Quinta Brunson is developing and starring in a feature film adaptation of Betty Boop that traces the character’s origin and evolution through the eyes of creator Max Fleischer. The project—partnering Fifth Chance Productions with Mark Fleischer and Fleischer S
When Quinta Brunson walked into a meeting imagining a fresh story for a nearly century-old icon, she didn’t expect the conversation to end up sounding like a creator’s confession.
Brunson—creator of the Emmy-winning Abbott Elementary—will develop and star as Betty Boop in a feature film adaptation of the animated character. a project Variety has learned is currently in development. Her company. Fifth Chance Productions. has partnered with Mark Fleischer. the grandson of Betty Boop creator Max Fleischer. and Fleischer Studios. The film is overseen by Fifth Chance’s head of creative affairs, Erin Wehrenberg.
The movie is built around origin and evolution: it will trace Betty Boop’s beginnings and growth through Max Fleischer’s perspective. As he works to build one of the world’s first animated icons. the story follows the creative and commercial pressures that come with launching something new—especially when that icon starts to feel less like a creation and more like a presence of her own.
For Betty Boop, the stakes include a long gap in the spotlight. The film will mark her first theatrical motion picture appearance in a starring role since the 1930s. when she emerged from Fleischer Studios’ Talkartoons series to become the first and only animated independent female movie superstar of her era.
Brunson framed the appeal in personal terms—less about reviving an old brand than finding the deeper engine underneath it. In a statement. she wrote: “Betty Boop is one of our nation’s most beloved cartoon characters. yet somehow still remains pleasantly niche. 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.”.
Mark Fleischer. who serves as chairman and CEO of Fleischer Studios. described the project’s pitch as immediate—rooted in the emotional logic of the relationship itself. He added: “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. 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.”.
Brunson’s role points toward a specific kind of screen alchemy: the idea of reimagining a character with contemporary energy while centering the mind behind the character. The comparison being drawn is the kind that helped reshape a familiar cultural figure on a blockbuster scale—Brunson is aiming for something with a similarly contemporary lens.
Betty Boop was created by Max Fleischer in 1930 and appeared in more than 100 cartoons during her original run. She evolved from a poodle-like nightclub singer into the fully human Jazz Age icon recognized around the world today. She was the first cartoon character profiled by A&E’s Biography. and she most recently anchored the Broadway musical BOOP!.
Outside the screen, her reach has grown into one of entertainment’s most durable licensing stories. Her global licensing footprint spans fashion. beauty. collectibles and contemporary brand collaborations. positioning her among the most successful licensed classic characters in entertainment history. Mark Fleischer also leads Fleischer Studios. where Global Icons—the company’s exclusive worldwide licensing agency—continues to expand the Betty Boop brand across international markets.
For Brunson, the timing lands while she continues her run on ABC’s hit mockumentary Abbott Elementary. The network comedy made her the first solo Black woman to win the Emmy for outstanding writing for a comedy series. and the first to earn three Emmy nominations in a single year for writing. acting and producing in the comedy category. She later won the Emmy for outstanding lead comedy actress for Season 2. becoming the first Black woman to earn that honor since 1981.
Fifth Chance Productions. Brunson’s female-led banner. develops character-driven television and film with a focus on diverse voices and universal storytelling. With this Betty Boop project. the company is taking on a different kind of legacy—one that. for nearly a century. has been both iconic and strangely quiet.
And at the center of the film is a relationship that refuses to stay frozen in history: Max Fleischer building an icon, and that icon beginning to take on a life of its own.
Quinta Brunson Betty Boop Fifth Chance Productions Fleischer Studios Mark Fleischer Max Fleischer Erin Wehrenberg Abbott Elementary Emmy winner