Tyler Perry becomes man of action in 'Alex Cross'
theGRIO REPORT - Tyler Perry has tried on a variety of outfits in his career – some more admirable than others – but it’s his latest get-up that has many of his fans wondering if it could be the most outlandish of all...
And Perry continues to advance exponentially. On Oct. 3, OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) announced a partnership with the entertainer that will include two new scripted series in mid-2013, the first of its kind for the television network. At a glance, the coupling of the high-profile figures seems to make perfect sense – two behemoths in the business symbiotically joining forces – and has all the promise of a lucrative investment.
Little else has been revealed about the deal, but Perry appears confidant with the decision.
“Oprah and I have been talking since the beginning,” he says. “When she started her network, I was starting my own network, and we thought it was a great opportunity for us to partner up, and not just do programming, but be partners in the network…It’s a win-win because I get to give her what she needs, which is programming, and I get to learn what it’s like to run a network.”
Like in the film world, on TV Perry is known for creating comedy series primarily depicting African-American family dynamics. His latest show, For Better or Worse, premiered in 2011 on TBS and began its second season this past July; his show Meet the Browns ran from 2009-2011 on the network; and his longest-running program, House of Payne, aired its final episode in August after eight years.
Both his movie and TV endeavors have propelled Perry’s career into the clouds, rendering him what Forbes magazine has deemed a “Billionaire In the Making.” With an estimated net worth of $350 million, the deal with Winfrey could push him closer to those brackets, though he never acknowledges such claims. The most he will say is that he is grateful, and thinks everyone should “be able to do what we want to do, and how we want to do it.”
From the $12,000 savings he used to make his first play in 1992, to the million dollar bank account he now balances, Perry describes his career as simply “trying to walk the path,” “doing what feels right and what feels natural,” and adds that, with OWN, he’ll be mixing up the scene.
“Just like Alex Cross, it’s going to be something a little bit of what I do, what I know my audience wants, and be a lot of other things,” Perry remarks. “I’ve got a few other ideas. I’m starting with a drama which is something I haven’t done before.”
Likewise, Perry shows hope that his film-going audience will appreciate his new spin in Cross, and that maybe one day he’ll be able to venture down the action movie road as a director, if he can acquire a richer understanding of the field.
As for the fate of dear old Madea, don’t expect an end any time soon.
“That old broad’s gonna die a slow, quick death when I’m done with her,” he jokes. “She’s going to be buried with that dress. I don’t think that will ever happen.”
Follow Courtney Garcia on Twitter at @courtgarcia
