Lionsgate is far from done with Tyler Perry clearly, adding another picture to their rebooted partnership; recall last fall, more than two years after they ended their relationship with Tyler Perry, Lionsgate jumped back into the Perry business for what was said to be at least another 2 films, in addition to the most recent “Boo! A Madea Halloween,” which was a box office hit for the studio (relative to budget).
The studio, reporting a loss of $17.5 million in its fiscal second quarter (in its November 2016 earnings report), missing Wall Street expectations and facing unhappy shareholders who had seen the company’s stock price drop 41 percent at the time last year, made the announcement that it had ordered 2 more films from Tyler Perry, whose strong brand has long been a steady performer for Lionsgate since they started doing business with him over a decade ago.
One of the 2 movies announced was another Madea-centered picture, which was no surprise, given how well the moderately budgeted “Boo!” performed – Perry’s best showing at the box office in 6 years. Also, as we’ve previously reported on this blog, Tyler Perry movies in which Madea is a central character tend to perform far better than Tyler Perry movies without Madea. We later learned that the movie would be a sequel to 2016’s “Boo! A Madea Halloween” and will be titled “Boo 2! A Madea Halloween,” to be released this fall.
We weren’t told what the second film would be.
Now we know.
Lionsgate has dated Tyler Perry’s “She’s Living My Life” for a March 30, 2018 release (Easter weekend), starring Taraji P. Henson. In addition, the studio has also dated Tyler Perry’s “A Madea Family Funeral” for August 3, 2018. A double-shot of Tyler Perry in 1 year; just like the *good* ole days. Welcome back Tyler Perry!
“She’s Living My Life” is summarized as a drama starring Taraji P. Henson who plays a faithful wife tired of standing by her devious husband who is enraged when it becomes clear that she has been betrayed. No other casting has been announced on this project. Although on Henson’s IMDBPro page, there’s a Tyler Perry produced feature titled “Acrimony” listed, written and directed by Rose Olivia Sharon, with Tika Sumpter and Danielle Nicolet co-starring, which is said to be in post-production currently. No word on whether it’s the same film. However, Perry is writing and directing “She’s Living My Life” so maybe they are 2 different projects entirely.
As for “A Madea Family Funeral,” the comedy will center on a family reunion that becomes a nightmare as Madea and her posse end up in backwoods Georgia, where they find themselves unexpectedly planning a funeral that might unveil certain family secrets.
As for what’s next in the Lionsgate/Tyler Perry partnership, “Boo 2! A Madea Halloween,” hits theaters on October 20.
Meanwhile, Henson has the hit-woman thriller “Proud Mary” on her slate, which opens 2 months before her next outing with Perry.
