PICTURE IT: MADEA IN SPACE

Tyler Pe r r y ’s newest Madea movie, A Madea Family Funeral, opens in wide release on March 1. None of the nine Madea films to date has done better than 37 per cent on rottentomatoes.

This chapter opens in the shadow of Perry having said he plans to retire Mabel “Madea” Simmons, a feisty, pistol-packing, God-fearing grandmother whom Perry has played since her 1999 debut in the stage version of I Can Do Bad All By Myself. But why step down when the character has so much to give? May we modestly propose: Madea in Space: Often the sign of a franchise on the rocks, this can also be proof that a film series has gotten too big for just one planet. If anyone can light the fuse to get our species to Mars, it’s this unstoppable force.

Madea Goes to Europe: Another tactic that screams “last gasp” or, if done right, “breath of fresh air.” The EU deserves to be on the receiving end of her wisdom.

Madea v. Cross: 2012’s Alex Cross was not Perry’s finest hour as an actor; the film, based on the crime series by James Patterson, tanked at the box office and with critics, scuttling a planned sequel. But what if the fictional detective were to match wits with ex-con Madea?

Memorial Madea: Picture it; opening on the lucrative U.S. Memorial Day weekend, this holiday-themed comedy celebrates those who have given their lives in the service of their country, and one woman who threatens to take lives, but ultimately winds up dispensing important life lessons instead.

Other potential Madeas: Meryl Streep, Daniel Craig or Idris Elba. Heck, Elba could even sign on as both Madea and Bond, allowing for even more crossover possibilities. This is a train that never needs to stop.