Tyler Perry Studios And Devon Franklin Form Faith-Based Film Partnership With Netflix; ‘R&B’ First Film Announced Under New Deal

Tyler Perry Studios and DeVon Franklin (Flamin’ Hot) have formed a partnership with Netflix to produce faith-based films under a multi-year and multi-picture first-look deal. This deal marks the latest extension of Perry and Netflix’s creative partnership which sees Perry write, direct, and produce films and series, however, these films will be produced by Franklin and Perry in conjunction with Tyler Perry Studios.

The first film under the new partnership will be R&B written by Mike Elliott (Brown Sugar) & Cory Tynan (Play’d). Most recently the writing duo (Tynan & Elliot) has written the faith based romantic comedy Relationship Goals, for Franklin and Amazon Studios. 

R&B is a modern-day retelling of the story of Ruth and Boaz, one of the most iconic love stories in the Bible. Set in Tennessee, R&B tells the story of a young woman who escapes the Atlanta music scene to care for an elderly widowed woman and in the process finds the love of her life and gains the mother she never had.  

Perry’s upcoming projects with Netflix include The Six Triple Eight starring an ensemble cast led by Kerry Washington, and the recently announced drama series Beauty in Black. His previous films with Netflix include Mea Culpa starring Kelly Rowland which debuted at #1 on The Top 10 English Films List, A Jazzman’s Blues, a tale of forbidden love that made its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, A Madea Homecoming, the 12th installment of the billion-dollar Madea franchise, and the Netflix thriller A Fall from Grace.

Franklin’s latest production Flamin’ Hot, directed by Eva Longoria is currently on Hulu. He also produced 2016’s Miracles from Heaven starring Jennifer Garner and Queen Latifah.

“I’m so excited to be working with DeVon on this and future projects,” says Perry. “I think in this polarizing world, and at a time where the world seems to be growing colder everyday, we both share the common goal of wanting to spread some good. And there’s no better place than Netflix.”

Franklin adds, “Tyler and I have been great friends for over 15 years, so when he called me to team up on movies that can uplift the human spirit, I jumped at the chance and we couldn’t have a better partner than Netflix to help us inspire the world.”  

Niija Kuykendall, Vice President, Netflix Film states “We couldn’t be more excited to expand our relationship with Tyler Perry Studios. Tyler and DeVon have created some of the most inspiring movies in the faith-based space, so they are perfect partners to help us bring even more of these stories to our members.”

Perry is represented by WME and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole. Franklin is represented by WME, Artist Collective, and John Meigs at Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush, Kaller, Gellman, Meigs & Fox.

Tynan & Elliot are represented by Ryan Saul and Corey Ackerman at Cartel, and Adam Cooper at Jackoway Austen Tyerman Wertheimer Mandelbaum Morris Bernstein Trattner Auerbach Hynick Jaime LeVine Sample & Klein.