Garcelle Beauvais, Anissa Felix, Peppermint, Taylor Selé, and Marouane Zotti are the latest to join Michelle Buteau’s upcoming Netflix comedy series Survival of the Thickest.
The join previously cast stars Tone Bell Tasha Smith.
Survival of the Thickest follows Mavis Beaumont (Buteau), a Black, plus-size and newly single woman, but not by her choice. Mavis unexpectedly finds herself having to rebuild her life as a struggling stylist. She’s determined to not only survive but thrive with the support of her chosen family, a body positive attitude, and a cute v-neck with some lip gloss.
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Beauvais will play Natasha; Felix will play India; Peppermint will play a character of the same name; Selé will play Jacque; Zotti will play Luca.
Bell is cast as Khalil, Mavis’s bestie and first phone call since high school. He’s a creative and talented artist who has always prided himself on making life choices that keep things simple, affordable – nothing wrong with clipping coupons – and uncomplicated. But now in his very late 30s, he starts to question what really matters and if life is worth complicating for the right person.
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Smith will play Marley, an early 50’s self-made millionaire. She’s a woman of NYC status who always has a fresh luxury manicure and the best day and night serums money can buy. She gives that Aries tell-it-like-it-is energy, but there’s still an ever present warm big sister vibe. She just wants the best for everybody, and she knows what the best is.
Linda Mendoza is directing the first two episodes of Survival of the Thickest. The series is based on Buteau’s book and was created by Buteau and Danielle Sanchez-Witzel. Sanchez-Witzel is the showrunner with A24 and Anne Hong from Mosaic executive producing.