Originally positioned to be a film reboot, First Wives Club (2019) will now be a TV series on BET’s new online streaming platform BET+. The series will feature Girls Trip writer Tracy Oliver, Jill Scott (Black Lightning), Michelle Buteau (Always Be My Maybe) and Ryan Michelle Bathe (This Is Us).
The Paramount Pictures film version that came out in 1996, The First Wives Club, starred Goldie Hawn, Bette Midler, Diane Keaton and Sarah Jessica Parker. The film was about a group of divorced women who sought revenge on their husbands who left them for younger women.
Penned by Tracy Oliver, the 2019 reboot follows the journey of female friends going through relationship hardships, while discovering themselves. Jill Scott plays the role of Hazel, who is married to a cheating music label CEO. Michelle Buteau’s character is a doctor who is raising children in the midst of a separation. Ryan Michelle Bathe plays the role of Ari, a former lawyer who decides to focus on her husband’s political career instead of her own.
BET+ will showcase films, TV shows and exclusive original content from black content creators, commercial free and online. Tyler Perry has partnered with BET to launch the new service and will offer thousands of hours of content for $9.99 per month. In the world of SVOD, this price is higher than the upcoming streaming services Disney ($6.99) and Apple ($4.99). BET+ is set to open streaming services to viewers on Sept. 19. Will you be tuning in?
