Quinta Brunson is bringing Betty Boop to the big screen. The Emmy winner will develop and star in a feature film with Fleischer Studios.
Quinta Brunson to star and develop new Betty Boop movie
Quinta Brunson will develop and star as Betty Boop in a new feature film, Variety exclusively reported. The Abbott Elementary creator partnered with Fleischer Studios and Mark Fleischer, grandson of Betty Boop creator Max Fleischer. Fifth Chance Productions, Brunson’s company, oversees the project through head of creative affairs Erin Wehrenberg.
The film will explore Betty Boop’s origin through the perspective of her creator, Max Fleischer. It examines the relationship between the artist and his iconic animated creation over time. The story also addresses creative and commercial pressures behind building an early animation icon. Betty Boop has not held a theatrical starring role since the 1930s.
She first emerged from Fleischer Studios’ groundbreaking Talkartoons series during that decade. Betty then became the first and only animated independent female movie superstar of her era.
“Betty Boop is one of our nation’s most beloved cartoon characters, yet somehow still remains pleasantly niche,” Brunson wrote in a statement. “After Erin and I met with Mark and learned more about his grandfather’s creation of Betty, I realized there was a much deeper story to tell.”
Mark Fleischer added: “When Quinta first approached me with the unique concept of a movie about the relationship of my grandfather, Max Fleischer, and his creation, Betty Boop, I was breathtaken.” He praised Brunson for embodying Betty’s intelligence, humor, sassiness and compassion.
Max Fleischer created Betty Boop in 1930, and the character appeared in over 100 cartoons originally. She evolved from a poodle-like nightclub singer into a fully human Jazz Age icon. Brunson made Emmy history as the first solo Black woman to win outstanding comedy writing. She later won outstanding lead comedy actress, becoming the first Black woman to earn that honor since 1981.