Quinta Brunson says Betty Boop movie will reveal the history behind the cartoon icon

The “Abbott Elementary” star says her upcoming film will explore the animation era that shaped Betty Boop and a complicated chapter of American history.

Quinta Brunson says her planned Betty Boop movie will explore the era that created the cartoon icon, not just the character herself. The “Abbott Elementary” star announced the project in May, amid renewed attention to the character’s debated roots, including questions about Black entertainers’ influence.

During an appearance on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” covered by PEOPLE, Brunson said she was still developing the feature and could not offer many plot details. But she promised a story that would be “unlike anything anyone expects.”

“It’s not just about Betty herself, but about an era of animation,” she said, describing a story tied to the character’s creation and a larger chapter of American history.

Host Robin Roberts asked why Betty Boop interested her. Brunson said it was the character’s creation story, which she believes reveals more about the country’s past than audiences might assume. She did not say which historical subjects the finished movie will cover.

First announced in May, the film is being developed by Brunson’s Fifth Chance Productions with Fleischer Studios and Mark Fleischer, grandson of the animated character’s creator, Max Fleischer. Brunson is attached to star as Betty Boop as well as produce the movie.

The announced premise follows the character’s origins and evolution through the eyes of Max Fleischer. It will also explore how an artist’s creation took on a public life of its own while he navigated creative and commercial pressures.

Betty Boop debuted in a 1930 animated short and became known for her flapper-inspired look and Jazz Age musical style. Her origins have also prompted debate over the influence of Black entertainers, including singer Esther “Baby Esther” Jones.

Those discussions have sometimes turned into claims that Jones alone inspired the character, but the historical record is more complicated. Fleischer’s family has said Betty represented the broader Jazz Age rather than one individual performer.

No filming start date or release date has been announced.