*The classic Judy Blume novel “Forever” is back, but this time, it’s reimagined through a fresh, unapologetically Black lens. Executive Producer and Showrunner Mara Brock Akil breathes new life into the 1975 coming-of-age classic with Netflix‘s “Forever,” premiering May 8. Starring Lovie Simone (Social Distance, Manhunt) as Keisha Clark and Michael Cooper Jr. (On the Come Up) as Justin Edwards, the series explores first love in the way only Brock Akil can—layered, authentic, and unapologetically Black.
In an exclusive interview, the two young stars opened up about what it meant to step into these roles and how their personal experiences shaped their performances. Simone was excited to portray “Keisha,” a confident but deeply layered track star.
“You don’t usually see a character who’s in themselves but appears to be confident and like knowing what they want,” she said. “You usually see the opposite. It was fun to play a character who came in the room and was a bit shy but had this presence to her even still. There was so much more to Keisha, and she was looking for that, and how she found that through Justin.”
For Michael Cooper Jr., Justin’s character was an opportunity to dig into vulnerability, a trait not often explored in young Black male characters.
“Justin is such a different type of guy, and to be able to play him, there was something specific that Mara wrote in the story, where he has one foot in confidence and the other in insecurity, and that counterpoint felt just real,” he explained. “I was afraid my guys would make fun of me for him because he’s such a vulnerable guy. To open myself up like a wound in that way, honestly allowed me to heal, you know, just past things. So it was a really cool stepping into him.”
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The series, set against the backdrop of 2018 Los Angeles, captures that first brush with love in a city that symbolizes both dreams and realities.
Brock Akil’s storytelling not only hones in on the chemistry between Keisha and Justin but also weaves their families into the narrative in a refreshing relatable way. Simone highlighted this, sharing,
“A lot of the time in teen love stories, you don’t see them with their families together in innocent, kind of fun ways. But in this show, you see
… like going out to your dad’s restaurant or over to the Edwards home.”
Cooper Jr. echoed those sentiments, pointing out that Mara Brock Akil does a beautiful job of building out the characters’ worlds.
“Even though it’s centered around Justin and Keisha, we do get to meet her mom, my mother, my father, and even have a Martha’s Vineyard episode,” he noted. “It really shapes who they are as people, and then obviously, the first love shapes them to a journey.”
With social media and DM culture ever-present, the young stars also reflected on the era the show is set in—2018—and what advice they would give their characters in this digital age- there is a component of this in the series.
“I would say, just meet in person, talk in person, connect in person, at least a FaceTime,” Cooper Jr. suggested. Simone chimed in with agreement, adding, “I do think a lot of their issues would be resolved if they were like face-to-face. Absolutely.”
“Forever” is a testament to the beauty and messiness of first love, with all its imperfections and moments of growth. Through Brock Akil’s lens, Judy Blume’s classic finds a new rhythm—one that sings of Black love, family, and the complexity of finding yourself while loving someone else. Catch “Forever” when it premieres on Netflix on May 8.
Jill Munroe is a Los Angeles-bred entertainment journalist, producer, and host. Follow her socials @StilettoJill or visit JillMunroe.com. Catch her live M-F on KBLA Talk 1580 from 6PM to 7PM.
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