BET don’t fail us now.
The network just announced they’ll be airing “The New Edition Story,” a six-hour, three-night event honoring the story of the group that laid the foundation for modern-day boy bands, including, Boyz II Men, N’SYNC, The Backstreet Boys, and New Kids on the Block. Rising to fame in the late ’70s, New Edition included Ronnie Devoe, Bobby Brown, Ricky Bell, Mike Bivins, Ralph Tresvant and Johnny Gill, who, over the last three decades, have consistently produced hit after hit.
According to a press release, the biopic “follows the group from their humble beginnings as kids in Boston to global mega stardom – weathering the highs and lows of controversy, personnel changes, and the ultimate cost of fame.”
Meanwhile, the fellas released a statement of their own, “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 cast is lit. “Empire’s” Bryshere Y. Gray has signed on to play Michael Bivins as an adult and Dante Hoagland (Emelie) will play Michael as a child. Meanwhile, Elijah Kelley (The Wiz Live!) will take on the role of Ricky Bell as an adult and Caleb McLaughlin (“Stranger Things”) will play Ricky as a child. Algee Smith (Let It Shine) will play Ralph Tresvant as an adult while Jahi Winston (“Feed The Beast”) will play Ralph as a child.
Keith Powers (Straight Outta Compton) has nabbed the role of adult Ronnie Devoe, with Myles Truitt stepping in as a young Ronnie. Lastly, Woody McClain (“Autographs”) will play Bobby Brown as an adult and Tyler Williams will play Bobby as a child. Grammy®-nominated singer-songwriter Luke James has also joined the star-studded cast as Johnny Gill. Additional cast members include Wood Harris (“The Wire”), Michael Rapaport (Justified), Faizon Love (“Real Husbands of Hollywood”), Duane Martin (“Real Husbands of Hollywood”), singer/songwriter Tank, and Bre-Z (“Empire”) along with La La Anthony (“Power”), Yvette Nicole Brown (“Community”), Monica Calhoun (The Best Man), Lisa Nicole Carson (“Ally McBeal”) and Sandi McCree (“The Wire”).
To celebrate the Jan. 24, 25, and 26, 2017, release dates, BET has released a first look from the highly anticipated film. Check it out above and tell us if you love it in the comment section below.
