Amazon Prime Video has officially greenlit a new “Barbershop” TV series, as reported by Variety. The series will be connected to the popular “Barbershop” film franchise and will star Jermaine Fowler in the lead role. Marshall Todd, who co-wrote the original film, is on board to write the series and serve as an executive producer.
During Amazon’s upfronts presentation to advertisers in New York, it was announced that the show will center around Travis ‘Trav’ Porter, who aims to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps as a legendary barber at the iconic ‘Calvin’s’ barbershop in Chicago. The series promises to bring back the lively atmosphere of the barbershop, with its argumentative customers and top-notch fades.
Max Searle will also serve as an executive producer and co-showrunner alongside Todd. Kevin Hart, Bryan Smiley, and Mike Stein will executive produce through Hartbeat Productions, while Cameron Burnett and Autumn Bailey-Ford will executive produce on behalf of Prominent Productions. State Street Pictures will also be executive producing, with Tiffany Brown co-executive producing for Hartbeat. The series is being produced by Amazon MGM Studios.
Vernon Sanders, global head of television at Amazon MGM Studios, expressed excitement for the new series, stating, “We are thrilled to announce a new series based on the hilarious and innovative world of ‘Barbershop’ for our global Prime Video customers.” This marks the second “Barbershop” TV series, with the previous sitcom based on the films airing on Showtime for one season.
Fowler, known for his stand-up comedy and roles in various TV shows and films, will be taking on the lead role in the series. He has appeared in projects like “Superior Donuts,” “A Murder at the End of the World,” and “Coming 2 America.”
The announcement of the “Barbershop” series comes as part of Amazon’s acquisition of MGM, with other projects like “Robocop” and “Poltergeist” series in development. A “Legally Blonde” prequel is also currently in production.
Overall, the “Barbershop” TV series is set to bring back the beloved world of the films to a new audience on Prime Video, with a fresh take on the iconic barbershop setting and its vibrant community.
