TV One announced today it began production on two new movies, Royal Family THANKSGIVING and Royal Family Christmas,which will feature a star-studded ensemble led by Vivica A. FOX (6 Ways to Die, Independence Day: Resurgence), Romeo Miller (Brotherly Love, Madea's Witness Protection), and Debbi Morgan (Power, All My Children). Following a middle class family as they navigate the ups and downs of family relationships strained by the holiday season, these companion original movies are set to premiere later this year, and will also feature Richard Lawson (Real Husbands of Hollywood, All My Children), Tichina Arnold (Survivor's Remorse, Everybody Hates Chris, Martin) and Ricky Harris (Bones, Everybody Hates Chris, Heat).
Royalty in name and mind only, the Royal family led by patriarch Leighton (Richard Lawson) and matriarch Alfreda (Debbi Morgan), kick-off the first film, Royal Family Thanksgiving, with a fake break-up ruse to lure their overly-busy children home for Thanksgiving. Surprises and challenges ensue, including drama with Alfreda's envious sister Mona Levi (Vivica A. Fox); the revelation of a deep, dark family secret involving Alfreda's former acquaintance Chivonne Price (Tichina Arnold); and dealings with Leighton's super-loud, outspoken cousin Nelson Royal (Ricky Harris). Unfortunately, Leighton and Alfreda both play their roles too well as old wounds are re-opened and their carefully planned reunion leads to chaos - and a potentially real break-up. Royal Family
THANKSGIVING premieres on TV One, Saturday, Nov. 21 at 8 p.m. ET.
In the sequel, Royal Family Christmas, the children Phillip "Flip" Royal (Romeo Miller), a good-looking spiritual guru; Austin Royal (Eric Myrick III, At Sunrise), a Washington, D.C. community activist; Kelsey Royal (Chelsea Tavares, Fright Night), a fashion designer's gopher; and Pamela Royal (Taquilla Whitfield, Magic Mike XXL), a hair and nail salon owner; join forces to reunite their parents in time for Christmas. They try every trick in the book - including "playing nice" and setting aside old sibling rivalries - only to learn their mom and dad are enjoying "the single life." Their plan also goes awry as getting their parents back together ends up taking a back seat to their own personal and professional drama. Viewers can tune into TV One's Royal Family Christmasdebut on Saturday, Dec. 5 at 8 p.m. ET.
Additional members of the ensemble cast are Lulu Dahl (Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice) as Austin's crush Winifred Cox; Jonathan Ricardo Holloway as Pamela's roughneck friend Brian "Brick" Walls; and Javon Van Anderson (Heartlock: The End Of The Tour) as Austin's overly-eager and ambitious assistant Theo Johnson.
Royal Family Thanksgivingand Royal Family Christmas are currently shooting simultaneously in Detroit, Michigan. Both films are directed by Lance Kawas (Paid in Full, Fractured),written by Rhonda Freeman-Baraka (To Hell and Back, For the Love of Ruth, Pastor Brown),and produced for
TV One by producer George Shamieh and executive producer Chevonne O'Shaughnessy of American Cinema International. For TV One, Robyn Greene Arrington, vice president of original programming, serves as executive-in-charge of production and Lamar Chase as producer. D'Angela Proctor is head of original programming for the network.
About TV One:
Launched in January 2004,
TV One (www.tvone.tv) serves 57 million households, offering a broad range of real-life and entertainment-focused original programming, classic series, movies and music designed to entertain and inform a diverse audience of adult Black viewers. The network is the exclusive home of News One Now, the only live daily news program targeting Black viewers. In December 2008, the company launched
TV One High Def, which now serves 14 million households.
TV One is solely owned by Radio One [NASDAQ: ROIA and ROIAK, www.radio-one.com], the largest radio company that primarily targets Black and urban listeners.
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