Netflix's The Six Triple Eight: Release date, cast, plot, and everything we know so far

The Six Triple Eight is set to release on Netflix on December 20, 2024. Set during the Second World War, the film follows the story of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, which comprised a group of 855 women stationed in Europe. It was the only Women’s Army Corps unit that enlisted women of color. While the majority of the 6888th had black women, there were also women of Mexican and Caribbean descent.

Facing discrimination and challenging working conditions, these women sorted through a backlog of 17 million postal mail, most of which had wrong or missing addresses. These letters were from family members back home (in the US) and needed to be delivered to army men stationed on distant battlefronts.

Kerry Washington plays the role of Major Charity Adams in The Six Triple Eight.

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The Six Triple Eight will be released on December 20, 2024, on Netflix

Kerry Washington Campaigns For Kamala Harris In Milwaukee (Image via Getty)

The Six Triple Eight will be released in select theaters on December 6, 2024, followed by its streaming debut on Netflix on December 20, 2024.

The American war drama film has a run time of two hours and seven minutes. It is written, directed, and produced by Tyler Perry. The movie also features an original song titled The Journey, written by Diane Warren, choreographed by Debbie Allen, and performed by H.E.R.

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Cast and characters

Besides Washington, the complete list of the cast of The Six Triple Eight and their characters:

• Ebony Obsidian as Lena Derriecott King
• Dean Norris as General Halt
• Sam Waterston as President Franklin D. Roosevelt
• Susan Sarandon as Eleanor Roosevelt
• Oprah Winfrey as Mary McLeod Bethune
• Milauna Jackson as Captain Campbell
• Kylie Jefferson as Bernice Baker
• Shanice Shantay as Johnnie Mae
• Sarah Jeffery as Dolores Washington
• Pepi Sonuga as Elaine White

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Everything to know about the real-life story

In the real-life story that inspired this film, the all-women battalion was tasked with sorting 17 million mail in just six months. Washington's character, Adams, set up three eight-hour shifts for the women, enabling them to complete their mission in 90 days.

Unfortunately, the battalion faced discrimination and segregation at the time. They were housed in poorly maintained buildings that had little heat or light. However, the women were unperturbed by their working conditions and made the best of it by setting up a hair salon, a mess hall, and a refreshment center.

The Six Triple Eight was based on an article published in 2019 in WW History magazine titled Fighting A Two-Front War. Written by Kevin M. Hymel, the article inspired Perry to create the movie.

Perry also drew inspiration from meeting Lena Derriecott King, a former member of the battalion. Before her death, he had a conversation with her about the real-life events that transpired during her time in the war.

In a video on Instagram paying tribute to her, Perry said:

"We sat in her house for a couple of hours just talking, having a great conversation. And when I left there, I had a whole movie in my mind that I wanted to write for her."

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Plot summary

The official synopsis of the movie reads:

"The Six Triple Eight tells the inspiring true story of the incredible and brave women of the first and only Women's Army Corps unit of color to be stationed overseas during World War II."

Delivering the 17 million copies of mail to the army men during the Second World War was important for their morale. In the official trailer, Major Adams addresses her battalion, stating, "The soldiers have not heard from their loved ones and their loved ones have not heard from them. When there is no mail, there is no morale."

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Stay tuned for more news and updates on Netflix's The Six Triple Eight.