“Ruth and Boaz,” the star-crossed biblical epic reimagined as a modern-day romance by Tyler Perry and DeVon Franklin, premieres on BET+ October 10, 2025, a six-episode whirlwind of faith, passion, and forbidden fire that’s already fanning flames of frenzy with a trailer teasing “shocking secrets, heartbreaking sacrifices, and a choice that could tear them apart before love redeems them.”
Produced by Perry’s Tyler Perry Studios and Franklin’s DeVon Franklin Media, the series transplants the Book of Ruth’s timeless tale – a Moabite widow’s devotion to her Israelite mother-in-law Naomi leading to a redemptive marriage with wealthy kinsman Boaz – to contemporary Atlanta, where Ruth (Keke Palmer, Nope‘s fearless fighter) is a resilient single mom fleeing family fallout, and Boaz (Michael B. Jordan, Creed‘s charismatic champ) a principled property developer whose “destiny” detour collides with hers in a “colliding” clash of cultures and convictions. “It’s not ordinary romance – it’s a retelling where faith and fate rewrite everything,” Perry tells Essence, his script a “soul-stirring” blend of The Notebook‘s nostalgia and The Color Purple‘s grit, with Franklin’s “divine direction” infusing “purposeful passion” that’s got fans whispering, “Bigger than biblical – it’s blockbuster!”
The saga’s sacred spark? Spellbinding: Episode 1’s “Fields of Fate” thrusts Ruth into Atlanta’s bustling Bible Belt, widowed and wandering after her husband’s overdose, seeking solace with Naomi (Loretta Devine, The Preacher’s Wife‘s powerhouse) in a modest ministry. Boaz (Jordan, 38, channeling Black Panther‘s regal resolve with Fruitvale Station‘s vulnerability) spots her gleaning at his community farm project, their “forbidden” flirtation – a Moabite outsider and a Levite leader – flaring amid family feuds and cultural clashes. Palmer’s Ruth? A “radiant revelation,” her “resilient” resolve a riff on Naomi’s “bitter” turn, while Jordan’s Boaz? A “brooding beacon,” his kinsman-redeemer role a “destiny detour” from boardrooms to redemption. Devine’s Naomi? A “force of faith,” her “shocking secrets” (a past affair? A hidden heir?) seeding sacrifices that sting. Supporting stars sear: Kyla Pratt’s Orpah as Ruth’s “wayward” sister, Keith David’s Elder as a scheming synagogue head, and Janina Gavankar’s Vered as Boaz’s “betrothed” rival stirring sabotage.
The “explosive” essence? Eternal: Perry’s palette – lush Atlanta lofts and sun-dappled fields – pulses with “passion and purpose,” Franklin’s “faith-forward” flair fusing The Bible drama with If Beale Street Could Talk‘s intimacy. Directors like Cheryl Dunye (The Watermelon Woman) and Bille Woodruff (Bring It On) weave “heartbreaking” highs (Ruth’s “redeemer” vow) with “shocking” lows (a “forbidden choice” pitting family against fate). Essence raves the “soul-stirring” saga, The Hollywood Reporter the “redefining” romance. Filmed April-July 2025 in Atlanta’s ATL Studios, it’s BET+’s “biggest bet,” per exec Connie Orlando.
This isn’t scripture soap; it’s a sacred storm, Ruth and Boaz‘s reimagining a reminder that love’s legacy lingers in loss. Ruth’s resolve? Resplendent. Boaz’s bond? Boundless. October 10? Not a premiere – a prophecy. Binge it; the sacrifices sear, the destiny dazzles. Palmer and Jordan? No Creed clones – they’re biblical beacons, blazing bold. Trust us: This obsession? Overnight, ordained.
