“Forever,” the 1975 coming-of-age novel by Judy Blume, is the inspiration for Netflix‘s newest teen drama.
The series is named after Blume’s classic book about two high schoolers losing their virginity, but it isn’t a beat-for-beat adaptation. Instead, “Forever” is described as “an epic love story of two Black teens exploring romance and their identities through the awkward journey of being each other’s firsts, set in Los Angeles, 2018.” As previously announced, the cast will be led by Lovie Simone as confident track star Keisha Clark and Michael Cooper Jr. star as nerdy basketball player Justin Edwards.
“You have no idea who I am, do you?” Keisha says to Justin in the beginning of the teaser, which then flashes to what looks like a memory of them playing together as young children. Justin then remembers her name. The two continue to flirt and get to know each other, before Keisha is seen with tears in her eyes, saying, “Justin, I can’t afford to like anyone right now.” He replies, “Don’t say that,” and she hangs up the phone shortly after; Justin is then seen tearing up looking at his phone while Keisha attends prom with someone else. The teaser continues to show shots of the couple kissing or holding each other, before Justin tells Keisha, “I think we have something good going. Or we could, if you gave it a chance.”
Also starring are Karen Pittman, Wood Harris, Xosha Roquemore, Marvis Winans III, Niles Fitch, Barry Shabaka Henley, Ali Gallo, Adriyan Rae, Paigion Walker, Xavier Mills and E’myri Crutchfield.
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“Forever” was created by Mara Brock Akil, who is best known as the creator of the Tracee Ellis Ross-led sitcom “Girlfriends,” which ran on UPN and later the CW for eight seasons from 2000 to 2008. Akil also serves as showrunner, and executive produces alongside Blume, Susie Fitzgerald, Erika Harrison, Sara White, Regina King, Reina King, Shana C. Waterman and Anthony Hemingway.
The teaser was first unveiled at the 2025 Next on Netflix event by chief content officer Bela Bajaria, who called the show “a fresh take” on a book that “some of us may have hidden under our beds growing up.”
See the full teaser for “Forever” below.