OCTET Productions’ holiday romance A Christmas Destiny premieres today, November 1, on STARZ, starring Karen Obilom and Derrick A. King. Directed by Chazitear, who also co-wrote the script with Bree West, the film previously carried the working title A Kismet Holiday before earning the 2024 ESSENCE Film Festival Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature.
The film follows Serena Green, a successful photographer played by Obilom, and Jarrod Hardly, a musician and teacher played by King, who share an unforgettable Christmas Eve together in Washington, D.C., before losing touch. Five years later, fate brings them face-to-face again at Serena’s sister’s holiday party, right as Serena is quietly navigating a broken engagement and Jarrod is on the verge of proposing to someone else. What follows is a holiday romance built around family dynamics, humor, and the question of whether the right person can still find their way back to each other, even after everything else has changed.
The ensemble cast includes Kym Whitley, Lamman Rucker, Joyful Drake, Grammy-nominated recording artist Elle Varner, Asiahn, Rhonda Morman, Javon Johnson, and Angelo Diaz. Filmed on location in Washington, D.C., the production leans into the city’s neighborhoods, architecture, and holiday atmosphere as a backdrop for the story.
Obilom shared her excitement for audiences to finally see the film, calling it “beautiful” and “award-winning.” She’s also having a full 2026, appearing in Tyler Perry’s Netflix drama Doing Life as Trina alongside Naomi Baker, Jay Reeves, and Danielle Moné Truitt, in addition to her work on Chicago P.D. King, meanwhile, most recently starred in Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married Again?, putting both leads in separate Perry projects within the same stretch of the year, a nice bit of overlap heading into this holiday release together.
A Christmas Destiny is produced and executive produced by Chuck West and Bree West of OCTET Productions, with Chazitear also serving as co-producer alongside Terayle Hill. Lamman Rucker, Aaron Lewis, Scott Midgett, and Dolapo Erinkitola serve as co-executive producers. OCTET’s other credits include BET’s A Wesley Christmas franchise and the ALLBLK drama series Hush.
A Christmas Destiny is streaming now on STARZ, just in time to kick off the holiday season.