Lifetime is making it official with two of its frequent collaborators, Queen Latifah and Toni Braxton. Variety confirms that both multi-hyphenates have signed major production deals with the network. Latifah will exec produce two music documentary projects, and Braxton is on-board for multiple TV movies.
“Both Queen Latifah and Toni Braxton have been part of the Lifetime family for many years,” said Lifetime and LMN EVP Tanya Lopez. “Our audiences love them as much as we do and we are excited they will be back on the network for even more.”
Latifah will EP doc “Where Did the Women of Hip Hop Go?,” which covers the history women in hip hop and rap and “explores what the future holds for the next generation of female emcees.” The “Girls Trip” star will also topline and EP “U.N.I.T.Y.,” a one-hour special that will see Latifah re-record her Grammy-winning hit of the same name.
The Oscar-nominated actress previously starred in Lifetime’s remake of “Steel Magnolias” and its pic about the Flint Water Crisis, “Flint.” Latifah exec produced the former. She won an Emmy for producing Dee Rees’ “Bessie” and received an acting nod for the titular role.
Up next for Latifah “Hope’s Wish,” an inspirational film about a young woman diagnosed with a life-threatening illness who works on a project with Make-A-Wish. Latifah’s also a regular on Fox musical drama “Star,” currently in its second season.
Braxton inked a “multi-picture production deal with Lifetime,” Variety writes. No plot details or titles have been revealed yet but one of the films will serve as the centerpiece project for Lifetime’s holiday programming this year.
The “Un-Break My Heart” artist has previously acted in Lifetime movies “Faith Under Fire,” “Toni Braxton: Unbreak My Heart,” and “Twist of Faith.”
The seven-time Grammy winner’s albums include “Secrets,” “The Heat,” and “Love, Marriage & Divorce.” Her ninth record, “Sex & Cigarettes,” will be released March 23.