Fly Butterfly Productions has announced a life rights deal with Kitty Black Perkins, the trailblazing designer behind the first Black Barbie, for the development of the feature film biopic KITTY.
Keena Ferguson is attached to direct, with Kadesha Powell set to write the screenplay and Jasmine Farr producing. The project is currently in development.
KITTY chronicles the extraordinary life of a woman who changed what generations of little girls saw when they walked down the toy aisle.
The film follows Perkins’ journey from segregated Spartanburg, South Carolina, where she colored paper dolls brown simply to see herself reflected, to Los Angeles, California, where she climbed the corporate ladder at Mattel and ultimately became the first and only Chief Designer in Barbie’s history. During her groundbreaking career, Perkins designed numerous iconic dolls, including the milestone Black Barbie.
“Black Barbie has opened the door for dolls like the Black Historical series and so many more,” said Kitty Black Perkins, creator and designer of the first Black Barbie.
KITTY arrives as the cultural conversation surrounding Black representation and the importance of diverse storytelling continues to gain momentum. Perkins’ story also connects to the broader mainstream fascination with Barbie and the brand’s lasting cultural and historical significance.
“Thirty years later, I grew up in that same neighborhood,” said Jasmine Farr, producer of KITTY and founder of Fly Butterfly Productions. “From Highland to Hollywood is a hardscrabble path that Kitty and I both share. That is why this project is deeply personal to me.”
The film is actively seeking production partners and funding to bring this powerful Spartanburg story to the world stage. The project has received development support through a South Carolina Arts Commission development grant.