Lifetime Inspires and Entertains This April with Five New Movie Premieres, Beginning Easter Weekend

Lifetime makes some revelations this spring with the debut of five all-new movies, kicking off with the biopic event, Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia, starring Grammy(R) Award winner Danielle Brooks, and premiering on Saturday, April 3, showcasing the life of gospel legend and civil rights activist Mahalia Jackson. Color of Love (wt), inspired by a powerful true foster care and adoption story, premieres on Easter Sunday, April 4, and stars Deborah Joy Winans. The following week, the first two cautionary Seven Deadly Sins Stories from executive producer T.D. Jakes – Lust starring Keri Hilson and Envy starring Serayah – will premiere on consecutive Saturdays, April 10 and April 17. The month-long movie fest closes out with Beware of the Midwife, about a mother’s desperate search to save her newborn baby, on Saturday, April 24. All movies will debut at 8PM/7c.

*please note new dates and times from previously announced information for Lust and Envy.

Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia
Premieres Saturday, April 3 at 8PM/7c
Starring Danielle Brooks, Joaquina Kalukango, Jason Dirden, Olivia Washington and Rob Demery

Born in New Orleans, Mahalia Jackson (Danielle Brooks) began singing at an early age and went on to become one of the most revered gospel figures in U.S. history, melding her music with the civil rights movement. Her recording of the song “Move on Up a Little Higher” sold millions of copies, skyrocketing her to international fame and gave her the opportunity to perform at diverse settings including in front of a racially integrated audience at the prestigious Carnegie Hall and at John F. Kennedy’s inaugural ball. An active supporter of the Civil Rights Movement, Jackson sang at numerous rallies, including the March on Washington in 1963 in hopes that her music would encourage and inspire racial equality.

From Rock’n Robin Productions and Lincoln Square Productions, Mahalia is executive produced by Robin Roberts and Linda Berman. Danielle Brooks and Kenny Leon are co-executive producers. Leon directs from a script written by Bettina Gilois and Todd Kreidler.

Color of Love (wt)
Premieres Sunday, April 4 at 8PM/7c
Starring Deborah Joy Winans and Michael Brown

Inspired by a true story, Color of Love (wt) follows Monica Henderson (Winans), an African American widow with two kids who has so much love to give, she often fosters children who need a home. When she finds out that Peter and Rachel, the white brother and sister she fostered twice before, fled from their latest foster home, she takes them in again. Fearing the kids are in danger of slipping through the cracks of a flawed system, she begins the process of adopting them. Despite Monica’s mother and her boyfriend Theo’s beliefs that Peter and Rachel may be better off with a white family, Monica’s love for the kids puts the question of what makes a family to the test.

Color of Love (wt) is produced by Reel One in association with Lifetime. Executive producers include Tamara Bass, Suzanne ChaPMan, Tom Berry and Barbara Fisher. Don McBrearty directs from a script by Tamara Bass.

Lust: A Seven Deadly Sins Story
Premieres Saturday, April 10 at 8PM/7c
Starring Keri Hilson, Tobias Truvillion, Durrell ‘Tank’ Babbs, LeToya Luckett, Clifton Powell and Ms. Juicy

The first of the Seven Deadly Sins book series, this movie is a grounded morality tale that explores the power of lust, but at what cost? Tiffanie Cooper (Keri Hilson) is about to have the wedding of her dreams to her soul mate, the dashing Damon King (Tobias Truvillion), founder of King Enterprises. But when Damon’s old friend Trey Taylor (Durrell ‘Tank’ Babbs) arrives, fresh from prison to step in as Damon’s best man, Tiffanie’s whole world gets rocked. Sexy and mysterious, Trey triggers a passion in Tiffanie that she never expected, and suddenly the life she’s always planned with Damon is uncertain. But Trey still carries wounds from his history with Damon, and his intentions toward both Tiffanie and Damon are not to be trusted.

Lust: A Deadly Sins Story is produced by TD Jakes Enterprises and Big Dreams Entertainment. T.D. Jakes, Derrick Williams, Leslie Greif and Shaun Robinson serve as executive producers and Star Victoria directs from a script written by Sonay Hoffman.

Envy: A Seven Deadly Sins Story
Premieres Saturday, April 17 at 8PM/7c
Starring Serayah, Rose Rollins, Kandi Burruss Donovan Christie Jr., Gregory Alan Williams, Da Brat, DC Young Fly, Clifton Powell and Hosea Chanchez

Gabrielle Flores (Rose Rollins) has it all – a devoted husband, a beautiful daughter, and one of the best PR firms in the country. When Gabrielle’s father suddenly reveals she has a half-sister, Keisha (Serayah), as a result of a brief affair, only-child Gabrielle is delighted to welcome her into her life. But Keisha, who grew up with nothing, wants more than a sisterly bond from Gabrielle – she wants her life, and is willing to do whatever it takes to get it. Envy: A Deadly Sins Story is produced by TD Jakes Enterprises and Big Dreams Entertainment. T.D. Jakes, Derrick Williams, Leslie Greif and Shaun Robinson serve as executive producers, and Damon Lee directs from a script written by Nneka Gerstle.

Beware of the Midwife
Premieres Saturday, April 24 at 8PM/7c
Starring Mouna Traoré, Raven Dauda and Michael Xavier

With doubts of delivering their first child in the hospital, Sarah (Traoré) and Kevin (Xavier) decide to hire a midwife to give birth safely in their own home. But their worst nightmare occurs when their midwife, Rose (Dauda), conceives a different plan and kidnaps their newborn to have a grandchild of her own. Now Sarah and Kevin must find Rose, and most importantly their baby.

Beware of the Midwife is executive produced by Tim Johnson and Johnson Production Group. Maxwell McGuire serves as director from a script written by John Hayes.