting on the director's hat for Six Triple Eight is Tyler Perry, who also serves as the project's writer and producer. Perry is a well-established figure in Hollywood having been the brains behind the Madea movies and TV shows like Sistas, House of Payne, The Have and Have Nots and Bruhs.  Here is a list of his full-feature projects:

  • Diary of a Mad Black Woman (2005)

  • Madea's Family Reunion (2006)

  • Why Did I Get Married? (2007)

  • Daddy’s Little Girls (2007)

  • Meet the Browns (2008)

  • The Family that Preys (2008)

  • Madea Goes to Jail (2009)

  • I Can Do Bad All By Myself (2009)

  • Why Did I Get Married Too? (2010)

  • For Colored Girls (2010)

  • Madea's Big Happy Family (2011)

  • Madea's Witness Protection (2012)

  • Good Deeds (2012)

  • Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor (2013)

  • A Madea Christmas (2013)

  • The Singles Mom Club (2014)

  • Boo! A Madea Halloween (2016)

  • Boo 2! A Madea Halloween (2017)

  • Acrimony (2018)

  • Nobody's Fool (2018)

  • A Madea Family Reunion (2019)

  • A Fall from Grace (2020)

  • A Madea Homecoming (2022)

  • A Jazzman's Blues (2022)

  • Mea Culpa (2024)