Netflix announced on Thursday that the streaming company had ordered a new series, Forever, from showrunner and executive producer Mara Brock Akil.
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The series, which is based on Judy Blume’s groundbreaking 1975 novel of the same name, will be the first project under Akil’s overall deal with Netflix. The story will follow the “epic love story of two Black teens exploring romance and their identities through the awkward journey of being each other’s firsts.”
“Judy Blume’s ability to capture the real emotions we experience during the various rites of passage of our youth influenced my life choices and writing voice,” said Akil in a statement on the announcement. “I’m honored to reimagine one of my favorite books, Forever. I am thrilled to have the opportunity of a lifetime to partner with a childhood icon and bring this story to my Netflix home, where the idea of your first love being with you forever is shared with the world through the lens of Black love.”
Currently, no release information or casting has been revealed as of yet.
The original 1975 novel by Blume has frequently been a target of censorship due to what many describe as controversial aspects of the book. Forever features fairly detailed depictions of sexual intercourse, which made it come under fire from various religious groups following its launch and throughout its history. The book even appeared in the seventh spot on the American Library Association’s list of 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-2000.
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Despite the controversy, however, the book is regarded as one of the most influential novels of all time and won the Margaret A. Edwards Award — an award that recognizes an author for a significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature — in 1996.
