Mara Brock Akil Says Price Tag Attached to Her “Girlfriends” Movie Idea Is a Hurdle to Making It Happen Angela AndaloroTue, July 7, 2026 at 9:33 PM UTC 0 Tracee Ellis Ross, Jill Marie Jones, Reggie Hayes, Persia White, Golden Brooks and Mara Brock Akil in 2004Credit: John Heller/WireImage Girlfriends ran for eight seasons from 2000 to 2007 The series starred Tracee Ellis Ross, Jill Marie Jones, Persia White, Golden Brooks and Reggie Hayes Creator Mara Brock Akil is getting candid about what it will take to make a Girlfriends movie, which the cast is on board for Mara Brock Akil would love to b...
Mara Brock Akil Says Price Tag Attached to Her “Girlfriends” Movie Idea Is a Hurdle to Making It Happen
Angela AndaloroTue, July 7, 2026 at 9:33 PM UTC
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Tracee Ellis Ross, Jill Marie Jones, Reggie Hayes, Persia White, Golden Brooks and Mara Brock Akil in 2004Credit: John Heller/WireImage -
Girlfriends ran for eight seasons from 2000 to 2007
The series starred Tracee Ellis Ross, Jill Marie Jones, Persia White, Golden Brooks and Reggie Hayes
Creator Mara Brock Akil is getting candid about what it will take to make a Girlfriends movie, which the cast is on board for
Mara Brock Akil would love to bring back Girlfriends.
The series creator, 56, recently appeared on the Question Everything podcast to discuss her new novel. Asked about previous comments on wanting to get the Girlfriends cast back together, she explained to journalist Danielle Robay that logistically, it’s more complicated than just having an idea she and the cast are passionate about.
“I think I have a story that I would love to do in a film, and I have been trying to get it made. I just... you know, right now where the industry is, they don’t see and there has been some interest,” Akil explained.
“And I want to do it right, and I know I have the story to make it right. I’m really at that point where I need the money that I need and if it’s notgoing to be there, I can’t keep knocking on every door. I have to sort of move on. But when that money comes, or a new idea comes for a lesser amount of money... I don’t need to do this if I can’t do it right. Then why am I doing it? That’s my question.”
The cast of ‘Girlfriends’ in 2004Credit: Darien Davis/CBS Photo Archive/Getty
“And so right now I’m looking for $50 million dollars to tell the story that I’d like to tell, set in Los Angeles, for the for the entire cast to come back. They want to come back, they’re open to it, but we all want the right value.”
Girlfriends ran for eight seasons from 2000 to 2007. The series starred Tracee Ellis Ross, Jill Marie Jones, Persia White, Golden Brooks and Reggie Hayes.
Akil explained that if it doesn’t happen, “I can just make new things from the woman that brought you Girlfriends.”
That said, she still has a lot of hope. “I’m believing in that right now, and I don’t know how that’s going to be or if it’s going to be, but I’m at peace with that. Yeah, I think with the twenty five years, I think, honestly, my ego wanted to be able to pop off and be like, ‘Yo, we’re making the movie, you guys.’ But I really believe in God’s timing.”
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The 2000s hit series celebrated its 25th anniversary last fall. During the “Mara Brock Akil: Forever Our Girlfriend” event hosted by Hollywood Confidential to celebrate Akil’s impact on television, she appeared with Golden Brooks, with Akil revisiting the casting process.
Jill, Reggie, Mara, Tracee, Golden and Persia gathered to celebrate the 25th anniversary of “Girlfriends”Credit: Mara Brock Akil/Instagram
“Golden came in for Toni [Childs],” Akil told the audience. “It was interesting because I knew talent was in the room. I knew. So I thought it was Toni.”
However, as Akil and her team continued to search for the other three parts, they couldn’t quite “lock in” the other actresses, which left things a bit in the air. Akil then explained that part of what made the process so tough was the fact that the original actress intended to play Joan, didn’t respond to the offer.
“Regina King was the prototype for Joan when I first wrote Joan,” she told the audience. “But Regina wasn’t returning any phone calls,” she joked.
“Even Lil’ Kim had auditioned for the show. At the time, UPN just wanted attention. They needed eyeballs so they were throwing [out names], but when Golden walked in for Toni, I was like, ‘She’s talented, hold that.’”
As they continued their search for Joan, Mara and her husband, Salim Akil, with whom she’s worked on several projects, were dining at Itacho when they saw Tracee Ellis Ross eating there as well. Salim then suggested she read for the part, and though Akil was hesitant at first, she gave it a shot.
“We brought Tracee in and when Tracee came in and read for Joan, she blew me away,” Akil revealed. “And when Tracee was set, somehow I knew Golden had to be Maya, and then it all came together.”
on People
Source: "AOL Entertainment"
Source: Entertainment
Published: July 8, 2026 at 12:45AM on Source: MORNING MAG
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