Joaquina Kalukango and Lance Gross Set to Star in Lifetime’s “Robin Roberts Presents I Will Survive: The Gloria Gaynor Story”

Tony Award® winner Joaquina Kalukango is set to star as two-time Grammy Award® winning singer, songwriter, and music legend Gloria Gaynor with Lance Gross (Tyler Perry’s House of Payne) starring as Gloria’s husband Linwood Simon in Robin Roberts Presents I Will Survive: The Gloria Gaynor Story. Gloria Gaynor, who executive produces will also write and record an original song for the authorized biopic which spans her 50-year career in the music business. A Rock’n Robin Production, the film reunites executive producer Roberts with Kalukango who also starred in Roberts’ Emmy Award® nominated movie music biopic, Mahalia. I Will Survive will air in 2025 as part of the network’s Voices of a Lifetime slate which includes previously announced movies Mary J. Blige’s Family Affair and Can You Feel the Beat: The Lisa Lisa Story.

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.

In line with Lifetime’s Broader Focus initiative, Robin Roberts Presents I Will Survive: The Gloria Gaynor Story is helmed by women in key roles and produced by Rock’n Robin Productions with Robin Roberts, Linda Berman, and Gloria Gaynor as executive producers. Betsy Schechter is co-producer. Alicia K. Harris directs from a script written by Njeri Brown and Jane Espenson.

The other films produced for Lifetime under the Robin Roberts Presents banner include Stolen By My Mother: The Kamiyah Mobley Story starring Niecy Nash and Mahalia, starring Danielle Brooks. Mahalia went on to receive numerous award accolades including an Emmy nomination, Critics Choice nominations for the movie and Brooks, NAACP award recognition for the film, Brooks and director Kenny Leon of which he won, a PGA nomination, and many others.