Prime Video Orders Barbershop Series Based on the Film Franchise

Prime Video has officially ordered Barbershop, a television series starring Jermaine Fowler. The series, which was greenlit last fall, was confirmed ahead of Amazon’s Upfront presentation. Barbershop hails from Marshall Todd, co-writer of the original Barbershop film, Kevin Hart’s Hartbeat, and Amazon MGM Studios.



Written and executive produced by Todd, and co-showrunner and executive produced by Max Searle (Dave (2020)), the television series Barbershop centers on Travis “Trav” Porter (Fowler, pictured), who follows in the footsteps of his grandfather, a legendary barber at the iconic Chicago barbershop Calvin’s. And while the barbers may be new, the business is as lively, the customers as feisty, and the fades are still the coolest in town. Because at Calvin’s, the community comes together for so much more than just a haircut.

“We are thrilled to announce a new series based on the hilarious and innovative world of Barbershop for our global Prime Video customers,” said Vernon Sanders, global head of television, Amazon MGM Studios. “The television adaptation of this iconic film franchise is in excellent hands with co-showrunners Max Searle and Marshall Todd. We couldn’t be happier with their collaboration and hard work to bring Calvin’s Chicago-based barbershop to life for a new audience on Prime Video.”

Barbershop was among the first MGM titles identified for series adaptation following Amazon’s $8.5 billion acquisition of the storied Hollywood studio. The approval follows the acquisition of the Legally Blonde prequel series Elle, which was announced during Amazon’s presentation last year. There’s also a Carrie series, with casting finalized, and a Tomb Raider drama in the works, among other things.

The Barbershop film franchise consists of four films, each of which revolves around the social lives of employees at a barbershop on Chicago's South Side. The first film, 2002's Barbershop, stars Ice Cube as Calvin, who inherits his late father's struggling business. He sees the business as nothing more than a burden and a waste of time, but after selling it to a local loan shark, Calvin begins to have second thoughts and struggles with the idea that he simply sold it. This was followed by Barbershop 2: Back in Business in 2004, Beauty Shop in 2005, a spin-off of the first two Barbershop films starring Queen Latifah, and Barbershop: The Next Cut in 2016. The film franchise has grossed over $235 million worldwide.