Whoopi Goldberg and Jenifer Lewis Reunite for Netflix’s Women Like Us
By Prather Jackson
Whoopi Goldberg and Jenifer Lewis are bringing their friendship—and decades of unforgettable screen presence—to a new Netflix comedy.
The former Sister Act co-stars will reunite in Women Like Us, an ensemble movie that also features Vanessa Williams and Vivica A. Fox. The film is being produced through Higher Ground Productions, the media company founded by former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama.
With four accomplished actresses at its center, Women Like Us promises a story about friendship, grief, marriage, sisterhood and the freedom to continue pursuing dreams at every stage of life.
What is Women Like Us about?
The film follows a recently widowed woman who is taken to the Hamptons by her lifelong best friends and sister on what would have been her 30th wedding anniversary.
What begins as an effort to support a grieving friend reportedly becomes a larger emotional reckoning for the entire group. During their time together, the women confront questions about loss, relationships, personal identity and the dreams they may have postponed along the way.
At the center of the story is the realization that ambition, love and reinvention do not come with an expiration date.
That theme gives Women Like Us the potential to offer something rarely seen in mainstream ensemble comedies: a story centered on the friendships and inner lives of mature Black women without treating age as the end of adventure.
A long-awaited Whoopi Goldberg and Jenifer Lewis reunion
Goldberg and Lewis previously appeared together in Sister Act, Corrina, Corrina and the 1999 television movie Jackie’s Back. Although the longtime friends have shared public appearances over the years, Women Like Us will mark their first movie together in nearly three decades.
Their history immediately gives the new project a nostalgic connection for audiences who remember Goldberg as Deloris Van Cartier in Sister Act. The original 1992 comedy became a box-office success and enduring audience favorite, later inspiring Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit, stage adaptations and continuing discussions about another sequel.
Lewis has appeared as a guest on The View, which Goldberg has moderated since 2007. During a 2022 appearance, Goldberg even invited Lewis to become involved in the long-discussed Sister Act 3.
Now, instead of waiting for that sequel, audiences will get to see the two performers reunite in an entirely new story.
Vanessa Williams and Vivica A. Fox complete the leading ensemble
The casting of Vanessa Williams and Vivica A. Fox adds even more star power to the project.
Williams has built a wide-ranging career across television, film, theater and music. Her memorable roles include Wilhelmina Slater on Ugly Betty, Renee Perry on Desperate Housewives and numerous Broadway performances.
Fox became a major film star through projects including Independence Day, Set It Off, Soul Food, Two Can Play That Game and Kill Bill: Volume 1. Her experience in comedy, drama and action makes her a natural addition to the ensemble.
Together, Goldberg, Lewis, Williams and Fox represent several generations of film, television and theatrical history. Their combined experience could make the relationships among the characters feel lived-in, emotionally honest and genuinely funny.
Netflix has not yet disclosed which specific character each actress will portray.
Who is directing Women Like Us?
Actress and filmmaker Tasha Smith is directing the movie.
Smith is known for her performances in projects including Why Did I Get Married?, For Better or Worse and Empire. She has also developed an extensive directing career, working on television series such as Bel-Air, BMF, P-Valley, Star and Harlem.
Smith previously directed Goldberg in the Prime Video series Harlem, giving the two an established working relationship before beginning Women Like Us.
Her experience both in front of and behind the camera makes her particularly well suited for a character-driven comedy built around a powerful ensemble cast.
Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground will produce the film
Women Like Us is being produced by Higher Ground Productions as part of the company’s continuing relationship with Netflix.
Founded by Barack and Michelle Obama, Higher Ground has developed narrative films, documentaries, television programs and podcasts. Its screen projects have included Rustin, Leave the World Behind, American Symphony, Descendant and the Oscar-winning documentary American Factory.
The company frequently supports stories examining identity, history, community and the experiences that connect people across different backgrounds.
Women Like Us appears to continue that approach through an accessible comedy about friendship and personal renewal.
When will Women Like Us be released?
Netflix has not announced an official release date.
Production is expected to begin in New York City during the fall of 2026. Additional casting announcements and character details are likely to emerge as filming approaches.
It also remains unclear whether the production schedule will affect Goldberg’s appearances on The View, which records in New York.
Why this reunion matters
Hollywood has often overlooked stories about women discovering new possibilities later in life. Women Like Us could help challenge that pattern by placing four celebrated Black actresses at the center of a story about grief, resilience and beginning again.
The appeal extends beyond nostalgia for Sister Act. Goldberg and Lewis are not simply revisiting their past. Alongside Williams and Fox, they are creating a new screen partnership built around friendship, humor and the idea that the next chapter of life can still be the most exciting one.
For longtime fans, the reunion has been decades in the making.
For Netflix, it may become the beginning of an entirely new comedy favorite.
Sources: Entertainment Weekly and Higher Ground Productions.