Mary J. Blige’s Music Inspires Two Upcoming Lifetime Films: ‘Real Love’ and ‘Strength of a Woman’

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Mary J. Blige’s music has inspired two of her upcoming movies with Lifetime; “Mary J. Blige’s Real Love” and “Mary J. Blige’s Strength of a Woman.”

The films are set to portray the highs and lows of young Black love with actors Ajiona Alexus, Da’Vinchi, Princess Davis, Austin Anozie, Millan Tesfazgi, Shiraine Haas, Garfield Wilson and Hamza Fouad.

Blige also serves as an executive producer on both original films through her own production banner, Blue Butterfly.

  • “Mary J. Blige’s Real Love” follows 18-year-old Kendra (Alexus) as she sets off on her own for the first time at an HBCU in North Carolina. Attending on a scholarship, Kendra is determined to focus on school while balancing work-study and keeping things professional with Ben (Da’Vinchi), her photo class partner. Despite disapproving parents, financial hardship, and even an unexpected pregnancy, Kendra and Ben find themselves falling hard for each other and ultimately learning the meaning of “real love.”
  • The story of Kendra and Ben continues in “Mary J. Blige’s Strength of a Woman,” jumping ahead more than 15 years. Now a successful photographer, Kendra finds herself in a failing marriage and must reckon with the decisions she made for the life she thought she wanted. When Ben unexpectedly comes back into her life, she is forced to a crisis point and must dig deep to find the strength to take control of her life and accept the love Ben may be offering again.

In support of the content, Lifetime has partnered with Take Back The Night Foundation®, an international event and non-profit organization with the mission ending all forms of sexual violence, including sexual assault, sexual abuse, trafficking, stalking, gender harassment, and relationship violence, and to support survivors in their healing journeys.

Camrus Johnson directs Real Love from a script written by Sonja Warfield and Rachel Ingram, and Shari Lynette Carpenter directs Strength of a Woman from a script written by Ingram.

Both films are to debut in June, which coincides with Black Music Month and other Black music features Lifetime has planned during that time, including a Janet Jackson and TLC documentary and Keyshia Cole biopic.

“Mary J. Blige’s Real Love” is set to premiere June 10 at 8 p.m., while “Mary J. Blige’s Strength of a Woman” premieres the following Saturday, June 17 at 8 p.m.