Quinta Brunson is promising a different kind of Betty Boop movie — one that looks beyond the iconic cartoon character to explore the era and history surrounding her creation.
The Abbott Elementary star recently discussed the developing project during an appearance on ABC’s Good Morning America, explaining that the film will examine more than Betty Boop herself.
“It’s not just about Betty herself, but about an era of animation,” Brunson said, describing a story connected to the character’s origins and a broader chapter of American history.
Brunson acknowledged that she is still developing the feature and could not reveal many details about its plot. However, she teased a creative direction that may challenge audience expectations, promising a story that will be “unlike anything anyone expects.”
When host Robin Roberts asked what attracted her to Betty Boop, Brunson pointed to the character’s creation story and the history behind it. She suggested that the circumstances surrounding Betty’s emergence offer a perspective on America’s past that audiences might not immediately associate with the animated icon.
Exactly which historical events or figures will feature in the finished film remains unclear.
First announced in May 2026, the movie is being developed by Brunson’s Fifth Chance Productions in partnership with Fleischer Studios and Mark Fleischer, the grandson of Betty Boop creator Max Fleischer.
Brunson is attached to star as Betty Boop and produce the project. The announced premise follows the character’s origins and evolution through Max Fleischer’s perspective, examining how an artist’s creation developed a public identity of its own while he faced creative and commercial pressures.
Betty Boop first appeared in an animated short in 1930. Her flapper-inspired appearance and Jazz Age musical style helped establish her as a recognizable figure in animation history.
But the character’s origins have also prompted longstanding discussions about the influence of Black entertainers on her distinctive style. Singer Esther “Baby Esther” Jones, known for her performance style, has frequently been mentioned in debates over the possible inspirations behind Betty Boop.
Those discussions have sometimes produced claims that Jones was the character’s sole inspiration. However, the historical record is more complicated, and the character’s precise origins remain a subject of debate. Members of the Fleischer family have described Betty as a representation of the broader Jazz Age rather than a direct portrayal of one individual performer.
Brunson’s film could bring renewed attention to those questions, although she has not confirmed which aspects of Betty Boop’s cultural history will be addressed.
For now, the project remains in development. No filming start date or release date has been announced, leaving audiences waiting to see how Brunson will translate the cartoon icon’s origins into a feature film.
