Mary J. Blige is set to release two new original movies inspired by two of Mary J Blige’s songs. The movies, titled Mary J. Blige’s Real Love and Mary J. Blige’s Strength of a Woman, will premiere on back-to-back Saturdays, beginning June 10 at 8 p.m. EST. The films will be headlined by Ajiona Alexus and Da’Vinchi, with a cast that includes Princess Davis, Austin Anozie, Millan Tesfazgi, Shiraine Haas, Garfield Wilson, and Hamza Fouad.
Mary J. Blige’s Real Love follows the story of 18-year-old Kendra (Alexus) as she navigates college life at an HBCU in North Carolina. Despite facing disapproving parents, financial hardship, and an unexpected pregnancy, Kendra and her photo class partner Ben (Da’Vinchi) find themselves falling in love and learning the meaning of “Real Love.”
The story continues in Mary J. Blige’s Strength of a Woman, as Kendra, now a successful photographer, must confront the decisions she made for the life she thought she wanted when Ben unexpectedly comes back into her life.
Lifetime, the network airing the films, has partnered with the Take Back The Night Foundation to support survivors of sexual violence and abuse. Executive producers for the movies are John Davis and Jordan Davis of Davis Entertainment, along with Mary J. Blige, who is also an executive producer through her production banner, Blue Butterfly. Camrus Johnson directs Mary J. Blige’s Real Love, and Shari Lynette Carpenter directs Mary J. Blige’s Strength of a Woman.
Mary J. Blige has a proven track record of resonating with Lifetime’s audiences, having previously executive produced the network’s top-rated original movie of 2020, The Clark Sisters: The First Ladies of Gospel, which reached over 13.9 million viewers. The singer and actress also starred as Dr. Betty Shabazz in her first movie role in the Lifetime civil rights biopic Betty & Coretta, alongside Angela Bassett.
Mary J. Blige’s Real Love and Mary J. Blige’s Strength of a Woman are produced by Front Street Pictures and distributed by Sony Pictures Television. With a cast of rising stars and an acclaimed team behind the camera, the movies promise to be a must-see event for fans of Mary J. Blige and Lifetime’s original films.