Today in history, June 27, 2001, John Singleton’s 6th film, “Baby Boy,” was released in USA theaters. The coming-of-age dramedy which starred Tyrese Gibson and Taraji P. Henson, follows bicycle mechanic Joseph “Jody” Summers and his everyday life experience in “da hood” in Los Angeles. It also was Gibson’s feature acting debut; and while Henson had appeared in a couple of films before it, it was her first starring role in a feature film very early in her career.
The film, which was originally supposed to star Tupac Shakur, booked Gibson instead, after Shakur’s 1996 death.
Omar Gooding, Snoop Dogg, Ving Rhames, Adrienne-Joi Johnson, Mo’Nique and Angell Conwell all had roles in the film, which grossed a total of $28.7 domestically and $647K overseas, for a total of $29.3, besting its $16 million production budget.
It received mostly positive reviews from critics, with a 71% on Rotten Tomatoes and an average score of 6.2 out of 10. The consensus states: “Preachy and repetitive in parts, ‘Baby Boy’ still manages to exude authenticity, thanks to its competent cast.”
And as is often the case with black studio films, its soundtrack also played a part in its success, containing hip-hop and R&B music, peaking at #12 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and #5 on the Top Soundtracks the year of its release, spawning one charting single, “Just a Baby Boy,” performed by Snoop Dogg featuring Tyrese & Mr. Tan, which made it to #40 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks. The soundtrack contains interludes which are sound clips from the film.
About a decade after its release, Singleton teased the possibility of a sequel to the 2001 film. He shared plans to reunite Taraji P. Henson and Tyrese Gibson in a new film, although he also said that this reuniting would not be a sequel to “Baby Boy.”
It would be 4 years later (2015) when Singleton would further add to the mystery, this time suggesting a connection to “Baby Boy,” during a black cinema townhall discussion I participated in at the Museum of the Moving Image in NYC, put together by Warrington Hudlin. Singleton was one of the guest interviews, and he revealed a little bit more about the upcoming Taraji/Tyrese project.
“I have a script of a movie that I want to do. It’s kind of an allude to ‘Baby Boy’ but we have to figure it out,” Singleton said in April of last year. “Taraji has an interesting schedule with ‘Empire’ and Tyrese has a lot of stuff going on, and I do. But we’re going to put it together. The audience just really wants to see those two back together.”
He wouldn’t share any real plot details, nor other casting announcements, or expected shoot and/or release dates. But what he did reveal about the story was the following: “It’s a crazy, dysfunctional love story set in the hood.”
It sounds like a description that one could also use to summarize “Baby Boy,” doesn’t it?
He also said that it’s an original script he’s written, and it will indeed be his next project (this was right around the time when he exited the Tupac Shakur biopic he was previously attached to direct). Of course, earlier this year, we learned that Singleton had set up a new original scripted series at BET titled “Rebel,” which is describes as a police drama that examines the unique and conflicted relationship officers of color have with their jobs – at a time when police forces are rife with brutality and misconduct. The series is currently in production, with Danielle Truitt starring, and Giancarlo Esposito, Mykelti Williamson, Cliff “Method Man” Smith and Brandon Quinn co-starring.
So Singleton’s potential “Baby Boy”sequel, which he hoped would be his next project, no longer is. What its status is will remain a mystery until Singleton shares more; assuming it’s not dead. But I’d assume that it’s not, if a reuniting of Henson and Gibson is something that audiences really want to see, as Singleton suggests. Both actors are certainly *bigger* names than they were in 2001 – Henson especially, thanks to “Empire” fame. It actually may now be a question of whether she’s become too *big* for a “Baby Boy” reunion.
Of course, a lot still has to happen before it ever goes before cameras… like, you know, financing it, which is always a major hurdle when it comes to filmmaking. Singleton hasn’t said anything about that however.
So, let your imaginations start to run wild…
