Fans of New Edition will soon see the legendary group immortalized in a biopic.
According to Variety, group members Johnny Gill, Michael Bivins, Ralph Tresvant, Ricky Bell and Ronnie DeVoe will come together for a three-night miniseries detailing the origins of the famed quintet (and sometimes sextet) and their rise to stardom after the release of their 1983 debut album, Candy Girl. All five members will serve as producers on the series, however, founding member Bobby Brown will not be a part of the project.
Though a director has yet to be attached, Jesse Collins (“Real Husbands of Hollywood,” “Rip The Runway”) will serve as executive producer of the miniseries written by screenwriter Abdul Williams (Lottery Ticket). Longtime NE manager Brooke Payne will also contribute as co-producer on the series, which is set to be the first ever scripted, music-based TV movie for BET.
“When I brought the idea to BET years ago, I wanted to create a film that would tell the story of how New Edition emerged into one of the most important groups of its generation,” Collins said. “[Their] music is woven into the fabric of our culture.”
Having served as the precursor and inspiration to generations of offshoot groups from ’80s pop counterparts New Kids On The Block to any millennial boy band that you can name, the fellas of New Edition say they are happy to have the chance to tell their story:
“Now that we have signed the deal, New Edition’s journey will be captured in a three-night miniseries to tell our life story through our very own eyes. We are happy to have New Edition Enterprises collaborate with BET Networks’ Debra Lee and Stephen Hill along with Jesse Collins Entertainment. From our beginning in the Orchard Park Projects in Boston to Hollywood and everything in between, just like The Temptations and The Jackson Five — we are ready to retrace our footsteps and show everyone how we got here. For the fans all over the world, this one’s for you.”
The as yet untitled New Edition project is slated to air in 2016.
