When the film 鈥淭he Best Man鈥� was released in 1999, featuring a cast of young, up-and-coming, attractive Black actors including Taye Diggs, Nia Long and Terrence Howard, it wasn't just a box office hit but also a fresh perspective on film, following the ups and downs of friendship, careers and love through the lens of young Black professionals.
鈥淚 remember reading that script and feeling, 鈥極h, this is something I鈥檝e never seen before. Black people represented in this way,'鈥� recalled Diggs, who plays Harper, a successful author. 鈥淚 had never seen a project where I saw myself.鈥�
Morris Chestnut, however, says at the time he was just thankful for the work and everything that came after is a welcome bonus.
鈥淎s an actor, you鈥檙e glad to just get a job. You want to work. You want to get a job that pays," he said. 鈥淪tarting out, you do things that no one ever sees. I had no idea it would still be around to this day.鈥�
Director, writer Malcom D. Lee reunited the cast for a 2013 sequel 鈥淭he Best Man Holiday鈥� which was also a success. Now, he鈥檚 wrapping up the story with an eight-episode limited series on Peacock called 鈥淭he Best Man: The Final Chapters.鈥�
Originally Lee envisioned possibly two more films to tie up the stories, but he says with a series, there's more real estate for storytelling. He used some of his ideas for movie sequels in the show and enjoyed being able to stretch that further and find additional stories for the characters.
鈥淵ou get a little bit more time to just expand on their story and dig deeper into their home life, their career life, their personal struggles and triumphs. (The films) were the impetus, but it grew into something else.鈥�
Regina Hall says the series gives each character an arc 鈥渁s opposed to feeding one story, the collective. But to be honest, I would have enjoyed any iteration of it. I would have enjoyed it as a film.
"For me, it鈥檚 just the characters and being honest to those relationships that they have and the love they have for each other and their trials and tribulations.鈥�
More time was a welcome idea for Melissa De Sousa, who wanted her role of Shelby, a bossy reality TV star, to be fleshed out.
鈥淣ot only was it necessary, it was requested. I said, 鈥楲isten, if we鈥檙e going to do this, it can鈥檛 be the same thing over and over. You have to see all sides of her. You have to show why she is the way she is. You have to see a real woman with emotions and struggles, and fears,鈥� and they did that."
To transition to television Lee tapped 鈥淚nsecure鈥� writer and executive producer Dayna Lynne North to be co-showrunner.
鈥淚've been a fan of the franchise for my whole adult life. I liken it to going from being in the stands, watching your favorite team, to LeBron (James) or somebody being like, 鈥楬ey, you, fan. You want to come down and play with us, you know what I mean?鈥� That鈥檚 really what it felt like,鈥� said North. "It felt like going from my cheap seats to down on the field. .. It鈥檚 really been an honor and super fun because I鈥檝e loved these characters from the moment that I met them.鈥�
While each character in 鈥淭he Best Man鈥� franchise weaves a tangled web, the catalyst for drama in each iteration of 鈥淭he Best Man鈥� is Harper鈥檚 novel, 鈥淯nfinished Business.鈥� Inspired by his friend group, the book reveals some explosive secrets, including how Harper once had a one-night stand with his best friend Lance (Morris Chestnut's) fiancee.
In 鈥淭he Best Man Holiday,鈥� Lance is still bitter about revelations from the book. In the series, Harper could see 鈥淯nfinished Business鈥� made into a film. He wants to get in front of any potential drama and get his friends' blessing for the project, and what better time to ask than at a destination wedding for their friend Quentin (Terrence Howard.)
Lee calls Harper's book 鈥渢he magic prop.鈥�
鈥淚 was very strategic in the first 鈥楤est Man鈥� with trying to create something that was a hot button thing. I called it a magic prop because it kept on getting passed around to the friends and then it got into the wrong hands.
"The 鈥楿nfinished Business鈥� book certainly is causing drama this time around as well. Even though it's not what the series is about, it鈥檚 about these folks and about their relationships, but it's a good engine.鈥�
Alicia Rancilio, The Associated Press
