Lifetime and Mary J. Blige are getting back into business with a new production deal.
On Tuesday, Jan. 6, the network announced Blige has extended her production partnership with the channel, and will produce three original films through her Blue Butterfly Productions.
The first project under the deal is titled Mary J. Blige Presents: Be Happy, based on the Grammy-winning singer’s 1994 hit song by the same name.
The movie version will feature an all-star cast that includes Tisha Campbell (Operation Aunties and Act Your Age) Mekhi Phifer (ER and 8 Mile), and Russell Hornsby (BMF and The Hate U Give), Lifetime said in a press release.
The story centers on Val (Campbell), a 50-year-old wife and stay-at-home mom, who is eager to reignite the spark in her marriage when her youngest child leaves for college.
But as she deals with empty-nest feelings and a growing emotional rift with her husband Ross (Hornsby), Val realizes her marriage and the woman she once was continue to slip away.
Enter Phifer as Peter, a photographer who helps Val rediscover her creative side. As she grows closer to her photographer friend, Val begins to wonder if it’s too late to choose herself and be happy.
Gabourey Sidibe makes her television directorial debut and helms the film from a script by Cameron J. Ross.
The movie is produced by Blue Butterfly Productions, Monami Productions, Motion Entertainment, and Swirl Films for Lifetime.
Blige serves as an executive producer. Mona Scott-Young produces alongside Bruce Miller, Milana Edwards Brooks, and Angela White.
Mary J. Blige Presents Be Happy premieres Saturday, Feb. 7 at 8/7c as part of Lifetime’s winter 2026 “Love of a Lifetime” movie slate.
The network says the movies under the slate explore “themes of reinvention, intimacy, and the turning points that define midlife as one woman embarks on a journey to rediscover her purpose and her voice to reshape her future.”
Blige’s new film follows three projects that she produced for Lifetime after inking her previous deal with the network.
At the time, Blige said: “My passions for acting and music now include developing diverse stories with music as the backdrop.”
The last three films were titled Mary J Blige’s Real Love (2023), Mary J Blige’s Strength of a Woman (2023), and Mary J. Blige’s Family Affair (2025). All three films starred BMF actors Ajiona Alexus and Da’Vinchi. Combined, the three movies were watched by more than 6.1 million total viewers, per Lifetime.
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