Matthew A. Cherry’s Oscar-winning short film, Hair Love, is turning into a series, Young Love, for HBO Max.
“Hair Love” followed the relationship between an African-American father and his daughter Zuri as they tackled a daunting task — doing Zuri’s hair for the first time together. The HBO Max series will follow the same characters introduced in the short film.
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The official description of the series from HBO Max reads:
“Filled with comedy and heart, Young Love is an honest look into the world of the Young family – including millennial parents Stephen and Angela, their daughter Zuri and her pet cat Rocky – as they juggle their careers, marriage, parenthood, social issues, and multi-generational dynamics all while striving to make a better life for themselves.”
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HBO Max has ordered 12 episodes of the new series. It is created by Cherry who will serve as showrunner with veteran animator Carl Jones.
“I am beyond excited to continue telling the story of Stephen, Angela, and Zuri and further explore the family dynamics of a young Black millennial family we established in our short film Hair Love as an animated series,” Cherry said. “Couldn’t ask for better partners in Sony Pictures Animation and HBO Max in helping us get Young Love out to the world.”
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It will be executive produced by Blue Key Entertainment’s Monica A. Young, who produced “Hair Love,” along with Lion Forge Animation’s David Steward II and Carl Reed.
“Hair Love struck a chord that is still resonating deeply with audiences of all ages,” said HBO Max Original Animation SVP Billy Wee. “Matthew and Sony Animation’s creative voices are a welcomed addition to the HBO Max family and we can’t wait to bring this joyous story to the world.”
Young Love‘s first season has an order of 12 episodes.