Netflix has unveiled the official trailer for upcoming The Six Triple Eight, a true-story WWII picture from filmmaker Tyler Perry. Watch the trailer above and get the information below.
Shedding Light on a Forgotten WWII Battalion
Written and directed by Tyler Perry, The Six Triple Eight explores the contributions of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the only Women’s Army Corps unit of colour to be stationed overseas during World War II. The film focuses on the challenges faced by 855 women tasked with sorting a three-year backlog of 17 million pieces of mail intended for American soldiers.
Led by Captain Charity Adams (played by Kerry Washington), the battalion confronted prejudice and harsh conditions to provide much-needed morale to troops and families. “A lot of people do not want us to succeed,” Washington’s character says in the trailer. “We have the most to prove.” Within 90 days — half the allocated time — the women completed their mission.
A Long-Overdue Spotlight on the 6888th
The 6888th’s work went unrecognised for decades, despite its critical impact on soldiers and their loved ones during the war. With a motto, “No mail, low morale,” that captured the emotional importance of their role, unite worked in poor, segregated facilities to forge a supportive community, complete with improvised amenities like a hair salon and refreshment bar.
The battalion’s story has gained recognition in recent years. In 2022, the group was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. A monument was dedicated to their memory in 2018, and Fort Gregg-Adams in Virginia was renamed after Captain Charity Adams in 2023. Perry was inspired to tell their story after meeting Lena Derriecott King, one of the battalion’s members, who passed away at 100 earlier this year. Perry described their conversation as pivotal, saying in the tribute video below, “When I left there, I had a whole movie in my mind that I wanted to write for her.”
A Historical Basis and Expert Collaboration
The film draws from a 2019 article by Kevin M. Hymel in WWII History Magazine. It features detailed depictions of the battalion’s operations, including their organisational methods and the emotional stakes tied to reconnecting soldiers with their families. The narrative includes little-known aspects of the 6888th’s story — such as Charity Adams’ personal belongings unexpectedly surfacing during production.
The film also includes original music, with Diane Warren contributing the song “The Journey,” performed by H.E.R. Choreographer Debbie Allen was brought on to ensure authentic movement in key scenes.
Ensemble Cast Brings the Story to Life
The cast of The Six Triple Eight brings together a mix of experienced performers and newer faces. Kerry Washington (also an executive producer here) leads the ensemble as Captain Charity Adams, the officer who guided the unit through the enormous challenge of clearing a three-year backlog of mail under difficult conditions.
Joining Washington are Ebony Obsidian (Sistas), Milauna Jackson (A Jazzman’s Blues), Kylie Jefferson (Tiny Pretty Things), Shanice Shantay (The Wiz Live!), and Sarah Jeffery (Charmed).
The supporting cast includes well-known figures such as Susan Sarandon (playing Eleanor Roosevelt), Dean Norris, and Oprah Winfrey, as well as Jeanté Godlock (Daybreak), Pepi Sonuga (Queens), and Moriah Brown (Raising Dion).
During the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival, Washington and producer Nicole Avant talked about legacy and storytelling. “Every single person, Black, white, anywhere in between, male, female — anybody can see themselves in those characters,” Avant said. “Because all stories, to me, are human stories. Everything to me is about humanity.”
“I felt like these women were with us in this process,” Washington added. “You felt their spirit all the time.”
Release Date
The Six Triple Eight is set for a limited theatrical release in the U.S. on 6 December before being released worldwide on Netflix on 20 December.
