Mary J. Blige has extended her partnership with Lifetime with three new original films, including the first, Mary J. Blige Presents Be Happy, directed by Gabourey Sidibe.
The singer and actress previously worked with Lifetime to develop several films based on her music, including 2023’s “Real Love,” “Family Affair” and “Strength of a Woman.” Her latest film, Be Happy, stars Tisha Campbell, Mekhi Phifer and Russell Hornsby and tells the story of Val (Campbell), a 50-year-old devoted wife and stay-at-home mom who tries to rekindle her marriage after her children go to college.
“Be Happy” is a collaboration with Mona Scott-Young of her Blue Butterfly Productions and Monami Productions, and is produced in association with Motion Entertainment and Swirl Films. The film is scheduled to debut on Lifetime on February 7th as part of the movie Love of a Lifetime.
In addition to Be Happy and Family Affair, Blige was an executive producer on the 2020 film The Clark Sisters: The First Ladies of Gospel and previously starred as Dr. Betty Shabazz in the 2013 film Betty and Coretta.
Blige has been developing a portfolio in film and television with Blue Butterfly Productions since its founding in 2019, signing a first-look TV deal with Lionsgate Television in the same year and a first-look and second-look deal with BET in 2022. As part of the latter, she developed an unscripted talk show, “The Wine Down,” which airs in two episodes.
