One of the Bible’s most timeless love stories is making its way to streaming through Netflix’s Ruth & Boaz.
In this modern-day adaptation, the lives of Ruth and Boaz (Serayah and Tyler Lepley) differ significantly from those presented in biblical times. Yet, for producer DeVon Franklin, it’s just as important as it ever was.
“I was studying the book of Ruth, and it gave me a lot of hope during my season of singleness,” Franklin told Blavity in our recent cast interview. “She’s someone that goes through heartbreak and ultimately finds love again, and I found that to be so inspiring and so encouraging. And she found love by not looking for it; that’s what’s so powerful about the story.”
He added, “And so as I was studying it, I felt like, ‘Wait a minute, there are so many elements in this story that I think would make for a great film.’ You know there’s romance. There’s a little bit of danger. There’s a journey that the characters go on, and I said, ‘Wow, let’s do this as a modern adaptation. And I said I don’t think there’s ever been a modern version of the story of Ruth and Boaz, and there certainly hasn’t been one that starred people of color. So, the opportunity to do something that had never been done before with this story that is so hopeful, that’s so inspiring, it just felt right. And so that was the process going from the scripture and feeling like it was going to be the right idea, developing it, and now we have this film that the world is getting ready to see.”
What’s the plot of ‘Ruth & Boaz’
According to the official synopsis, “From producers DeVon Franklin and Tyler Perry, Ruth & Boaz is a modern-day reimagining of the timeless love story, rooted in faith, healing, and second chances. Serayah stars as Ruth Moably, a rising Atlanta hip-hop artist who leaves behind fame after a personal tragedy. Seeking a fresh start in rural Tennessee, she cares for her late boyfriend’s mother (Phylicia Rashad) and unexpectedly finds new purpose and love with Boaz (Tyler Lepley), a grounded and generous vineyard owner. Directed by Alanna Brown and written by Michael Elliot and Cory Tynan, the film features an original song by Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, performed by Serayah.
Tyler Lepley and Serayah on becoming Ruth & Boaz
For Lepley, becoming Boaz was a journey as he wasn’t familiar with the origins of the character’s story.
“I wasn’t too well-versed with the story before I stepped on the set,” he shared, adding, “The only thing I had known from the outside is that Boaz had lots of resources. Boaz had a lot of money.” He continued, “When I got into it, I think what I learned most is that — you know, when you hear that, you think surface level. Boaz is very heartfelt; he’s a very deep-feeler, you know? And is not transactional. So I felt like just being able to discover the type of heart that he had and the type of human that he is was refreshing because a lot of male figures you see in love stories, you know, will show you a different light. It was nice to see where Boaz was coming from.”
Serayah, who portrays Ruth, noted how her character provides a lesson on the power of divine destiny, among other notable qualities.
“It taught me, through Ruth and through the story, that sometimes you have to start over, and you don’t know what that means,” she said. “But you just have to follow your gut feeling in your heart, and that, for people, is very scary. In some people, that will derail them from even trying, but Ruth definitely shows that — follow your gut and your heart, and she figures it out and picks up the pieces on the way. So, I admire her for that.”
Ruth & Boaz is now streaming on Netflix.