The True to the Game franchise is heading to television. Manny Halley is adapting the film trilogy into a series based on Terri Woods’ New York Times best-selling novels, with Vivica A. Fox returning to her role as Shoog and stepping behind the camera to direct episodes.
Joining Fox in the series are Carl Anthony Payne II, Sierra Capri (Young. Wild. Free), Bentley Green (White Men Can’t Jump), and Angell Conwell (The Young and the Restless).
The Story
True to the Game follows Gena, a young woman who falls in love with Quadir, a calculated kingpin ready to leave the streets behind for love. Their relationship sets off a chain of events that tests loyalty, trust, and survival — showing that in the world of power and betrayal, walking away is never simple.
Behind the Camera
Cas Sigers-Beedles is writing the series, with directing duties split between Fox, Preston A. Whitmore II (director of the first film), Jamal Hill (True to the Game 2), David Wolfgang (True to the Game 3), Salvatore Sclafani, and D’Angela Steed. Production begins this fall in Los Angeles, with the series currently being shopped to distributors.
Executive producer Manny Halley said the move to TV will give the story room to expand:
“Extending the True to the Game franchise via episodic storytelling allows us to really go deep into the world and characters created by Terri Woods and enjoyed by millions around the world. These are charismatic and complex characters that audiences really want to spend time with and explore in authentic ways. We have a collective vision for how this series plays out that services the appetite for lovers of the franchise as well as those who will be discovering the story for the first time.”
The Legacy
The first film debuted in 2017 with Columbus Short, Erica Peeples, Vivica A. Fox, Andra Fuller, Jeremy Meeks, and Malcolm David Kelley. Two sequels followed — True to the Game 2 (2020), directed by Jamal Hill, and True to the Game 3 (2021), directed by David Wolfgang. All three were produced by Halley’s Imani Media Group and distributed through Faith Media Distribution with limited theatrical runs before building a strong following on streaming and cable.
While Fox and new cast members are confirmed, it’s not yet clear whether other franchise leads like Columbus Short and Erica Peeples will return for the TV adaptation.