In 1995, Waiting to Exhale exposed us to the joys, and struggles, of friendship and womanhood, specifically Black womanhood. It quickly rose to the list of Black movies every person of color must see to keep your card. 26 years later, the big-screen adaptation of Terry McMillan’s famed 1992 novel will be transitioning to the small screen soon.
Author Terry McMillian broke the news on her Twitter post. “So, WAITING TO EXHALE is going to be a TV series,” McMillan tweeted. “Produced by Lee Daniels. Attica Locke and Tembi Locke are writing. Anthony Hemingway will direct. I lucked out.”
The original movie, starring Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett, Lela Rochon, and Loretta Devine centered on four middle-aged women living in Phoenix. The women bond over life’s shortcomings, particularly navigating uncertain romantic relationships.
Waiting To Exhale was a box office success, making over $67 million, and was nominated for 11 Grammys. There were talks about a sequel. However, after the death of Houston in 2012, McMillan and producers put the second movie on pause.
Waiting To Exhale… And Watch The TV Adaptation!
Instead of creating a complete readaptation of the film, director Lee Daniels plans to make the series a continuation of the friend group’s stories. Only this time, the lens will be on their daughters.
In an interview with Tamron Hall, McMillan shared that she hopes to have the movie’s original stars make cameo appearances in the new show.
“I think and hope some of the other members of the cast who are still with us will make cameos,” McMillan told Hall. “They’re trying to recreate the essence of the story and not necessarily a reenactment of the story.”
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKgnbmDpsy0]
The Waiting To Exhale television show will air on ABC. Since Daniels has completed his latest feature film, The United States vs. Billie Holiday, the Exhale series may come sooner than we think.
In the meantime, the original movie can be streamed on Hulu or Amazon Prime. Also, check your local cable listing.
