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After making more than $1.4 billion at the box office, producer Will Packer has gotten into the streaming game with “Praise This.”

The Peacock original marks Packer’s first time producing a movie that wasn’t destined for cinemas. While the new distribution plan might seem like a reaction to the hit or miss theatrical business — or the kind of pivot that would happen after a box office bomb, which Packer has yet to suffer, by the way — that’s not what’s behind the change in strategy.

“Malleable” is a word Packer has found himself using quite often in reference to the current state of moviemaking.

“I’ve had a lot of success with movies that were moderately-budgeted breakout theatrical hits,” he tells Variety over tea at the Mandarin Oriental in New York City. “But there are some of my movies that were successful theatrically five to 10 years ago that...

The wait is over! The Peacock original film Praise This is now available to watch exclusively on Peacock! But, first, check out the “first look” featurette of the film (above).

About The Film

Genre: Musical, Comedy, Drama Cast: Chloe Bailey, Druski, Anjelika Washington, Quavo, Tristan Mack Wilds, Birgundi Baker, Crystal Hayslett, Loren Lott, Jekalyn Carr, Koryn Hawthorne Director: Tina Gordon Screenplay: Tina Gordon and Brandon Broussard & Hudson Obayuwana and Jana Salvage Story: Brandon Broussard & Hudson Obayuwana & Jana Salvage Producer: Will Packer, Tim Story, Sharla Sumpter Bridgett, James Lopez

Praise This is streaming exclusively on Peacock on April 7, 2023!

For More Information, Please Visit:

Official Site / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / YouTube / TikTok / #PraiseThis

The post Look Inside “Praise This” Featurette Released first appeared on CinemaNerdz.

The official trailer for the Peacock original film Praise This has just been released. The film will stream exclusively on Peacock on April 7th!

Five-time Grammy nominee Chloe Bailey, star of Grown-ish and half of the sibling musical duo Chloe x Halle, stars in a new cinematic musical event set in the world of Atlanta’s competitive gospel youth choir praise teams.

From director Tina Gordon, writer-director of Little and the writer of What Men Want and Drumline, Praise This follows aspiring musical superstar Sam (Chloe Bailey), a young woman driven, at almost any cost, to break into the music business. So, when her father, worried that Sam is associating with a dangerous crowd, moves them from Los Angeles to Atlanta to live with Sam’s sunny cousin, Jess, Sam is . . . not happy.

But when Sam is forced to join her cousin’s struggling, underdog praise team in the...

Exclusive: Universal Pictures has rounded out the musician-heavy cast for its film Praise This, starring Grown-ish‘s Chloe Bailey, with Anjelika Washington, Quavo, Druski, Koryn Hawthorne, Tristan Mack Wilds and Jekalyn Carr among those signing on for roles. Other new cast members include newcomers Kiara Iman Heffner and Ilario Grant, Birgundi Baker, Loren Lott, Crystal Renee Hayslett, Cocoa Brown, Vanessa Fraction and Kountry Wayne.

Praise This is a music-competition feature comedy set in the world of youth choirs, announced earlier this year as one of three Universal films coming to Peacock in 2023. Tina Gordon (Little) is directing, having penned the latest draft of the script, which was based off an original idea by The Story Company. Earlier drafts were written by Camilla Blackett and Brandon Broussard, Hudson Obayuwana and Jana Savage—the trio otherwise known as Murder Ink.

The film falls under Will Packer Productions’ first-look deal with Universal,...

Exclusive: Chloe Bailey (Grown-ish) has signed on to star in the upcoming film Praise This, which Tina Gordon (Little) is directing for Universal Pictures.

Praise This is a music-competition feature comedy set in the world of youth choirs. We hear that Universal is eyeing it for a potential franchise in the vein of Pitch Perfect, with production on the first installment set to kick off in Atlanta in June. Gordon penned the latest draft of the script, which was based off an original idea by The Story Company. Earlier drafts were written by Camilla Blackett and Brandon Broussard, Hudson Obayuwana and Jana Savage—the trio otherwise known as Murder Ink.

The film falls under Will Packer Productions’ first-look deal with Universal, which has produced such hits as Night School, Girls Trip, the Ride Along films and Little. Wpp’s founder and CEO Will Packer will produce alongside The Story Company’s co-founder and CEO Tim Story, with Wpp EVP Johanna Byer exec producing. Executive Vice President of Production Erik Baiers and Director of Production Development Tony Ducret will oversee the project on behalf of Universal.

Bailey is an actress, singer-songwriter and record producer who rose to fame as a member of the Grammy-nominated sister duo Chloe x Halle, which was signed to Beyoncés Parkwood Entertainment Company after catching the attention of the musical icon. The multi-hyphenate most recently starred alongside Yara Shahidi on Freeform’s hit show Grown-ish, last year releasing her debut solo single, “Have Mercy.” She will next be seen in Miramax’s supernatural thriller The Georgetown Project, with Russell Crowe and Ryan Simpkins.

In addition to Little, starring Regina Hall, Issa Rae and Marsai Martin, Gordon previously wrote and directed the 2013 romantic comedy Peeples for Lionsgate. Her credits as a screenwriter also include Drumline and What Men Want.

Bailey is represented by CAA, Parkwood Entertainment and Schure Media Group; Gordon by UTA and Ziffren Brittenham; Blackett by UTA, Independent Talent Group and Yorn, Levine, Barnes; and Murder Ink by APA and Joel VanderKloot of VanderKloot Law.

Exclusive: Lionsgate has purchased Homecoming, a screenplay that made the 2021 Black List, in a competitive situation, and is setting it up as a film.

The feature scripted by Murder Ink’s Brandon Broussard, Hudson Obayuwana and Jana Savage picks up with one of New York’s most eligible bachelors and his eccentric, globetrotting wingman 10 years after their graduation from Howard University, as they try to pull their recently divorced friend out of his rut. They do so by taking him back to Howard for its legendary homecoming, there experiencing the best weekend of their lives.

Broussard, Obayuwana and Savage will produce the adaptation with David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman for Mandeville Pictures, and Mike Jackson and John Legend for Get Lifted. Mandeville’s Alex Young will exec produce alongside Get Lifted’s Ty Stiklorius. Hoberman and Carly Kleinbart are overseeing the project for Mandeville, with Jackson and Mackenzie Marlowe for Get Lifted,...

Rounding up the best unproduced screenplays in Hollywood, as voted on by hundreds of film executives, The Black List has been a strong resource to clue one in on projects to potentially anticipate, but first, to kickstart Hollywood on bringing them to screen. Today we have this year’s edition, as voted on by 375 film executives.

Topping the 2021 edition is Daniel Jackon’s Cauliflower, which follows the tale of a high school wrestler battling a bizarre infection in his ear. Coming in second was Lily Hollander’s See How They Run, following a blind mother who moves into a remote farmhouse with her young daughter as the mystery surrounding the previous inhabitants grows.

Other scripts feature the true stories of Kanye West’s creation of The College Dropout, Martin Shkreli, Rocky Aoki, Nike and Michael Jordan’s endorsement deal (not to be confused with Dennis Rodman’s 48 Hours in Vegas), Michael Bay,...

Exclusive: The writing trio known as Murder Ink, which consists of Brandon Broussard, Hudson Obayuwana and Jana Savage, has inked with APA.

Currently, Murder Ink’s feature film, Praise This, is in pre-production at Universal Studios, with Will Packer producing. On the film side, Broussard, Obayuwana and Savage are also developing an untitled comedic thriller produced by MacRo for New Line. Additionally, they are penning Riding for Compton for Everlast Pictures. Everlast’s Adonis Tountas, Michael Spanos II, and Bobby Hoppey will produce the latter title alongside Kristina Sorensen.

On the TV side, the writers recently closed a deal for the comedy pilot, Committed, which is to be produced by 40 Years a Prisoner‘s Confluential Films.

Broussard, Obayuwana and Savage previously wrote and executive produced Netflix’s romantic comedy feature, #RealityHigh. First working together on YouTube sketch show Purple Stuff TV, the trio earned their name while rewriting 2016 romantic comedy,...

Director Tina Gordon is warming up her vocal cords to helm Universal Pictures’ musical comedy Praise This, a music-competition feature set in the world of youth choirs. The film is slated for release on September 25, 2020.

Gordon will rewrite the script for Praise This, which is based on an original idea by Tim Story’s The Story Company. An earlier draft of the script was written by Camilla Blackett (ABC’s Fresh Off the Boat) as well as Jana Savage, Brandon Broussard and Hudson Obayuwana, the writing team collectively known as Murder Ink (Netflix’s #RealityHigh).

The musical comedy will be produced by Will Packer and James Lopez under Packer’s eponymous production company, Will Packer Productions, and Story and Sharla Sumpter Bridgett under The Story Company.

“It is a pleasure to be teaming up with Tina once again,” said Lopez. “She is a great leader and will bring tremendous energy to this project.

“Little” director Tina Gordon is reuniting with Universal Pictures and Will Packer Productions for “Praise This,” a musical drama centered around the world of youth choirs.

Gordon will write and direct the movie, based on an original idea by Tim Story’s the Story Company. An earlier draft of the script was penned by Camilla Blackett, Jana Savage, Brandon Broussard and Hudson Obayuwana.

Plot details are scarce on the film, which will be produced by Packer and James Lopez under Packer’s eponymous production company, Will Packer Productions, along with Tim Story and Sharla Sumpter Bridgett for the Story Company. Senior VP of production Erik Baiers will oversee the project for Universal.

“It is a pleasure to be teaming up with Tina once again,” Lopez said. “She is a great leader and will bring tremendous energy to this project. Tim, Sharla, Will and I look forward to the collaboration.”

“Praise...

Universal Pictures is getting in on the Valentine’s Day spirit, releasing Issa Rae and Lakeith Stanfield’s romantic drama “The Photograph” on Feb. 14, 2020.

Stella Meghie will direct from her own script and Will Packer will produce for his eponymous production company.

“The Photograph” centers on intertwining love stories in the past and present. Meghie is also on board to exec produce. Will Packer Productions’ James Lopez will produce, while Rae executive produces. Senior VP of production Sara Scott and creative executive Mika Pryce will oversee production for Universal.

Rae’s upcoming Universal comedy “Little” opens this Friday. She recently finished production on the Paramount comedy “The Lovebirds,” which she also executive produced. Stanfield recently starred in “Sorry to Bother You.”

Universal also announced it has dated Packer’s “Praise This” for Sept. 25, 2020. The film is centered on a musical competition centered around the world of youth choirs. Based on...

Terrence Jenkins, Cassie Ventura, Paula Patton, Donald Faison, Lauren London, Dascha Polanco, French Montana, Brandy Norwood, Robin Givens, Casper Smart, Draya Michele, Kali Hawk, Chantel Jeffries, Timothy Delaghetto and Joe Pantoliano make up the cast of the Queen Latifah/Flavor Unit-produced rom-com, "The Perfect Match." Bille Woodruff directed the film from a script written by Gary Hardwick and Brandon Broussard, based on a screenplay by Dana Verde. Lionsgate and Codeblack Films have set a March 11, 2016 release date for the film which follows Charlie (Terrence J), a playboy who's convinced that relationships are dead even though his sister (Paula...

Terrence Jenkins, Cassie Ventura, Paula Patton, Donald Faison, Lauren London, Dascha Polanco, French Montana, Brandy Norwood, Robin Givens, Casper Smart, Draya Michele, Kali Hawk, Chantel Jeffries, Timothy Delaghetto and Joe Pantoliano make up the cast of the Queen Latifah/Flavor Unit-produced rom-com, "The Perfect Match." Bille Woodruff directed the film from a script written by Gary Hardwick and Brandon Broussard, based on a screenplay by Dana Verde. Lionsgate/Codeblack Films have set a March 11, 2016 release date for the film which follows Charlie (Terrence J), a playboy who's convinced that relationships are dead even though his sister (Paula...

Terrence Jenkins, Cassie Ventura, Paula Patton, Donald Faison, Lauren London, Dascha Polanco, French Montana, Brandy Norwood, Robin Givens, Casper Smart, Draya Michele, Kali Hawk, Chantel Jeffries, Timothy Delaghetto and Joe Pantoliano make up the cast of the Queen Latifah/Flavor Unit-produced rom-com, "The Perfect Match." Bille Woodruff directed the film from a script written by Gary Hardwick and Brandon Broussard, based on a screenplay by Dana Verde. Lionsgate/Codeblack Films have set a March 11, 2016 release date for the film which follows Charlie (Terrence J), a playboy who's convinced that relationships are dead even though his sister (Paula...

We just got a sketch comedy video from the folks over at Purple Stuff TV, created by Brandon Broussard,which is a hi-larious sketch comedy show. Its style falls somewhere between SNL and In Living Color. Check out the trailer that got them their six figure pilot deal. Tell us your thoughts on thoughts on the show and email us at thehumormill.info@gmail.com...