from Mlive.com
Port Huron native Terry McMillantweeted in the early hours today that a script for "Getting to Happy," the film adaptation of her newest novel, is complete and it should be on screen in 2012.
"Getting to Happy" is the sequel to "Waiting to Exhale," the groundbreaking 1992 novel about four African-American women balancing love and life.
The 1995 film starred Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine and Lela Rochon and was directed by future Oscar winner Forest Whitaker. Its Babyface-produced soundtrack spawned a number of hits including Houston's "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)," Brandy's "Sittin' Up in My Room," and Mary J. Blige's "Not Gon' Cry." Detroiters CeCe Winans, who spoke about her contribution to the soundtrack to MLive last month, and Aretha Franklin also appear on the album.
"Happy" picks up on the four women 15 years after the events of "Exhale": Savannah is finally married, but unhappy; Bernadine is near-broke after her huge divorce settlement; Gloria seems to have finally found happiness; Robin is juggling her career with being a single mother.
In the years since "Exhale" roared into theaters, everyone involved with the original production has seen their own ups and downs. McMillan got her groove back, but lost it in spectacular fashion. Whitaker, as mentioned before, won an Academy Award for acting in "The Last King of Scotland," but his behind-the-camera work has been sporadic.
