Today, out of Next on Netflix the official teaser for FOREVER was released – FOREVER is Mara Brock Akil’s reimagining of Judy Blume’s groundbreaking 1975 novel, as an epic Black romance story set in the heart of Los Angeles. Coming to Netflix in 2025.
Judy Blume’s groundbreaking 1975 novel, Forever, is being reimagined for a new generation by Mara Brock Akil. It’s an epic love story of two Black teens exploring romance and their identities through theawkward journey of being each other’s firsts, set in Los Angeles, 2018. Premiering on Netflix this year.
SHOWRUNNER/CREATOR/EP: Mara Brock Akil
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Mara Brock Akil, Judy Blume, Susie Fitzgerald, Erika Harrison, Sara White, Regina King, Reina King, Shana C. Waterman and Anthony Hemingway
KEY CAST: Lovie Simone, Michael Cooper Jr., Karen Pittman, Wood Harris, Xosha Roquemore, Marvin Winans III, Niles Fitch, Barry Shabaka Henley, Ali Gallo, Adriyan Rae, Paigion Walker, Xavier Mills, E’myri Crutchfield
NETFLIX held their NEXT ON NETFLIX 2025 Preview yesterday in Los Angeles at Grauman’s Egyptian Theatre. A satellite event was held in Toronto at Design Exchange, with an exclusive Canadian content preview appended to the presentation with Netflix Canada‘s Danielle Woodrow and Tara Woodbury. Canadian Comedian Mae Martin gives the Thriller genre a try with their upcoming series WAYWARD and spoke about it for the first time, unable to hide their deep admiration for Co-star Toni Collette. A snippet of new series NORTH OF NORTH also was presented, which Woodrow and Woodbury have very high hopes for.
While The New York Times on the perceived lack of inspiration in Film and Television today, posed the question back in November in an opinion piece titled “Is Creativity Dead?“, Netflix‘s Chief Content Officer, Bela Bajaria had a very confident and short response: “Not at Netflix“.
The streaming giant showcased its exciting upcoming programming slate, which ranges from domestic and international films to series, to sports, and now even gaming. They acknowledge that their big swings might not always lead to reward, but a perfect example of big payoff is Chairman of Netflix Film Dan Lin‘s first ever acquisition for Netflix coming out of Cannes, the now 13-time Oscar-nominated EMILIA PÉREZ. Not a bad start and a hint at bigger things to come ahead.
The Toronto audience got to hear about upcoming projects from the likes of Ben Affleck, John Mulaney, Tina Fey, CM PUNK, Rhea Ripley, and Stranger Things creators, The Duffer Brothers and there’s plenty to be excited about.
Highlights included a sneak peaks at the final season of SQUID GAME which is set to arrive June 27; some riveting footage from Joe Carnahan’s just-wrapped RIP reuniting Ben Affleck and Matt Damon; promising “prestige television” series BLACK RABBIT (starring Jude Law and Jason Bateman) and ZERO DAY (starring Robert De Niro); some spectacular snippets of Guillermo del Toro‘s Toronto-filmed FRANKENSTEIN; a behind-the-scenes look at the final season of more-cinematic-than-ever STRANGER THINGS; plus a couple intriguing series like a Tina Fey series adaptation of the 1981 Film THE FOUR SEASONS, and a series adaptation of Judy Blume‘s 1975 coming-of-age novel, FOREVER. And above this, there was a very riveting snippet of an upcoming Victoria Beckham Documentary which has us pining for more.
Announcements:
-Creative partnership forged with Lena Dunham, with new 2025 series TOO MUCH; Dunham appeared on-stage at the London Netflix presentation
-TUDUM the global fan event will live stream on Netflix on May 31 from the Kia Forum, in LA
New Title Announcements:
-Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Destination Wedding (Film) and Tyler Perry’s She The People (Series); there will be a total five productions coming ahead under Perry’s guidance, with the first, BEAUTY IN BLACK arriving March 6
-Air Force Elite: Thunderbirds (Documentary Film) from The Obamas’ Higher Ground Productions
-American Manhunt: Osama Bin Laden (Documentary Series) coming to Netflix March 10
-Chaos: The Manson Murders (Documentary Film) coming to Netflix March 7
-Eddie (Documentary Film) centering on Eddie Murphy, from Director Angus Wall
-Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer (Documentary Series)
-Katrina: Come Hell and High Water (Documentary Series) from Executive Producer Spike Lee, on Netflix this August
-Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey (Documentary Film) coming to Netflix April 21
-Titan (Documentary Film) examines OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush
Game Announcements:
-The iconic WWE 2K games are coming to mobile exclusively for Netflix members beginning Fall 2025
-Netflix Stories is giving the video game treatment to more beloved series including Ginny & Georgia, Sweet Magnolias, Love is Blind and a new season of Outer Banks
Previously Untitled Films:
-Jay Kelly (Film) – Previously Untitled Noah Baumbach film starring George Clooney, Adam Sandler and Laura Dern
Additional Date/Timing Announcements:
Everybody’s Live with John Mulaney (Live Series) – Weekly on Netflix starting March 12 (each week will have one live episode)
Temptation Island (Unscripted Series) – On Netflix March 12
Adolescence (Series) – On Netflix March 13
Survival of the Thickest S2 (Series) – On Netflix March 27
Nonnas (Film) – On Netflix May 9
Ginny & Georgia S3 (Series) – On Netflix June 5
The Old Guard 2 (Film) – On Netflix July 2
Havoc (Film) – On Netflix Spring 2025
Fear Street: Prom Queen (Film) – filmed in and around Toronto and on Netflix Summer 2025
Frankenstein (Film) – filmed in and around Toronto and on Netflix November 2025
A Merry Little Ex-Christmas (Film) – filming currently in Toronto and on Netflix Fall 2025
Jay Kelly (Film) – On Netflix Fall 2025
RIP (Film ) – directed and written by Joe Carnahan and starring Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Kyle Chandler, and Steven Yeun; Netflix Fall 2025
The Woman in Cabin 10 (Film) – On Netflix Fall 2025
Untitled Kathryn Bigelow (Film) – On Netflix Fall 2025
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (Film) – On Netflix Fall 2025
Not only this, more announcements are schedule throughout the day. Updates to come.
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Netflix)
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