Grammy® and Emmy® award-winning and Oscar®-nominated artist, producer, actress, and entrepreneur Mary J. Blige returns to Lifetime to executive produce several new original movies — the first of which is set to debut 2025 as part of the network’s latest Voices of a Lifetime movie slate. Inspired by Mary J. Blige’s best-selling hit Family Affair, the film continues Kendra and Ben’s epic love story from Lifetime’s 2023 fan favorite’s movies Mary J. Blige’s Real Love and Mary J. Blige’s Strength of a Woman. Mary J. Blige’s Family Affair (wt) starts production this month with Ajiona Alexus (BMF, Acrimony,13 Reasons Why) and Da’Vinchi (BMF) returning to reprise their roles as Kendra and Ben in the third installment of their story.
The love story of Kendra (Ajiona Alexus) and Ben (Da’Vinchi) began when 18-year-old Kendra set off on her own for the first time at an HBCU where she found herself falling hard for Ben. After discovering the meaning of “real love” and then leaving Ben behind to pursue her dreams Kendra becomes a successful photographer. When Ben unexpectedly comes back into her life, she is forced to a crisis point and must dig deep to find her “strength” and accept Ben’s love.
Mary J. Blige’s Family Affair (wt) picks up as Kendra and Ben move out of the city in hopes of finally building a life together. With all their family around and inserted in their lives, tensions rise as they struggle with fertility issues and Kendra tries to find her footing with Ben’s son Miles. Their relationship reaches a boiling point when Ben secretly helps his brother, Kendra returns to the city and an old friend comes back into her life. The family must come together to help Kendra and Ben save their relationship and stay true to their real love.
Executive producers Jordan Davis and John Davis of Davis Entertainment return to helm Mary J. Blige’s Family Affair (wt). Jordan recently produced The Wine Down with Mary J. Blige, featuring Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson and Taraji P. Henson Jordan’s known for producing Lifetime’s highly-rated film, Love You to Death, inspired by the story of Gypsy Rose Blanchard. Jordan also produces on Netflix’s Uglies, starring Joey King and Laverne Cox and directed by McG, and one of the top 5 most watched films on the platform this week. Veteran film, television, and award-winning producer John is known for more than 130 top grossing feature films including Jungle Cruise, Dolemite Is My Name, Game Night, and the Emmy Award-nominated Prey; as well as the upcoming Flight Risk for Lionsgate, starring Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Dockery, and Topher Grace.
Mary J. Blige also serves as an executive producer through her own production banner, Blue Butterfly along with Bruce Miller and Milana Edwards-Brooks as co-producers. In June 2023 Mary J. Blige’s Real Love and Mary J. Blige’s Strength of a Woman captivated Lifetime viewers reaching more than 6.4 million Total Viewers1 and both movies ranked as cable’s #1 entertainment telecasts two Saturdays in a row with women 25-54.2 Mary’s proven track record of resonating with Lifetime’s audiences, also includes her work executive producing Lifetime’s top-rated original movie of 2020, The Clark Sisters: The First Ladies of Gospel –alongside fellow EPs Queen Latifah and Missy Elliott- and the movie reached more than 13.9 million Total Viewers3 and was 2020’s #1 original movie on cable.4 Blige also starred as Dr. Betty Shabazz in the Lifetime civil rights biopic Betty & Coretta, with Angela Bassett.
In addition, Mary J. Blige’s Family Affair (wt) is executive produced by Ajiona Alexus and Da’Vinchi and is also produced by Front Street Pictures. Troy Scott directs from a script written by Rachel Ingram.
Da’Vinchi is represented by IAG, Artist Collective Entertainment and Attorney Samantha Wainaina.
1. Source: Nielsen Live+7, 6/10/23-9/10/23, P2+ reach (000s), 1+ min qualifier, Total Day M-Sun 6a-6a, 19 premiere and encore telecasts on LIFE and LMN
2. Source: Nielsen, Live+SD, Women 25-54 (000s), Sat 6/10/23 and Sat 6/17/23, telecast rank among all cable networks (excludes news/sports)
3. Source: Nielsen Live+7, 4/11/20-7/10/20, P2+ reach (000s), 1+ min qualifier, Total Day M-Sun 6a-6a, 15 telecasts on LIFE and LMN
4. Source: Nielsen Live+SD, (000s), A25-54, W25-54, A18-49, W18-49, 2020 Calendar Year =12/30/19-12/27/20, Original Movies Only (Excludes all theatricals and acquired movies on all nets, excludes mini-series)
