Amazon Prime Video has officially greenlit a new TV series based on the Barbershop movie franchise. The series will continue the world introduced in the films, with Jermaine Fowler starring as the lead. The announcement was made during Amazon’s upfront presentation in New York on Monday evening.
The new series, which is set in the same universe as the Barbershop films, will follow the character of Travis “Trav” Porter, played by Fowler. Travis is on a mission to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps as a legendary barber at the iconic Calvin’s Barbershop in Chicago. While the barbers are new, the shop remains vibrant, filled with spirited debates and a strong community bond—because, at Calvin’s Barbershop, it’s more than just about haircuts.
The series will be written and executive produced by Marshall Todd, who co-wrote the original Barbershop films. Max Searle will also serve as an executive producer and co-showrunner. Kevin Hart, Bryan Smiley, and Mike Stein will executive produce through Hartbeat Productions. Cameron Burnett and Autumn Bailey-Ford will serve as executive producers representing Prominent Productions, with George L. Tillman and Robert Teitel from State Street Pictures also attached as executive producers. Tiffany Brown will be a co-executive producer for Hartbeat. The series is being produced by Amazon MGM Studios.
Vernon Sanders, global television head at Amazon MGM Studios, shared, “We are thrilled to announce a brand-new series set in the comedic and innovative world of Barbershop, and we’re excited to work with Max and Marshall to bring Calvin’s barbershop to Prime Video for new audiences worldwide.”
This series marks the second TV adaptation of the Barbershop franchise. A previous adaptation aired on Showtime but only lasted one season. The first Barbershop film was released in 2002, followed by sequels in 2004 and 2016. In 2005, a spin-off movie, Beauty Shop, starring Queen Latifah, was also released. The three main films grossed nearly $200 million globally.
Fowler is known for his work as a stand-up comedian and actor, particularly for his role in CBS’s multi-camera sitcom Superior Donuts. His other TV credits include FX’s limited series The Murder of the World and truTV’s The People’s Court. Fowler’s film credits include The American Tour 2, Sorry to Bother You, Judas and the Black Messiah, and Ricky Stanicky. He is represented by UTA, Entertainment 360, and Yorn Levine.
This news comes after Amazon completed its acquisition of MGM in 2023, marking the first official reports of the Barbershop series in development. In addition to Barbershop, other MGM properties, including series based on RoboCop and The Exorcist, are also in the works, as well as a prequel to Legally Blonde.
The Barbershop TV series is expected to bring fresh excitement to the beloved franchise, offering new stories while staying true to the essence of the original films.
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