Mary J. Blige Extends Partnership With Lifetime for Three New Films, Including ‘Be Happy’ Starring Tisha Campbell and Mekhi Phifer

Mary J. Blige has extended her partnership with Lifetime for three new original films, including the first “Mary J. Blige Presents Be Happy” directed by Gabourey Sidibe.

via: Deadline

Mary J. Blige is expanding her relationship with Lifetime with a three-picture deal to include three original films inspired by her music. Her first project has been set as Mary J. Blige Presents Be Happy, titled after her song of the same name, released in 1994 as part of her smash hit second studio album “My Life.”

Be Happy will be directed by Gabourey Sidibe (Precious, Give Me Back My Daughter) in her directorial debut, and will star Tisha Campbell (Martin), Mekhi Phifer (ER), and Russell Hornsby (BMF).

The movie follows 50-year-old Val (Campbell), a devoted wife and stay-at-home mom, who is eager to reignite the spark in her marriage when her youngest child leaves for college. Grappling with empty-nest feelings, loneliness, and growing emotional distance from her husband Ross (Hornsby), Val begins to realize that her marriage and the woman she once was may be slipping away.

A spontaneous escape to New Orleans to support her pregnant daughter, Kayla (Zing Ashford), awakens long-buried dreams and passions and introduces her to Peter Mosley (Phifer), a handsome and charismatic photographer who sees her in ways she has forgotten to see herself. Reawakening her artistic spirit and rediscovering her worth, Val must face a life-altering question: Is it ever too late to choose yourself and the love you truly deserve?

Prior song titles Blige has adapted for a TV movie at Lifetime include “Real Love,” “Strength of a Woman,” and “Family Affair.” The network touts that the three prior projects “collectively reached more than 6.1 million Total Viewers on linear,” as per Nielsen.

Mary J. Blige Presents Be Happy is produced by Blige’s Blue Butterfly Productions, Monami Productions, Motion Entertainment and Swirl Films for Lifetime. Through her production company, Blige serves as executive producer, joined by Bruce Miller and Milana Edwards Brooks as co-producers. Mona Scott-Young and Angela White serve as producers, and Nick Roses, Mychael G. Chinn, Stephanie R. Gayle, and Michael Lang serve as executive producers for Monami Productions. Chet Fenster executive produces for Motion Entertainment, a WPP Media Company, while Eric Tomosunas executive produces for Swirl Films. Gabourey Sidibe directs from a script written by Cameron J. Ross.