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| Left to Right: Robin Roberts, Ginnifer Goodwin and Angela Fairley, TD Jakes |
Lifetime, the #1 cable network has announced its upcoming slate of programs during TCA. As part of the expansion, Lifetime signs a major production deal with one of the most trusted names in news, Robin Roberts, for a series of movies and documentaries under the banner, Robin Roberts Presents to debut next year.
Additionally, the network is in development on several book franchises, including the previously announced Jane Green three picture deal. The first movie, Tempting Fate, stars Alyssa Milano and is directed by Kim Raver and Manu Boyer, who also executive produce the trio of films.
Other books being made into Lifetime Original Movies include the Seven Deadly Sins anthology by Victoria Christopher Murray. Lifetime has re-teamed with T.D. Jakes and has commissioned the first three books – Lust, Envy and Greed – to debut next year. V.C. Andrews’ beloved novels also join Lifetime’s 2019 lineup, with five book series about the twisted relationships of the Casteel Family being turned into movies. The first of the movies, V.C. Andrews’ Heaven, stars Annalise Basso, Julie Benz, Chris William Martin, and Chris McNally.
MOVIES
ROBIN ROBERTS PRESENTS
Robin Roberts will executive produce a series of movies and documentaries for Lifetime under the banner, Robin Roberts Presents. Based on true events, the movies and documentaries will explore stories that inspire and educate audiences. The first of these projects will focus on African American Gospel singer Mahalia Jackson whose inspirational music and unwavering faith were a great support for Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement. Robin Roberts executive produces the movie alongside Linda Berman of Lincoln Square Productions. The script is written by Bettina Gilois.
The second project focuses on the true story of Alexis Manigo, who at age 18, discovers her real name is Kamiyah Mobley and that she had been abducted as a baby from a Jacksonville, Florida hospital. Robin Roberts executive produces alongside Linda Berman of Lincoln Square Productions, Gary Randall, Michele Samit and Richard Kletter. Samit and Kletter also serve as writers for the script.
Each movie will be followed by a companion documentary, featuring some of the real-life characters depicted in the films. The docs will be executive produced by Robin Roberts and John R. Green as a production collaboration between Rock’n Robin and Lincoln Square Productions for Lifetime.
SEVEN DEADLY SINS
Lifetime re-teams with producer Bishop T.D. Jakes (Faith Under Fire) for an anthology series Seven Deadly Sins, based on the book series by Victoria Christopher Murray. Three movies – Lust, Envy, and Greed – have been commissioned for production to debut next year. The movies are executive produced by T.D. Jakes, Derrick Williams and Shaun Robinson.
LUST – Tiffanie is about to have the wedding of her dreams to her soul mate, the dashing Damon King. But when Damon’s old friend Trey arrives, Tiffanie’s whole world gets rocked. Sexy and mysterious, Trey triggers a passion in Tiffanie that she never expected, and suddenly the life she’s always planned with Damon is uncertain. But Trey still carries wounds from his history with Damon, and his intentions toward both Tiffanie and Damon are not to be trusted.
ENVY – Gabrielle has it all – a devoted husband, a beautiful daughter, and one of the best PR firms in the country. When Gabrielle’s father suddenly reveals she has a half-sister, Keisha, as a result of a brief affair, only-child Gabrielle is delighted to welcome her into her life. But Keisha, who grew up with nothing, wants more than a sisterly bond from Gabrielle—she wants her life, and is willing to do whatever it takes to get it.
GREED – Zuri always felt that she deserved more: a better job, more money, fancy clothes, designer handbags, among other things. What she did have is an amazing boyfriend, local artist Stephon, who is struggling to break through with his art. A chance meeting leads Zuri to be courted professionally by a number of powerful men who offer tantalizing glimpses of the life she thinks she should have, but each requires small compromises that start to undermine Zuri’s relationships with the people she loves. Ultimately, Zuri’s greed draws her into a web of deceit, with consequences she never could have imagined.
V.C. ANDREWS’ HEAVEN
Lifetime is in development on five new movies based on the Casteel Family from the Casteel series from prolific writer, V.C. Andrews. The first of the movies, V.C. Andrews’ Heaven, to be broadcast by Lifetime, stars Annalise Basso, Julie Benz, Chris William Martin, and Chris McNally. Of all the poor people living in the foothills of the mountains of West Virginia, the Casteel’s were considered the lowest. Yet, the eldest daughter, Heaven Leigh Casteel (Basso), was still the prettiest and smartest girl in the backwoods, despite her ragged clothes. Heaven encouraged her four younger siblings to cling to their pride and hope for a day that they’d escape their poverty. But when Heaven’s stepmother Sarah runs away, Heaven’s greedy, selfish father Luke (Martin) develops a scheme to make money…sell his children off one by one. Heaven is sent to live in the home of Luke’s deranged ex-lover, Kitty (Benz). There, Heaven is subjected to more torment, but finds solace in the arms of her stepfather Cal (McNally), as they begin a taboo relationship while Heaven fights to reunite her siblings.
V.C. Andrews’ Heaven is produced by Front Street Pictures. Executive producers are Harvey Kahn, Dan Angel, Jane Startz, Tom Mazza, Juliet Smith, and Marnie Termuende. Scarlett Lacey wrote the script for V.C. Andrews’ Heaven, directed by Paul Shapiro.
SOMEBODY’S SOMEONE: THE REGINA LOUISE STORY
Somebody’s Someone is based on a memoir about Regina Louise (newcomer Angela Fairley), a young African-American girl who navigated over 30 foster homes and psychiatric facilities before age 18, and the one woman, Jeanne (Ginnifer Goodwin), who believed in her. After Jeanne’s unsuccessful attempt to adopt Regina due to a racially motivated ruling, their bond is forced apart. Somebody’s Someone is Regina’s story of how one woman’s belief and love becomes her lifeline as she defeated the odds of a corrupt system and succeeded. After 25 years, Jeanne is finally able to adopt Regina in the same courthouse that denied them previously. Somebody’s Someone also stars Monique Coleman, Sherri Saum and Kim Hawthorne. Howard Braunstein, Ginnifer Goodwin and Yvonne Chotzen executive produce the movie. Co-executive producers are Andrea Buchanan and Regina Louise-Taylor. Janice Cooke directed from a teleplay by Camille Thomasson, based on the book by Regina Louise-Taylor.
BE ME BE FREE
As part of Lifetime’s pro-social programming legacy, the network is partnering with the Be Me Be Free anxiety empowerment campaign, founded by Darryl Roberts, to encourage people to share their own stories of anxiety in an effort to help others feel more connected and not alone in their feelings. Beginning September 5th, personal stories can be submitted from anyone ages 12- 24, to the site, BeMeBeFree.org, through October 5th. Of the submissions, a world-class judging panel led by renowned therapist Carolyn Costin will select the 20 best story entrants and submit them to Lifetime to choose one winning story to be made into a Lifetime movie to air in 2019.
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the US, affecting 40 million adults and according to the National Institute of Mental Health, 30% of teenage girls (12-17) and 20% of teenage boys (12-17) have had an anxiety disorder and 62 percent of college students suffer from “overwhelming anxiety.”
SCRIPTED SERIES
YOU
Season One Premieres September 9 at 10pm ET/PT
Season Two Ordered – Production Set to Begin Later This Year in Los Angeles
In Season One, we met Joe Goldberg, the ultimate romantic, a man willing to cross any line in pursuit of true love. In Season Two, Joe ventures into even riskier, bolder territory as his quest takes him across the country from New York to Los Angeles. Now, he must face the darkest parts of his past as he tries to make a future for himself and the woman he loves.
Greg Berlanti, Sera Gamble, Sarah Schechter, Leslie Morgenstein, Gina Girolamo, and Marcos Siega serve as executive producers. Based on Caroline Kepnes’ best-selling novel of the same name, YOU is from Berlanti Productions, Man Sewing Dinosaur, and Alloy Entertainment in association with Warner Horizon Scripted Television and A+E Studios.
UNSCRIPTED SERIES
MARRIED AT FIRST SIGHT: HONEYMOON ISLAND – Premieres Fall 2018
Married at First Sight has successfully created several long-lasting marriages (and babies!) throughout the past six seasons, however some couples were not as lucky in love. In Married at First Sight: Honeymoon Island, past Married at First Sight participants get a second chance at finding their soulmate. A group of 20 participants – fan favorites and unmatched candidates from previous seasons as well as other new singles – will be invited to an island for the opportunity to make connections with each other and work on falling in love. At the end of their stay, couples must decide whether they want to get married or part ways.
Eight one-hour episodes of Married at First Sight: Honeymoon Island have been greenlit by Lifetime. The series is produced by Kinetic Content (a Red Arrow Studios company). Executive producers are Chris Coelen, Eric Detwiler, Cat Rodriguez and Ally Simpson from Kinetic Content and Gena McCarthy from Lifetime.
MARRIED AT FIRST SIGHT: HAPPILY EVER AFTER – Premieres Fall 2018
Throughout the history of Married at First Sight, several relationships have withstood the ultimate commitment under the most unusual circumstances. Married at First Sight: Happily Ever After follows three couples from past seasons who have decided to stay married beyond the experiment, chronicling the daily milestones of married life – the good, the bad, and the ugly. Shawniece and Jephte, from season six, will be among the couples featured in the series, highlighting the couple’s emotional journey to becoming parents to their first child together.
Eight one-hour episodes of Married at First Sight: Happily Ever After have been greenlit by Lifetime. The series is produced by Kinetic Content (a Red Arrow Studios company). Executive producers are Chris Coelen, Eric Detwiler, Alex Cross and Ally Simpson from Kinetic Content. Gena McCarthy and Shura Davidson executive produce for Lifetime.
LIVE PD PRESENTS: WOMEN ON PATROL
20 Additional Episodes Ordered – Mondays, at 9pm ET/PT
As the anchor for Justice for Women with Gretchen Carlson’s Monday night programming block, Lifetime orders an additional 20 episodes of the series, making the season a total of 40 episodes. From Big Fish Entertainment, LIVE PD Presents: Women on Patrol follows female officers featured in Live PD and several new cities. Narrated by Carlson, viewers are provided an unfiltered and unfettered look at the female officers on the frontline of some of the busiest police forces in the country as they patrol their communities. Police departments from a diverse mix of cities throughout the United States are featured in the series. Dan Cesareo, Lucilla D’Agostino, Joe Venafro and Rick Hankey serve and executive producers for Big Fish Entertainment. Brie Miranda Bryant and Juliet Barrack serve as executive producers for Lifetime.
