Viola Davis Is Starring in the Film Adaption of Terry McMillian’s Book and McMillian Couldn’t Be Happier
Viola Davis is known for playing powerful women on the big and small-screen. The How to Get Away with Murder star is gearing up to star in the movie adaptation of Terry McMillian’s novel I Almost Forgot About You. McMillian says Davis is the best person for the job.
Other books by Terry McMillian have film adaptations
McMillian is an author whose fame lies in the fact that most of her novels have seamlessly transitioned to film.
The two most popular is 1995’s Waiting to Exhale starring Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett, Lela Rochon, and Loretta Devine. The film is an adaption of the 1992 novel of the same title and chronicles the lives and friendships of four middle-aged women.
Related: ‘Waiting To Exhale’ Sequel Is Still in the Works
A follow-up is said to be in motion, derived from McMillian’s sequel Getting to Happy. But amid Houston’s death, it’s unclear what direction the film will take.
Bassett also starred as the lead in the 1998 film How Stella Got Her Groove Back, an adaption of the novel released two years prior. Basset stars as Stella, a 40-year-old executive who takes a trip to Jamaica and falls in love with a local 20 years her junior.
An HBO film Disappearing Acts starring Sanaa Lathan and Wesley Snipes is an adaptation of McMillian’s 1989 novel.
A brief synopsis of ‘I Almost Forgot About You’
Like previous novels by McMillian, the story chronicles the life of a Black female protagonist. Georgia Young is a 53-year-old twice-divorced and successful optometrist with her own practice. Though her life looks great on paper, she finds herself at a crossroads. She’s lost the spunk in her personal life and has gotten into a monotonous routine.
Feeling bored and restless, she finally decides to make a change. Young takes a journey of self-discovery, putting herself first and reuniting with old lovers, finds new friends, and channels her inner-youth.
The book was released in 2016. A New York Times review’s critique of the book says that McMillian relies too much on dialogue throughout the book. Still, the review gives the book praise, noting: “Though flawed, the novel is immensely companionable, and Georgia is as alive, complex, inquiring, motivated and sexy as any 25-year-old. Maybe more so.”
Why Terry McMillian is happy about Viola Davis starring in ‘I Almost Forgot About You’
Variety reported in 2017 that Davis signed on to star in the film adaptation of I Almost Forgot About You. Malcolm D. Lee, who is responsible for the success of the comedy Girls Trip, is on board to direct and produce along with Davis. Davis’ husband, Julius Tennon, is also producing the film.
McMillian recently appeared on The Tamron Hall Show and expressed her excitement about having Davis in the lead role.
“Yes, Miss Sexy, Beautiful…” McMillian said of Davis. “We won’t be in the same room unless they let me on the set, I might have to pay,” she joked. “She’s amazing. Everything she does. I mean, I’m flattered. You have no idea how flattered I am, really, really. They couldn’t have picked a better, sexier, prettier, and plus she’s Black. She’s chocolate brown and I love it.”
It’s unclear when the film is slated for release.
