Kerry Washington Looks Unrecognizable in Epic New Netflix Drama Trailer

Kerry Washington stars in the first look trailer at Netflix’s upcoming World War Two drama, The Six Triple Eight, which tells the story of the first and only Women’s Army Corps unit of color to serve overseas.

Written and directed by Tyler Perry, the film features the Scandal star as Major Charity Adams, the commanding officer of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. Despite facing racism, sexism, and harsh working conditions, the unit was steadfast in their commitment to serving their country with honor and distinction.

“Given an extraordinary mission and united in their determination, these unsung heroes delivered hope and shattered barriers,” reads the film’s synopsis. Kerry’s character is shown in a moss-green army uniform with pinned-back curls, a stark contrast to her off-screen persona. Watch the first-look trailer below.

The film features a star-studded cast, including Ebony Obsidian (Sistas, Master of None), Milauna Jackson (How to Get Away with Murder), Kylie Jefferson (Tiny Pretty Things), Shanice Shantay (Perfect Harmony), Sarah Jeffery (Across the Line, Charmed), Pepi Sonuga (Queens, Famous in Love), Moriah Brown (Power Book II: Ghost, Raising Dion), Jeanté Godlock (Daybreak), Jay Reeves (Safety, All American), and Jeffery Johnson (Bird of Paradise, Elkhorn).

Rounding out the main cast are Baadja-Lyne Odums (This Is Us), Donna Biscoe (Hidden Figures, The Fundamentals of Caring), Gregg Sulkin (Runaways, Faking It), Scott Daniel Johnson (The Banker, A Man in Full), Susan Sarandon (Thelma & Louise, Dead Man Walking), Dean Norris (Breaking Bad, Unfrosted), Sam Waterston (Law & Order, Grace and Frankie), and Oprah Winfrey (The Color Purple).

Inspired by a true story, the movie focuses on the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, who were deployed to Europe in February 1945. They faced a backlog of 17 million pieces of mail, many with incorrect or incomplete addresses, and were tasked with sorting and delivering it within six months.

The emotional stakes were high because families of servicemen in the US had not received mail from their loved ones in months. The 855 women worked in three eight-hour shifts to meet the challenging deadline.

Speaking about the film at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival, Kerry said: “I felt like these women were with us in this process. You felt their spirit all the time.”

The Six Triple Eight is in select cinemas from 6 December and on Netflix from 20 December.