Tyler Perry and DeVon Franklin (Miracles From Heaven) are getting into business with Netflix to make faith-based movies together.
The first film under their new partnership will be R&B, written by Mike Elliott (Brown Sugar) and Cory Tynan, and described as a modern-day retelling of the story of Ruth and Boaz, an iconic Biblical love story. Set in Tennessee, R&B follows a young woman who escapes the Atlanta music scene to care for an elderly widowed woman, only to the love of her life and gain the mother she never had.
Related Stories
The partnership between Tyler Perry Studios and Franklin comprises a multi-year and multi-picture first-look deal. “I’m so excited to be working with DeVon on this and future projects. I think in this polarizing world, and at a time where the world seems to be growing colder everyday, we both share the common goal of wanting to spread some good. And there’s no better place than Netflix,” Perry said in a statement.
Perry and Franklin will share producer credits as they align with Atlanta-based Tyler Perry Studios. The first-look deal also expands Perry and Netflix’s creative partnership that sees Perry write, direct and produce movies and TV series.
His upcoming projects with Netflix include The Six Triple Eight, starring an ensemble cast led by Kerry Washington, and the recently announced drama series Beauty in Black. The partnership also reflects a long friendship between Perry and Franklin.
“Tyler and I have been great friends for over 15 years, so when he called me to team up on movies that can uplift the human spirit, I jumped at the chance and we couldn’t have a better partner than Netflix to help us inspire the world,” Franklin said in his own statement.
Earlier, Netflix streamed Perry’s Mea Culpa, starring Kelly Rowland; A Jazzman’s Blues, which debuted in Toronto; and A Madea Homecoming, the 12th installment of the billion-dollar Madea franchise. Franklin’s latest projects include Flamin’ Hot, directed by Eva Longoria, and Miracles from Heaven, starring Jennifer Garner and Queen Latifah.
“We couldn’t be more excited to expand our relationship with Tyler Perry Studios. Tyler and DeVon have created some of the most inspiring movies in the faith-based space, so they are perfect partners to help us bring even more of these stories to our members,” Niija Kuykendall, vp of Netflix Film, said in a statement.
