It’s impossible not to fall head over heels for Forever, all dreamy eight episodes of which are available to stream on Netflix.

Few feelings are as unforgettable as first love. Megaproducer Mara Brock Akil clearly agrees, as her latest series tackles one of the most impactful first-love stories of all time: Forever, by the bestselling young adult author Judy Blume. Brock Akil, who serves as the show’s executive producer and showrunner, told Netflix: “I’ve always credited Judy Blume as part of the seasoning of my voice as a writer. She was one of the first writers I read that dared to be honest about the human condition in young people and you can see traces of her writing style within my own. I’m honored to reimagine one of my favorite books, Forever.”

ELIZABETH MORRIS

It’s been 50 years since Blume first published the history-making YA smash Forever . . . but Brock Akil’s adaptation of the novel proves just how timeless its themes remain. “I’m thrilled that Mara has chosen to tell this story through her own lens,” said Blume. “It is gratifying to know that, 50 years after its release, the love story at the core of Forever is still resonating with audiences.”

Brock Akil first broached the possibility of bringing Forever . . . to the screen in 2020, after she learned that other novels from Blume’s extensive catalog were being adapted, but the author was initially not confident that the story could translate for the new millennium. “I found out that Judy wasn’t sure that it could translate in this modern era, given how exposed young people are to sexuality and the topic of love … I got to talk to Judy, told her my perspective, and we resonated,” she said.

“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,” echoed Regina King (One Night in Miami…, A Man in Full), who executive-produces the series, and directs the first episode.

Inspired by the 1975 novel, Brock Akil’s Forever follows the epic love story of two Black teens, Keisha (Lovie Simone) and Justin (Michael Cooper Jr.), as they explore their identities through the awkward and moving journey of being each other’s capital-F Firsts. “All the questions we have to sort through — the first time you have sex, your first kiss, the first time you say ‘I love you’ — it resonated then, and it resonates now,” she said of the show and book’s shared themes. The young athletes fall hard for each other and soon learn just how deeply their first love will affect the rest of their lives. 

Brock Akil set the timeless story against the sun-drenched backdrop of 2018 Los Angeles. “What better metaphor for this love story than what LA represents, for not only me, but for a lot of people,” she said. “You’re looking for a place to follow your dreams, and love is a part of that.”

Read on for more information about the adaptation, including photos and a deep dive into the casting.

Who is in the cast of Forever?

Simone (Social Distance, Manhunt) and Cooper Jr. (On the Come Up) have been cast as the show’s leads. Simone will play Keisha Clark, a young, confident, smart, and fiery track star with clear dreams for life after high school. Meanwhile, Cooper Jr. will portray Justin Edwards, a nerd at heart disguised in an athlete’s body. Justin dreams of playing D1 basketball and achieving more than his successful parents. Love will lead him to who he truly is.

Keisha and Justin’s spark ignites the second they meet each other. Casting two actors who could convey how visceral a relationship on the cusp of adulthood can feel was crucial. For Simone (Social Distance, Manhunt) and Cooper Jr. (On the Come Up), that chemistry came just as swiftly as it does for their characters. “It was during the work session that Regina [King] had with the two of them, during the party scene,” said Brock Akil, who’s known for creating acclaimed Black love and coming-of-age stories, including the sitcom Girlfriends and the drama Being Mary Jane. “When I saw them, I saw the world come together around them. I wasn’t in an audition anymore.”

The rest of the cast is as follows: 

• Karen Pittman as Dawn, Justin’s mother. Dawn is a college-educated, top executive in corporate finance. Her easy elegance belies her loving — yet paranoid — parenting style. Dawn may be strict sometimes, but her behavior is always out of love. She’s worked hard to give Justin the things he needs to succeed and wants him to make smart decisions.
• Wood Harris as Eric, Justin’s father. Eric is a restaurateur with a high school degree — and one from the school of life. He’s the more lenient parent who always ends up playing referee. Eric knows his son feels immense pressure to go on to higher education and not waste the head start his family has worked so hard to provide. Eric has a good relationship with his son, and though he’s not as intense as his wife, he maintains clear boundaries. In 2018, Dawn and Eric are navigating parenting during a time of heightened awareness around the lack of safety for Black boys in America.
• Xosha Roquemore as Shelly, Keisha’s mother. Shelly is no stranger to hard work and hard knocks. She’s never had a lot, but has always prioritized taking care of her family.
• Marvin Lawrence Winans III as Jaden, Justin’s younger brother. Although he can be annoying, Jaden idolizes his big brother and enjoys any chance he gets to spend time with him.
• Barry Shabaka Henley as George, Keisha’s grandfather. George is laid-back and looks out for his granddaughter. He acts as her surrogate father and protector — so George is ready to give Keisha advice and take an active interest in her life.
• Ali Gallo as Chloe, Keisha’s best friend and confidant. Chloe is self-assured, outgoing, and can sometimes be in her own self-involved, naïve bubble. Still, she always has Keisha’s best interest at heart. Chloe is a popular girl who comes from wealth.
• Niles Fitch as Darius, Justin’s best friend. He is athletic, charming, assertive, and focused on girls. Darius loves to offer what he thinks is sage advice to a more tentative and less confident Justin. Still, loyal Daris’ ultimate goal is to help Justin come out of his shell.
• Paigion Walker as Tiffany, one of Keisha’s older cousins. She is a new mom and loves her new role. But beautiful and stylish Tiffany still clings onto her old life as much as possible — even if that means leaving for the bathroom to pump during a girls’ night out.
• E’myri Crutchfield as Tammy, Keisha’s rival on their high school track team. Tammy is confident, cute, and athletic. She’s willing to do whatever it takes to regain the No. 1 spot that Keisha now holds. 

Where did they film Forever?

Like so much of Brock Akil’s canon, Forever is a loving tribute to the city of Los Angeles. To capture a place she knows so well, filming on location around the city was important to her. “I’m so thankful that we got to put it on camera,” she says. “That idea that the city belongs to all of us is very important.” 

With the help of a largely LA-born-and-raised team, Brock Akil depicted the multitudes of the city, paying special attention to some of the less-represented parts. “I really wanted to show how beautiful it all is, both sides of the 10,” says Brock Akil, referring to the interstate highway that runs east from Santa Monica through Los Angeles. “There’s one type of beauty that’s [often] depicted.”

The only episode of Forever not filmed in LA is Episode 5, directed by Brock Akil, which takes its characters across the country to foggy Martha’s Vineyard. As a part-time resident of the island, Brock Akil brought the same diligence and authenticity to this set as she did to the episodes filmed in her hometown. “My decision to direct was to protect the show and the culture of the Vineyard,” she says. 
 

Who is behind Forever? 

Forever is Brock Akil’s first project under her overall deal with Netflix. In addition to Brock Akil and King, the show is executive produced by Judy Blume, Susie Fitzgerald, Erika Harrison, Sara White, Reina King, Shana C. Waterman, and Anthony Hemingway.

“Mara’s creative and authentic storytelling allows us to present a fresh take on an iconic coming-of-age love story,” said Renate Radford, Netflix’s vice president of overall deals, in November 2022. “We look forward to bringing the series to a global audience.” 

When can I watch Forever?

Watch Forever on Netflix now.