Two-time Grammy Award winning singer and songwriter Gloria Gaynor will be the subject of a new biopic under the Robin Roberts Presents banner for Lifetime.
Executive produced by Roberts via her Rock’n Robin Productions, the movie is a fully authorized biopic that will span Gaynor’s 50+ years in the music industry. The biopic is set to air in 2025 as part of Lifetime’s upcoming “Voices of a Lifetime” slate.
“Appreciate an opportunity to again join forces with my friends at Lifetime,” said Roberts in a statement. “Grateful to the incomparable Gloria Gaynor for allowing us to share her remarkable story like never before. She truly is one of the powerful voices of a lifetime.”
The biopic will chronicle Gaynor’s rise to becoming America’s “Queen of Disco.” The movie will feature many of the songs that catapulted Gaynor to the top of the charts, including her legendary hit “I Will Survive,...
Executive produced by Roberts via her Rock’n Robin Productions, the movie is a fully authorized biopic that will span Gaynor’s 50+ years in the music industry. The biopic is set to air in 2025 as part of Lifetime’s upcoming “Voices of a Lifetime” slate.
“Appreciate an opportunity to again join forces with my friends at Lifetime,” said Roberts in a statement. “Grateful to the incomparable Gloria Gaynor for allowing us to share her remarkable story like never before. She truly is one of the powerful voices of a lifetime.”
The biopic will chronicle Gaynor’s rise to becoming America’s “Queen of Disco.” The movie will feature many of the songs that catapulted Gaynor to the top of the charts, including her legendary hit “I Will Survive,...
- 3/6/2024
- by Lynette Rice
- Deadline Film + TV
Starting June 11, Lifetime will begin rolling out its summer movie slate, full of films ripped from the headlines, and TheWrap can exclusively reveal that lineup.
The movies include projects with stars including Melissa Joan Hart as a mom with a hoarding disorder, Catherine Bell as a woman who takes up with an inmate she meets while rehabilitating dogs, Robin Givens as a mom of an influencer teen involved in a deadly rivalry, and “Vampire Diaries” alum Candice King as a nurse alleged to have committed gruesome murder of her lover.
So let’s dive in:
“Dirty Little Secret”
Starring Hart and Lizzie boys, “Dirty Little Secret” premieres June 11 at 8 p.m. Et/Pt. It follows 17-year-old Lucy (Boys) who has been painfully isolated from her peers for years, refusing to let anyone near her house in order to hide her family secret – the overwhelming mountain of items filled in every...
The movies include projects with stars including Melissa Joan Hart as a mom with a hoarding disorder, Catherine Bell as a woman who takes up with an inmate she meets while rehabilitating dogs, Robin Givens as a mom of an influencer teen involved in a deadly rivalry, and “Vampire Diaries” alum Candice King as a nurse alleged to have committed gruesome murder of her lover.
So let’s dive in:
“Dirty Little Secret”
Starring Hart and Lizzie boys, “Dirty Little Secret” premieres June 11 at 8 p.m. Et/Pt. It follows 17-year-old Lucy (Boys) who has been painfully isolated from her peers for years, refusing to let anyone near her house in order to hide her family secret – the overwhelming mountain of items filled in every...
- 3/31/2022
- by Jolie Lash
- The Wrap
Melissa Joan Hart will star in multiple new “It’s a Wonderful Lifetime” holiday movies, as well as the made-for-tv hoarder film “Dirty Little Secret” at Lifetime, as part of a new multi-year deal with the cable channel, Variety has learned exclusively.
Under her new pact, Hart will star in, direct and executive produce several movies for Lifetime. For the “Ripped From The Headlines” movie “Dirty Little Secret” (working title), which is set to debut this summer, Hart stars as a mother hiding her extreme hoarding tendencies that are destroying her family.
Additionally, Hart will star in and executive produce new movies for Lifetime’s 2022 and 2023 Christmas slates, having previously starred in six holiday films for the cabler, including “Mistletoe in Montana,” “Dear Christmas” and “A Very Merry Toy Store.” Hart has previously executive produced eight Lifetime films with her production company Hartbreak Films, including the recent “Christmas in Tune” starring Reba McEntire.
Under her new pact, Hart will star in, direct and executive produce several movies for Lifetime. For the “Ripped From The Headlines” movie “Dirty Little Secret” (working title), which is set to debut this summer, Hart stars as a mother hiding her extreme hoarding tendencies that are destroying her family.
Additionally, Hart will star in and executive produce new movies for Lifetime’s 2022 and 2023 Christmas slates, having previously starred in six holiday films for the cabler, including “Mistletoe in Montana,” “Dear Christmas” and “A Very Merry Toy Store.” Hart has previously executive produced eight Lifetime films with her production company Hartbreak Films, including the recent “Christmas in Tune” starring Reba McEntire.
- 2/15/2022
- by Jennifer Maas
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Former Devious Maids star Judy Reyes and Gloria Reuben have been tapped to lead the cast of Torn From Her Arms, Lifetime’s family border separation movie from Ozy Media and Motion Picture Corporation of America. Fátima Molina (Who Killed Sara?) and Camila Nuñez (Esa No Soy Yo) also star in the timely film, which, amidst the ongoing crisis at the U.S. border, depicts the harrowing true story of a mother and daughter who must find their way back to each other after being separated. It’s slated to premiere this fall.
Reyes portrays Thelma Garcia, a Texas Immigration lawyer who works tirelessly to reunite the pair, while Reuben plays Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist ProPublica reporter, Ginger Thompson, who broke the story.
Originally covered by Ozy’s reporting arm, Torn From Her Arms marks Ozy’s first foray into scripted programming and an expansion of its television catalog.
Reyes portrays Thelma Garcia, a Texas Immigration lawyer who works tirelessly to reunite the pair, while Reuben plays Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist ProPublica reporter, Ginger Thompson, who broke the story.
Originally covered by Ozy’s reporting arm, Torn From Her Arms marks Ozy’s first foray into scripted programming and an expansion of its television catalog.
- 8/17/2021
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
What makes a great TV showrunner or producer? What do you wish you knew when you first started out about the ups and downs of TV production that you know now? What film or series inspired you to work in television?
These were some of the questions answered by five of today’s top TV showrunners and producers when they joined Gold Derby’s special “Meet the Experts” Q&a event with 2021 Emmy nominees. Watch our full group chat with Courtney Lilly (“black-ish”), Robin Thede (“A Black Lady Sketch Show”), Eric Kripke (“The Boys”), Linda Berman (“Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia”) and San Heng (“RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked”) above. Click on each name above to view each person’s individual interview.
See 2021 Emmy nominations complete list: All the nominees for the 73rd Emmy Awards
“It’s taking the time to listen to people,” Lilly reveals when asked what makes a great showrunner.
These were some of the questions answered by five of today’s top TV showrunners and producers when they joined Gold Derby’s special “Meet the Experts” Q&a event with 2021 Emmy nominees. Watch our full group chat with Courtney Lilly (“black-ish”), Robin Thede (“A Black Lady Sketch Show”), Eric Kripke (“The Boys”), Linda Berman (“Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia”) and San Heng (“RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked”) above. Click on each name above to view each person’s individual interview.
See 2021 Emmy nominations complete list: All the nominees for the 73rd Emmy Awards
“It’s taking the time to listen to people,” Lilly reveals when asked what makes a great showrunner.
- 8/16/2021
- by Rob Licuria
- Gold Derby
“She’s just a joy to work with and to be with on set and off set,” producer Linda Berman says about working with leading lady Danielle Brooks on the Emmy-nominated Lifetime TV movie “Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia.”
“She’s funny, she’s genuine, she’s smart and she embodied Mahalia. Her sense of humor, her strength, her voice, everything about her screamed Mahalia Jackson,” Berman explains. We talked with Berman as part of Gold Derby’s special “Meet the Experts” Q&a event with 2021 Emmy nominees. Watch our exclusive video interview above.
See 2021 Emmy nominations complete list: All the nominees for the 73rd Emmy Awards
In “Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia” tells the story of New Orleans-born crooner Mahalia Jackson (Tony nominee and Grammy winner Brooks) who began singing at an early age and went on to become one of the most revered gospel figures in American history and a...
“She’s funny, she’s genuine, she’s smart and she embodied Mahalia. Her sense of humor, her strength, her voice, everything about her screamed Mahalia Jackson,” Berman explains. We talked with Berman as part of Gold Derby’s special “Meet the Experts” Q&a event with 2021 Emmy nominees. Watch our exclusive video interview above.
See 2021 Emmy nominations complete list: All the nominees for the 73rd Emmy Awards
In “Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia” tells the story of New Orleans-born crooner Mahalia Jackson (Tony nominee and Grammy winner Brooks) who began singing at an early age and went on to become one of the most revered gospel figures in American history and a...
- 8/16/2021
- by Rob Licuria
- Gold Derby
In order to address the future, sometimes you need to delve into the past. Most of this year’s Emmy-nominated TV movies do exactly that, exploring themes of love, faith and friendship in order to heal harmful past narratives and home in on the humanity of their characters.
When Eugene Ashe was penning the script for “Sylvie’s Love,” the love story of a saxophonist and a young woman, starring Tessa Thompson and Nnamdi Asomugha, for Amazon Prime Video, he specifically wanted to focus on the late 1950s and early 1960s, at the height of the civil rights movement. His goal was to highlight the humanity of Black leads during that time instead of the trauma so many other films have already tackled.
“We’re not represented that well. I wanted to go back and correct that,” Ashe says. “If I look at my family photo albums, I see depictions of...
When Eugene Ashe was penning the script for “Sylvie’s Love,” the love story of a saxophonist and a young woman, starring Tessa Thompson and Nnamdi Asomugha, for Amazon Prime Video, he specifically wanted to focus on the late 1950s and early 1960s, at the height of the civil rights movement. His goal was to highlight the humanity of Black leads during that time instead of the trauma so many other films have already tackled.
“We’re not represented that well. I wanted to go back and correct that,” Ashe says. “If I look at my family photo albums, I see depictions of...
- 8/11/2021
- by Amber Dowling
- Variety Film + TV
Five top TV showrunners and producers nominated at the Emmys reveal their secrets of success and their craft when they join Gold Derby’s special “Meet the Experts” Q&a series. Participants include: “Black-ish” (Courtney Lilly), “A Black Lady Sketch Show” (Robin Thede), “The Boys” (Eric Kripke), “Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia” (Linda Berman) and “RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untucked” (San Heng). Interviews by Gold Derby Contributing Editor Rob Licuria.
More information:
“Black-ish”: Courtney Lilly
Synopsis: A Black husband and wife struggle to gain a sense of cultural identity while raising their kids in a predominantly white, upper-middle-class neighborhood.
“A Black Lady Sketch Show” – Robin Thede
Synopsis: A half-hour sketch comedy written by and starring Robin Thede.
“The Boys” – Eric Kripke
Synopsis: A group of vigilantes set out to take down corrupt superheroes who abuse their superpowers.
“Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia” – Linda Berman
Synopsis: The story of the New Orleans-born...
More information:
“Black-ish”: Courtney Lilly
Synopsis: A Black husband and wife struggle to gain a sense of cultural identity while raising their kids in a predominantly white, upper-middle-class neighborhood.
“A Black Lady Sketch Show” – Robin Thede
Synopsis: A half-hour sketch comedy written by and starring Robin Thede.
“The Boys” – Eric Kripke
Synopsis: A group of vigilantes set out to take down corrupt superheroes who abuse their superpowers.
“Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia” – Linda Berman
Synopsis: The story of the New Orleans-born...
- 8/9/2021
- by Tom O'Neil
- Gold Derby
Five top showrunners and producers will reveal secrets behind their projects when they join Gold Derby’s special “Meet the Experts” Q&a event with 2021 Emmy nominees. Each person from will participate in two video discussions to premiere on Monday, August 9, at 5:00 p.m. Pt; 8:00 p.m. Et. We’ll have a one-on-one with our senior editor Rob Licuria and a group chat with Rob and all of the group together.
RSVP today to this specific event by clicking here to book your reservation. Or click here to RSVP for our entire ongoing panel series. We’ll send you a reminder a few minutes before the start of the show.
This “Meet the Experts” panel welcomes the following 2021 Emmy nominees:
“Black-ish”: Courtney Lilly
Synopsis: A Black husband and wife struggle to gain a sense of cultural identity while raising their kids in a predominantly white, upper-middle-class neighborhood.
RSVP today to this specific event by clicking here to book your reservation. Or click here to RSVP for our entire ongoing panel series. We’ll send you a reminder a few minutes before the start of the show.
This “Meet the Experts” panel welcomes the following 2021 Emmy nominees:
“Black-ish”: Courtney Lilly
Synopsis: A Black husband and wife struggle to gain a sense of cultural identity while raising their kids in a predominantly white, upper-middle-class neighborhood.
- 7/29/2021
- by Chris Beachum and Rob Licuria
- Gold Derby
Lifetime’s biopic Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia stars Danielle Brooks in the story of gospel icon Mahalia Jackson and her journey to becaming one of the most revered singers in American history. She also melded her music to the civil rights movement — she stood with Martin Luther King Jr at the March on Washington where she performed in hopes her music would encourage and inspire racial equality.
Jason Dirden, Olivia Washington, Rob Demery and Joaquina Kalukango star in the film alongside Brooks, the Orange Is the New Black alum who scored a Tony nom for The Color Purple. She was approached for Mahalia by Kenny Leon, who had previously worked with Brooks on the stage production of Much Ado About Nothing.
The script, from Bessie writer Bettina Gilois (Bessie Smith was an early Mahalia influence) and first-time feature scribe Todd Kreidler, is the latest installment of Deadline’s It Starts...
Jason Dirden, Olivia Washington, Rob Demery and Joaquina Kalukango star in the film alongside Brooks, the Orange Is the New Black alum who scored a Tony nom for The Color Purple. She was approached for Mahalia by Kenny Leon, who had previously worked with Brooks on the stage production of Much Ado About Nothing.
The script, from Bessie writer Bettina Gilois (Bessie Smith was an early Mahalia influence) and first-time feature scribe Todd Kreidler, is the latest installment of Deadline’s It Starts...
- 6/25/2021
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
In the opening moments of “Genius: Aretha,” Cynthia Erivo’s Aretha Franklin is seen on stage as her career begins to skyrocket. The scene then cuts to Franklin in a gaggle of reporters, peppered with questions, one of which comes from a man asking whether her children were in the audience. Franklin responds, “It’s past their bedtime.” To which the man snickers in reply, “Weren’t you a mother at that age?”
“Genius: Aretha” is one of several recent series, in both the scripted and docuseries space, that offers nuanced and unapologetic portraits of female historical and pop-culture figures. Telling their tales now, and under the careful influence of female leadership, allows these projects to reflect the cultural awakening about sexism and gender stereotypes that existed in film and TV since the days of silent movies.
With “Genius: Aretha,” the deft female hands behind-the-scenes include Courteney Monroe, president of National Geographic Global Television Networks,...
“Genius: Aretha” is one of several recent series, in both the scripted and docuseries space, that offers nuanced and unapologetic portraits of female historical and pop-culture figures. Telling their tales now, and under the careful influence of female leadership, allows these projects to reflect the cultural awakening about sexism and gender stereotypes that existed in film and TV since the days of silent movies.
With “Genius: Aretha,” the deft female hands behind-the-scenes include Courteney Monroe, president of National Geographic Global Television Networks,...
- 6/10/2021
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Danielle Brooks was destined to play iconic gospel artist and civil rights activist Mahalia Jackson. At Lifetime’s TCA presentation of Robin Roberts Presents Mahalia today, the Tony Award nominee and Grammy Award-winning actress said that the seed was planted years before the project came about.
Brooks recalled how two of her castmates from the Broadway production of The Color Purple piqued her interest in playing Mahalia Jackson.
“I had the privilege of working with Jennifer Hudson and I remember her coming to my dressing room, which she did every day before she got on stage, and we would chat and she said, ‘you should play Mahalia Jackson,'” recalled Brooks. “I didn’t think too hard about it but then when Jennifer Holliday came and stepped into her same shoe (Jennifer Holliday took over Jennifer Hudson’s role in The Color Purple revival), she said the same thing.”
Brooks took it as a sign.
Brooks recalled how two of her castmates from the Broadway production of The Color Purple piqued her interest in playing Mahalia Jackson.
“I had the privilege of working with Jennifer Hudson and I remember her coming to my dressing room, which she did every day before she got on stage, and we would chat and she said, ‘you should play Mahalia Jackson,'” recalled Brooks. “I didn’t think too hard about it but then when Jennifer Holliday came and stepped into her same shoe (Jennifer Holliday took over Jennifer Hudson’s role in The Color Purple revival), she said the same thing.”
Brooks took it as a sign.
- 2/9/2021
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
For almost six months, Hollywood executives and producers have been figuring out how to safely resume production, and with that, new policies have had to be put in place and filmmakers have had to pivot in the way they make content. And according to many producers, we’re never going to get back to the way things were pre-covid — instead, we’re going to a face a “new normal.”
“Necessity breeds invention,” Linda Berman, who is currently in pre-production on “The Mahalia Jackson Story” in Vancouver, said during a producers roundtable at TheWrap’s annual media conference TheGrill, presented by Nfp and Lifetime. “I don’t know if we’re going to get back to normal — we’re going to have a new normal and we’re all going to have to pivot to figure out what the next steps are to be creative in this environment.”
Cinetic Media founder...
“Necessity breeds invention,” Linda Berman, who is currently in pre-production on “The Mahalia Jackson Story” in Vancouver, said during a producers roundtable at TheWrap’s annual media conference TheGrill, presented by Nfp and Lifetime. “I don’t know if we’re going to get back to normal — we’re going to have a new normal and we’re all going to have to pivot to figure out what the next steps are to be creative in this environment.”
Cinetic Media founder...
- 9/23/2020
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
Welcome to TheGrill 2020.
For the first time, we are convening our annual summit about the changes that technology brings to the entertainment industry — over a streaming platform. Now that seems almost normal. Eight months ago, I didn’t dream of such a thing.
But of course, eight months ago the world was a different place.
With a global pandemic impacting every aspect of entertainment, media, politics and culture, accelerating all the trends we’ve examined at TheGrill for the last 10 years, it is a remarkable moment in time, one that will be discussed, debated and analyzed for decades to come.
The next three days will be part of the first draft of history. This year, TheGrill provides a forum for urgent issues that will define the immediate future of the entertainment business. We have worked hard to bring together some exciting voices that will speak to the moment we are in,...
For the first time, we are convening our annual summit about the changes that technology brings to the entertainment industry — over a streaming platform. Now that seems almost normal. Eight months ago, I didn’t dream of such a thing.
But of course, eight months ago the world was a different place.
With a global pandemic impacting every aspect of entertainment, media, politics and culture, accelerating all the trends we’ve examined at TheGrill for the last 10 years, it is a remarkable moment in time, one that will be discussed, debated and analyzed for decades to come.
The next three days will be part of the first draft of history. This year, TheGrill provides a forum for urgent issues that will define the immediate future of the entertainment business. We have worked hard to bring together some exciting voices that will speak to the moment we are in,...
- 9/22/2020
- by Sharon Waxman
- The Wrap
In today’s TV news roundup, CBS revealed that new episodes of “The Young and the Restless” will premiere starting Aug. 10, and Lifetime announced “Married at First Sight: Unmatchables,” set to be released in 2021.
Dates
CBS has announced that the popular daytime soap “The Young and the Restless” will be back to premiere new episodes Aug. 10 through Aug. 14. The five new episodes set to air will follow Sharon’s (Sharon Case) battle with cancer and a scandal involving new couple Billy (Jason Thompson) and Lily (Christel Khalil). The series, which has been on broadcast television since 1973 and is in its 47th season, has spent the past 31 years as television’s top daytime drama, based on ratings. It was created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell and is produced, in association with Sony Pictures Television, by Bell Dramatic Serial Company,
HBO Max unveiled an Aug. 20 launch date for the...
Dates
CBS has announced that the popular daytime soap “The Young and the Restless” will be back to premiere new episodes Aug. 10 through Aug. 14. The five new episodes set to air will follow Sharon’s (Sharon Case) battle with cancer and a scandal involving new couple Billy (Jason Thompson) and Lily (Christel Khalil). The series, which has been on broadcast television since 1973 and is in its 47th season, has spent the past 31 years as television’s top daytime drama, based on ratings. It was created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell and is produced, in association with Sony Pictures Television, by Bell Dramatic Serial Company,
HBO Max unveiled an Aug. 20 launch date for the...
- 8/3/2020
- by Eli Countryman
- Variety Film + TV
Lifetime has set “Orange Is the New Black” alum Danielle Brooks as the star of the next original film under the “Robin Roberts Presents” banner, the network announced Monday.
Directed by Kenny Leon, who previously helmed the network’s all-African American remake of “Steel Magnolias,” “Robin Roberts Presents: The Mahalia Jackson Story” will explore the life of gospel legend and civil rights activist Mahalia Jackson. It is the first of four new scripted films ordered by Lifetime under the its existing partnership with Roberts.
Born in New Orleans, Jackson is one of the most revered gospel figures in U.S. history, known for melding her music with the civil rights movement, best known for her recording of “Move on Up a Little Higher” and performing at John F. Kennedy’s inaugural ball and the March on Washington in 1963 alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Also Read: Women Say Jeffrey Epstein Made Them a 'Human Baton,...
Directed by Kenny Leon, who previously helmed the network’s all-African American remake of “Steel Magnolias,” “Robin Roberts Presents: The Mahalia Jackson Story” will explore the life of gospel legend and civil rights activist Mahalia Jackson. It is the first of four new scripted films ordered by Lifetime under the its existing partnership with Roberts.
Born in New Orleans, Jackson is one of the most revered gospel figures in U.S. history, known for melding her music with the civil rights movement, best known for her recording of “Move on Up a Little Higher” and performing at John F. Kennedy’s inaugural ball and the March on Washington in 1963 alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Also Read: Women Say Jeffrey Epstein Made Them a 'Human Baton,...
- 8/3/2020
- by Reid Nakamura
- The Wrap
Lifetime has extended its partnership with journalist Robin Roberts for four new movies and they are about to fuel the soul with Robin Roberts Presents: The Mahalia Jackson Story. The movie will star Tony Award nominee, SAG and Grammy Award-winning actress Danielle Brooks as the iconic gospel legend and civil rights activist while Tony winner Kenny Leon will direct. The pic comes from Rock’n Robin Productions and Lincoln Square Productions. Roberts will executive produce alongside Linda Berman.
Born in New Orleans, Mahalia began singing at an early age and went on to become one of the most revered gospel figures in U.S. history, melding her music with the civil rights movement. Her recording of the song “Move on Up a Little Higher” sold millions of copies, skyrocketing...
Born in New Orleans, Mahalia began singing at an early age and went on to become one of the most revered gospel figures in U.S. history, melding her music with the civil rights movement. Her recording of the song “Move on Up a Little Higher” sold millions of copies, skyrocketing...
- 8/3/2020
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
A+E Networks says there is plenty of content in its production pipeline.
The company will renew its successful “Live Pd” franchise for an additional 160 episodes on A&e, while launching a live showcase led by comedian Jeff Foxworthy and a series featuring WWE wrestlers tracking the professional-wrestling organization’s memorabilia – a sign that many TV companies will likely rely on reality programming in weeks ahead as production is crimped by the coronavirus pandemic. And it will also unveil a spate of original movies for its Lifetime cable network, says Paul Buccieri, president of A+E Networks Group, in an interivew.
“We are in production 52 weeks a year, and have a long-term view,” says Buccieri The executive said the company has been able to continue post-production work on its array of unscripted series by moving staffers to work at home. The company has also been “pushing our scripted movies,” a staple of the company’s Lifetime network,...
The company will renew its successful “Live Pd” franchise for an additional 160 episodes on A&e, while launching a live showcase led by comedian Jeff Foxworthy and a series featuring WWE wrestlers tracking the professional-wrestling organization’s memorabilia – a sign that many TV companies will likely rely on reality programming in weeks ahead as production is crimped by the coronavirus pandemic. And it will also unveil a spate of original movies for its Lifetime cable network, says Paul Buccieri, president of A+E Networks Group, in an interivew.
“We are in production 52 weeks a year, and have a long-term view,” says Buccieri The executive said the company has been able to continue post-production work on its array of unscripted series by moving staffers to work at home. The company has also been “pushing our scripted movies,” a staple of the company’s Lifetime network,...
- 5/7/2020
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
Jamie Lee Curtis will star in, direct and executive produce a movie for Lifetime that will tell the true story of a devout Christian mother who came to terms with her son being gay.
How We Sleep at Night: The Sara Cunningham Story is one of a number of original television movies for the A+E Networks brand, which also includes a third movie about Harry & Meghan, a holiday movie with Betty White, and another project with journalist Robin Roberts.
How We Sleep at Night is a passion project for the Halloween star, who optioned rights to Cunningham’s memoir last year. Sally Robinson will write the script and it will be distributed by Sony Pictures Television.
White joins with A Betty White Christmas, a holiday movie for the network’s It’s a Wonderful Lifetime slate. The Golden Girls star will play a sassy drill sergeant of a Christmas bootcamp.
How We Sleep at Night: The Sara Cunningham Story is one of a number of original television movies for the A+E Networks brand, which also includes a third movie about Harry & Meghan, a holiday movie with Betty White, and another project with journalist Robin Roberts.
How We Sleep at Night is a passion project for the Halloween star, who optioned rights to Cunningham’s memoir last year. Sally Robinson will write the script and it will be distributed by Sony Pictures Television.
White joins with A Betty White Christmas, a holiday movie for the network’s It’s a Wonderful Lifetime slate. The Golden Girls star will play a sassy drill sergeant of a Christmas bootcamp.
- 5/7/2020
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Lifetime has added three original movies to its true story-based Ripped from the Headlines slate for 2020, with stars including Nia Vardalos, Lyndsy Fonseca, Kirstie Alley, Jamie-Lynn Sigler and Jenn Lyon.
Vardalos toplines Poisoned Love: The Stacey Castor Story, about a woman whose black-widow tendencies are revealed with her murder plots to take down her ex-husbands and daughter. Fonseca and Alley star in You Can’t Take My Daughter, which follows a young woman who fought to keep her rapist from gaining custody of her daughter. And Sigler and Lyon lead The Neighbor in the Window, the story of a suburban wife who finds herself and the security of her family threatened by another seemingly friendly neighborhood mom.
Read more details about the movies below.
The new films join a Ripped form the Headlines winter slate that includes the previously announced Robin Roberts Presents: Stolen by My Mother: The Kamiyah Mobley Story,...
Vardalos toplines Poisoned Love: The Stacey Castor Story, about a woman whose black-widow tendencies are revealed with her murder plots to take down her ex-husbands and daughter. Fonseca and Alley star in You Can’t Take My Daughter, which follows a young woman who fought to keep her rapist from gaining custody of her daughter. And Sigler and Lyon lead The Neighbor in the Window, the story of a suburban wife who finds herself and the security of her family threatened by another seemingly friendly neighborhood mom.
Read more details about the movies below.
The new films join a Ripped form the Headlines winter slate that includes the previously announced Robin Roberts Presents: Stolen by My Mother: The Kamiyah Mobley Story,...
- 11/19/2019
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Emmy winner Niecy Nash is set to star in Kidnapped: The Kamiyah Mobley Story, the first movie greenlit by Lifetime under the Robin Roberts Presents movie and documentary banner, from Rock’n Robin and Lincoln Square Productions. Production is currently underway on the movie, executive produced by award-winning journalist Roberts, and is slated for premiere in 2020/
Also starring Rayven Symone Ferrell (The Hate U Give) and Ta’Rhonda Jones (Empire), Kidnapped: The Kamiyah Mobley Story is the true story of a young woman who discovers at age 18, she was abducted as a baby and the family she knew to be hers, wasn’t hers at all. The film will be followed by a companion documentary featuring the real-life people depicted in the movie.
“I’m thrilled to share this young woman’s story and produce something so poignant for the Lifetime audience,” said Roberts, President of Rock’n Roberts Productions.
Also starring Rayven Symone Ferrell (The Hate U Give) and Ta’Rhonda Jones (Empire), Kidnapped: The Kamiyah Mobley Story is the true story of a young woman who discovers at age 18, she was abducted as a baby and the family she knew to be hers, wasn’t hers at all. The film will be followed by a companion documentary featuring the real-life people depicted in the movie.
“I’m thrilled to share this young woman’s story and produce something so poignant for the Lifetime audience,” said Roberts, President of Rock’n Roberts Productions.
- 6/19/2019
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Lifetime is beefing up its TV film slate for next year, increasing the total to 75 movies and has signed on “Good Morning America” host Robin Roberts to help with the endevor.
The female-skewing network has signed Roberts to a production deal for a series of movies and documentaries that will all fall under the banner, “Robin Roberts Presents.” The network also detailed the first two projects from Roberts.
The first one will focus on African American Gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, whose inspirational music and faith were a great support for Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement. Roberts will executive produce the movie alongside Linda Berman of Lincoln Square Productions, with a script written by Bettina Gilois.
Also Read: Original 'Project Runway' Production Company to Return for Bravo Reboot
The second project is based on the true story of Alexis Manigo, who at age 18, discovers her real name...
The female-skewing network has signed Roberts to a production deal for a series of movies and documentaries that will all fall under the banner, “Robin Roberts Presents.” The network also detailed the first two projects from Roberts.
The first one will focus on African American Gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, whose inspirational music and faith were a great support for Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement. Roberts will executive produce the movie alongside Linda Berman of Lincoln Square Productions, with a script written by Bettina Gilois.
Also Read: Original 'Project Runway' Production Company to Return for Bravo Reboot
The second project is based on the true story of Alexis Manigo, who at age 18, discovers her real name...
- 7/26/2018
- by Tim Baysinger
- The Wrap
Lifetime announced at TCA today an ambitious slate of original movies for 2019. Among the 75 films planned for next year are a series of telepics and documentaries from veteran newswoman Robin Roberts along with book franchises from authors V.C. Andrews and Victoria Christopher Murray.
The A+E Networks-owned cable net unveiled today a major production deal with Roberts for movies and docs under the Robin Roberts Presents banner to debut next year. It also is in development on Murray’s Seven Deadly Sins anthology, reteaming with producer T.D. Jakes, and has commissioned the first three books — Lust, Envy and Greed – to debut next year.
Andrews’ five-book series about the twisted relationships of the Casteel Family also being turned into movies. First up is V.C. Andrews’ Heaven, starring Annalise Basso, Julie Benz, Chris William Martin and Chris McNally.
Those projects join the previously announced Jane Green three-picture deal. The first movie,...
The A+E Networks-owned cable net unveiled today a major production deal with Roberts for movies and docs under the Robin Roberts Presents banner to debut next year. It also is in development on Murray’s Seven Deadly Sins anthology, reteaming with producer T.D. Jakes, and has commissioned the first three books — Lust, Envy and Greed – to debut next year.
Andrews’ five-book series about the twisted relationships of the Casteel Family also being turned into movies. First up is V.C. Andrews’ Heaven, starring Annalise Basso, Julie Benz, Chris William Martin and Chris McNally.
Those projects join the previously announced Jane Green three-picture deal. The first movie,...
- 7/26/2018
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Lifetime has unveiled a big expansion of its original movie lineup for next year. As part of the push the A+E Networks cabler has set new franchises with ABC News’ Robin Roberts and megachurch leader Bishop T.D. Jakes.
Lifetime plans to produce or acquire some 75 movies next year, a significant increase from 2018. The cabler has signed a wide-ranging production deal with “Good Morning America” anchor Roberts to produce movies and feature-length documentaries under the “Robin Roberts Presents” banner.
Also in the works for Lifetime is a five-movie series based on the novels of V.C. Andrews, starting next year with “V.C. Andrews’ Heaven.”
Roberts will focus on projects based on true events with an inspirational or educational focus. The first project under the deal will be a drama based on the life of famed gospel singer Mahalia Jackson. Roberts and Linda Berman of ABC’s Lincoln Square Productions...
Lifetime plans to produce or acquire some 75 movies next year, a significant increase from 2018. The cabler has signed a wide-ranging production deal with “Good Morning America” anchor Roberts to produce movies and feature-length documentaries under the “Robin Roberts Presents” banner.
Also in the works for Lifetime is a five-movie series based on the novels of V.C. Andrews, starting next year with “V.C. Andrews’ Heaven.”
Roberts will focus on projects based on true events with an inspirational or educational focus. The first project under the deal will be a drama based on the life of famed gospel singer Mahalia Jackson. Roberts and Linda Berman of ABC’s Lincoln Square Productions...
- 7/26/2018
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Scott Foley‘s got a killer (or is it?) new role.
The Scandal star has signed on to Investigation Discovery’s Fatal Vision, in which he’ll play an Army captain convicted of murdering his family, our sister site Deadline reports.
The TV movie, based on Joe McGinniss’ nonfiction bestseller of the same name, chronicles the 1970 murders of pregnant Colette MacDonald and her daughters, Kimberly and Kristen. Foley’s character, Jeffery MacDonald, also was wounded in what he later told investigators was a ritualistic, Manson Family-style home invasion.
The Scandal star has signed on to Investigation Discovery’s Fatal Vision, in which he’ll play an Army captain convicted of murdering his family, our sister site Deadline reports.
The TV movie, based on Joe McGinniss’ nonfiction bestseller of the same name, chronicles the 1970 murders of pregnant Colette MacDonald and her daughters, Kimberly and Kristen. Foley’s character, Jeffery MacDonald, also was wounded in what he later told investigators was a ritualistic, Manson Family-style home invasion.
- 12/2/2016
- TVLine.com
Accused murderer Robert Durst will be getting the Lifetime treatment in a new scripted film, TheWrap has learned. The untitled drama will be adapted from the book “A Deadly Secret: The Bizarre and Chilling Story of Robert Durst” by Matt Birkbeck, and will be told through the eyes of Durst’s first wife and alleged victim, Kathleen. Bettina Gilois is writing the adaptation, which is described as being in early development, while Linda Berman is producing with Lincoln Square, A+E Studios and Lifetime. Also Read: Robert Durst Gets 7-Year Prison Sentence in Plea Deal Durst garnered notoriety after HBO documentary “The Jinx” became a.
- 8/23/2016
- by Linda Ge
- The Wrap
Lifetime is getting into the Robert Durst business. A TV movie about the alleged murderer is in the works at the cable channel, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. In the early stages of development, the untitled project tells the story of Durst through the eyes and relationship of his wife, Kathie Durst, who was allegedly one of his murder victims. Lifetime has optioned Matt Birkbeck's A Deadly Secret: The Bizarre and Chilling Story of Robert Durst as source material for the script, which will be penned by Bettina Gilois (Bessie). Linda Berman is producing the film with Lincoln Square, A+E Studios and
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- 8/23/2016
- by Kate Stanhope
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: Lifetime is developing an untitled movie about real estate magnate Robert Durst, subject of HBO’s The Jinx, who’s serving a seven-year prison sentence in Louisiana for weapons possession. The network has optioned Matt Birkbeck’s book A Deadly Secret: The Bizarre and Chilling Story of Robert Durst, for use as source material for the script, which will be penned by Emmy-nominated Bessie scribe Bettina Gilois. Linda Berman is producing via ABC News’ Lincoln Square…...
- 8/23/2016
- Deadline TV
ABC News’ Lincoln Square Prods. has made another step toward establishing itself as a scripted-series player with the appointment of Linda Berman as Director, Scripted Content. This is the first time ABC News’ in-house production company has had a dedicated scripted executive, and she is believed the first such exec for a network news division. Lincoln Square Prods.’ first major foray into scripted was with the ABC Cold War spy limited series The Assets, which was pulled…...
- 12/4/2015
- Deadline TV
Here’s some intel you can take to the bank: ABC will air its Bernie Madoff miniseries Madoff on February 3 and 4 at 8/7c, the network announced Thursday.
The two-part event will follow the rise and crash of Madoff, played by Richard Dreyfuss (Close Encounters of the Third Kind), whose $65 billion Ponzi scheme was one of the largest financial scams in United States history.
RelatedJada Pinkett Smith Crime Drama (From Castle Scribe) Gets ABC Pilot Order
Per the official logline: “The miniseries explores the complicated family dynamics within the Madoff clan and exposes the motivations and mechanics behind the monumental fraud.
The two-part event will follow the rise and crash of Madoff, played by Richard Dreyfuss (Close Encounters of the Third Kind), whose $65 billion Ponzi scheme was one of the largest financial scams in United States history.
RelatedJada Pinkett Smith Crime Drama (From Castle Scribe) Gets ABC Pilot Order
Per the official logline: “The miniseries explores the complicated family dynamics within the Madoff clan and exposes the motivations and mechanics behind the monumental fraud.
- 11/12/2015
- TVLine.com
ABC's Bernie Madoff scandal drama is filling out its cast. Blythe Danner has been tapped to co-star opposite Richard Dreyfuss in the multiple-episode drama inspired by chief investigative correspondent Brian Ross' book The Madoff Chronicles: Inside the Secret World of Bernie and Ruth, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. Also joining the cast are Frank Whaley, Erin Cummings and Tom Lipinski, with Raymond De Felitta (City Island) now set to direct the drama, which is being written by Ben Robbins (The First 48). Linda Berman (Heat Wave, The Assets) and Joe Pichirallo (Hollywoodland) are on board to executive produce Madoff for ABC. The drama is
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- 6/8/2015
- by Lesley Goldberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: Real-life couple Anne Heche and James Tupper are set to star in the Lifetime original movie Girl Fight, their first on-screen pairing since the ABC dramedy series Men In Trees on which they met. Inspired by the true story of Florida cheerleader Victoria Lindsay, Girl Fight recounts the harrowing story of Tori Lindsay, a 16-year-old, stellar high school student whose life spirals downward when her "friends" brutally beat her up and then upload a video of the attack onto the Internet. Heche and Tupper will play the girl's parents. David Craig (Flight 93), Linda Berman (Buffalo Dreams) and Rocky Lang (White Squall) are executive producing the movie, which was written by Benita Garvin and Teena Booth.
- 6/3/2011
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
Disney Channel has greenlighted a new live-action series and two movies. Beginning production this summer and scheduled for 2005, The Suite Life stars identical twins Dylan and Cole Sprouse (Friends) as 11-year-olds who get to live in a swanky Boston hotel. Danny Kallis and Irene Dreayer (Smart Guy) are executive producers with Jim Geoghan (Family Matters) as co-executive producer. Starting production next month are original films Buffalo Dreams, about boys living on a Navajo reservation, and World's Greatest Kid Magician, which is set inside a reality TV show. Both scheduled to air in 2005, Buffalo is from Salty Pictures with executive producers John Cosgrove, Terry Meurer and Linda Berman (Yesterday's Children), and Magician is from Evolution Film & Tape (Big Brother) with Douglas Ross as executive producer.
- 7/25/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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