Garcelle Beauvais has extended her production deal with Lifetime and will executive produce three new original movies for the network.
The April 18 announcement follows the success of the network’s 2023 film, Black Girl Missing, which was executive produced by and starred Beauvais.
Related Story: Terry McMillan Partners With Lifetime to Produce New Movies Centering on Black Women
Per Lifetime, two of the new films will expand the Black Girl Missing franchise and continue “imperative conversations about systemic inequalities where missing girls and women of color are ignored.”
Beauvais will also EP and star in a new movie under the network’s Terry McMillan Presents banner.
“I am so excited and grateful to continue my relationship with Lifetime because they immediately understood the importance of creating this now franchise with the Black Girl Missing movies,” Beauvais said in a statement. “Having a network that stands by you and supports your mission gives me hope in humanity.”
She added, “In addition to executive producing, I am thrilled to be starring in the Terry McMillan Presents movie because I can so deeply relate to being a woman who has to make hard decisions for matters of the heart.”
Black Girl Missing premiered in March 2023, and centered on a Black mother who pleaded with local media outlets to cover her daughter’s disappearance. The film won a Gracie and ASTRA Award from the Hollywood Critics Alliance for best television movie. It was also nominated for an NAACP Image Award, a Black Reel Award, and a Rockie Award.
In addition to producing and acting, Beauvais is a main cast member on Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
McMillan is best known for her novels turned into hit films, including How Stella Got Her Groove Back and Waiting to Exhale. Her new films for Lifetime will focus on the love and lives of African American women.
The author’s currently untitled movie with Beauvais will feature the actress as Ava, a world-renowned chef living in Europe. She returns home to care for her elderly aunt in South Carolina and connects with a much younger man.
“Picked up from the long flight by Luke, a handsome driver 20-years her junior, the pair unexpectedly feel an instant connection. With a mutual love of food, family and fun, Ava and Luke have the perfect recipe for love. Despite her love for him, Ava soon realizes that Luke still has much to experience in life and she must decide what is best for her own career and relationships” according to the official description.
Additional casting on the film is currently underway.
The project will be produced for Lifetime by D’Angela Proctor for Undaunted Content in association with GroupM Motion Entertainment. Richard Foster and Chet Fenster are executive producers for GroupM Motion Entertainment. Terry McMillan and Garcelle Beauvais also executive produce. The script is written by Tamara Gregory.
