Lifetime‘s upcoming Gloria Gaynor biopic has found its lead stars in Joaquina Kalukango and Lance Gross.
In Robin Roberts Presents I Will Survive: The Gloria Gaynor Story, Kalukango will play the music legend while Gross will play her husband, Linwood Simon.
Gaynor is also writing and recording an original song for the authorized biopic, which will cover her 50-year career in the industry.
Here’s the official description of the film:
The film chronicles Gaynor’s rise to fame, from her humble beginnings to becoming one of the most iconic voices in music history. Dubbed America’s “Queen of Disco,” the movie will feature many of the songs that catapulted Gaynor to the top of the charts, including her legendary hit “I Will Survive,” which became a cultural phenomenon and a powerful anthem of empowerment for millions worldwide. The biopic will also delve into the deeply personal challenges Gaynor faced, including overcoming her long and tumultuous marriage to a controlling husband.
Under the Robin Roberts Presents banner and Roberts’ Rock’n Robin Productions, it reunites Roberts and Kalukango, as the latter starred in Lifetime’s Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia.
Robin Roberts Presents I Will Survive: The Gloria Gaynor Story will debut on Lifetime as part of the network’s Voices of a Lifetime, slate which includes the previously announced Mary J. Blige’s Family Affair and Can You Feel the Beat: The Lisa Lisa Story.
Linda Berman, and Gloria Gaynor also executive produce the film, and Betsy Schechter is co-producer. Alicia K. Harris directs from a script written by Njeri Brown and Jane Espenson.
Other Robin Roberts Presents lifetime films have included
The other films produced for Lifetime under the Robin Roberts Presents banner include Stolen By My Mother: The Kamiyah Mobley Story and Mahalia, starring Danielle Brooks. The latter received award nominations at the Emmys and Critics Choice Awards.