Earlier this year, BET announced that they would be following up their mega-hit The New Edition Story up with a Bobby Brown-centric miniseries aptly titled, The Bobby Brown Story.
Woody McClain, who portrayed Brown in The New Edition Story, is returning in the role.
Unlike the first miniseries, The Bobby Brown Story will just consist of two hours, not three. The series is written by Abdul Williams and EP’d by Jesse Williams.
Here’s the description: The Bobby Brown Story will pick up where the New Edition mini left off. It will chronicle the talented but troubled singer’s exit from the popular ’80s boy band through his solo success, his affair with Janet Jackson and tabloid-fodder marriage to pop icon Whitney Houston. Spanning 30 years of Brown’s life, the new project follows his story from the hard streets of Roxbury, where he turned to a life of drug dealing before being given the chance to prove himself as a solo artist.
Casting is underway for the other major roles in the film, including Whitney Houston, Bobbi Kristina Brown, Janet Jackson, Teddy Riley, L.A. Reid, Babyface and others.
It is unknown if Tyler Marcel Williams, who portrayed a Young Bobby in The New Edition Story, will also return.
The New Edition Story was a phenomenon, attracting 29 million total viewers to the miniseries during premiere week (including premiere telecasts and encores, across BET and Centric). On BET alone, the miniseries drew 15.7MM viewers 18-49 and 28.4MM total viewers P2+ in its full premiere week (Live + Same Day viewing). Premiere and finale episodes of the special each drew 2.5MM viewers P18-49, and 4.2MM total viewers P2+ on BET alone for premiere telecasts (Live +Same Day viewing). It also controlled the social media conversation as BET ranked as the #1 most social network on television all three nights (January 24th-26th). Additionally, the special was the #1 most social episode on both Facebook and Twitter all three nights – outranking all other TV programs including cable, syndication and sports