Wicked City star Shaquita Smith has signed on to lead Janice Doe, a psychological thriller from Mann Robinson Studios. The film will be directed by the studio’s founder, filmmaker Mann Robinson.
Janice Doe follows Nissassa Live, a woman whose life spirals into chaos after a series of violent events lead to a court-ordered psychiatric evaluation. Robinson describes the project as exploring “the fine line between sanity and delusion, guilt and survival.”
Production is scheduled to begin in Atlanta, Georgia, during the first quarter of 2026, with a theatrical release planned for late 2026 or early 2027. Mann Robinson Studios will executive produce alongside Smith, with additional casting currently underway.
Shaquita Smith currently stars as Jordan Davis in AMC’s Wicked City. A graduate of Alabama State University, her credits include My Valentine’s Crush and its follow-up My Valentine’s Wedding, where she starred opposite Travis Cure (The Oval). She’s also appeared in Gravesend, Safe Word, Driving Force, and Push, and has guest-starred on New Amsterdam, NCIS: New Orleans, and Survivor’s Remorse.
Beyond acting, Smith continues to build her producing portfolio. She’s set to executive produce and star in the upcoming indie adventure drama Voyage of the Forgotten, which follows a young historian who embarks on a treacherous journey to find a legendary gallery ship rumored to be filled with gold—only to be caught in a web of deception and betrayal.
Mann Robinson, founder of Mann Robinson Studios, is a writer, director, and producer known for Broad Day, Walk with Me, R. Kelly’s Karma: A Daughter’s Journey, and Super Turnt, among others. Based in Atlanta, his studio focuses on developing and producing independent films that amplify diverse voices and stories across multiple genres.