The ensemble cast for Tyler Perry and DeVon Franklin’s upcoming faith-based film R&B is now confirmed.
Phylicia Rashad (The Gilded Age), Serayah (Kingdom Business), and Tyler Lepley (Harlem) will lead the project, which is a modern-day retelling of the biblical love story of Ruth and Boaz. Directed by Alanna Brown (Trees of Peace), the film will debut as part of Perry and Franklin’s multi-year faith-based collaboration with Netflix.
Set in Tennessee, R&B tells the story of a young woman who leaves behind Atlanta’s bustling music scene to care for an elderly widow. Along the way, she finds the love of her life and forms a deep maternal connection she had always longed for.
Joining the leading cast are Walnette Santiago (“Doom Patrol,” “BMF”), Nijah Brenea (Kold x Windy), James Lee Thomas (“One Spoon of Chocolate,” “Bad Boys: Ride or Die”), and legendary musicians Kenneth ‘Babyface’ Edmonds, Jermaine Dupri, and Lecrae Moore.
The script was written by Michael Elliot (“Brown Sugar”) and Cory Tynan (“Play’d”). The film will be produced by Franklin and Perry, with Angi Bones, Tony L. Strickland, and Bart Lipton serving as executive producers.
The casting news follows the announcement of Perry and Franklin’s expanded faith-based partnership with Netflix, a deal that was solidified in May 2024. This agreement builds on Perry’s initial first-look film deal with Netflix, signed in October 2023, and expands it to include both film and television projects—scripted and unscripted.
Under this multi-year, multi-picture deal, Perry and Franklin will produce faith-driven films under the Tyler Perry Studios banner. Their collaboration is focused on creating content that inspires and uplifts, with R&B being the first project to roll out. Franklin shared his excitement about the partnership, stating, “Tyler and I have been great friends for over 15 years. 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.”
Tyler Perry echoed the sentiment, saying, “I’m thrilled to be working with DeVon on this and future projects. In today’s polarizing world, we both feel a strong responsibility to spread some good, and Netflix is the perfect place to do that.”
Netflix’s Vice President of Film, Niija Kuykendall, praised both Perry and Franklin’s longstanding success in delivering compelling, faith-based stories. She emphasized how this partnership aligns with Netflix’s broader goal of offering diverse, meaningful narratives to their global audience.
Beyond R&B, Perry has other Netflix projects in the pipeline, including the highly anticipated film Six Triple Eight, starring Kerry Washington, and the drama series Beauty in Black. Franklin, who has produced films like Flamin’ Hot and Miracles From Heaven, continues to make strides in the inspirational film genre.
This collaboration not only highlights Netflix’s ongoing strategy of working with powerhouse talents like Perry and Franklin but also strengthens its commitment to producing faith-based content that resonates with audiences worldwide. With R&B leading the charge, viewers can expect more inspirational stories that blend culture, faith, and heart.