Quinta Brunson to Play Betty Boop in New Film [WATCH]

Producer and actor Quinta Brunson is set to star as Betty Boop in an upcoming feature film about the long-running cartoon character created by Fleischer Studios, as reported by Breitbart.

The character debuted in 1930 and was created as a jazz-age flapper for the Talkartoon and Betty Boop film series, which were produced by Fleischer Studios and released by Paramount Pictures.

Betty Boop appeared in about 90 theatrical cartoons between 1930 and 1939 and later remained a popular character through film appearances and merchandise.

Quinta Brunson is set to play Betty Boop in an upcoming film, according to Variety. pic.twitter.com/Xn2h59GqOw

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According to Variety, Fleischer Studios’ Mark Fleischer, the grandson of studio founder Max Fleischer, is involved in the proposed feature film, which will be produced by and star Brunson, the creator and star of Abbott Elementary.

The film is expected to follow Max Fleischer as he works to bring Betty Boop to the screen. The story will also feature Betty Boop taking on a life of her own as she becomes one of America’s first animated icons.

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The project comes after years of Hollywood debate over casting choices involving established characters. It also arrives as Christopher Nolan’s upcoming adaptation of The Odyssey has drawn backlash over casting decisions involving characters from the Greek epic.

Brunson said the film will look deeper into Betty Boop’s history and cultural role.

“Betty Boop is one of our nation’s most beloved cartoon characters, yet somehow still remains pleasantly niche,” Brunson said in a statement about the project.

“She has had a quiet but undeniable impact on culture for nearly a century. After Erin and I met with Mark and learned more about his grandfather’s creation of Betty, I realized there was a much deeper story to tell. One that could be explored in a way that feels refreshing, subversive, and timeless, much like Betty herself.”

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Mark Fleischer also praised Brunson’s approach to the character and the proposed film’s focus on his grandfather’s relationship with Betty Boop.

“When Quinta first approached me with the unique concept of a movie about the relationship of my grandfather, Max Fleischer, and his creation, Betty Boop, I was breathtaken,” Mark Fleischer added.

“Quinta so embodies Betty’s love of life, intelligence, humor, sassiness, and compassion that the relationship between her as Betty and Max burst into life at its mere mention.”

The history of Betty Boop has long included debate over possible influences on the character.

Some have claimed that Max Fleischer was inspired by Esther Lee Jones, a 1920s black entertainer known as “Baby Esther,” who reportedly used the word “boop” in scat-style performances.

PBS included that claim in a 2021 story about black entertainers across history, but later clarified that the earlier notation was incorrect.

PBS said there is no evidence that Max Fleischer knew of Baby Esther’s existence when he created Betty Boop or that he took the word “boop” from her.

Jones reportedly originated the use of the word “boop” in her scat performances and died in obscurity sometime in the 1930s, though the exact date remains uncertain.

White singer Helen Kane saw Jones perform in the 1920s and later began using “boop” in her own songs. Kane became best known for the 1928 hit “I Want to be Loved By You,” in which she sang “boop, boop-a-do” after the title phrase.

Kane sued Fleischer Studios in 1932, claiming the studio stole her persona for the Betty Boop character. She lost the case after the court found that she had taken her “boop” trademark from Baby Esther.

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