New York, NY โ Septemberย 27, 2016 โย BET has just announced that the network will airย THE NEW EDITION STORYย as a six hour, three night event on January 24, 25, and 26, 2017. The much-anticipated biopic will bring to life the story of the group that laid the foundation for how modern-day boy bands look, feel, and sound. Boyz II Men, NโSYNC, The Backstreet Boys, and New Kids On The Block all took their cues from New Edition, the famed band that included Ronnie Devoe, Bobby Brown, Ricky Bell, Mike Bivins, Ralph Tresvant and Johnny Gill who, for over the last three decades, have consistently produced hit music as a band.
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.
To celebrate the announcement of the release dates, BET has additionally released a first look clip from the film which can be viewedย HERE.
โFrom our beginning in the Orchard Park Projects in Boston to Hollywood and everything in between, just like The Temptations and The Jackson Fiveโwe 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,โ says New Edition.
The biopic includes a star-studded cast:
- Bryshere Y. Grayย (Empire)willย playย Michael Bivinsย as an adult andย Dante Hoaglandย (Emelie) will play Michael as a child.
- Elijah Kelleyย (The Wiz Live!)willย playย Ricky Bellย as an adult andย Caleb McLaughlinย (Stranger Things)ย will play Ricky as a child.
- Grammyยฎ-nominated singer/songwriterLuke Jamesย willย playย Johnny Gill.
- Algee Smithย (Let It Shine) willย playย Ralph Tresvantas an adult andย Jahi Winstonย (Feed The Beast)ย will play Ralph as a child.
- Keith Powersย (Straight Outta Compton)ย willย playย Ronnie Devoeas an adult andย Myles Truittย will play Ronnie as a child.
- Woody McClainย (Autographs)willย playย Bobby Brownย as an adult andย Tyler Williamsย will play Bobby as a child.
Additional cast members includeย Wood Harrisย (The Wire,ย The Breaks),ย Michael Rapaportย (Boston Public,ย Justified),ย Faizon Loveย (Real Husbands of Hollywood),ย Duane Martinย (Real Husbands of Hollywood), singer/songwriterย Tank, andย Bre-Zย (Empire)ย along withย La La Anthonyย (Power),ย Yvette Nicole Brownย (Community),ย Monica Calhounย (The Best Man),ย Lisa Nicole Carsonย (Ally McBeal) andย Sandi McCreeย (The Wire).
THE NEW EDITION STORYย is written byย Abdul Williamsย (Lottery Ticket) and executive produced byย Jesse Collinsย (Real Husbands of Hollywood) for JCE Films, a division of Jesse Collins Entertainment. The film is directed byย Chris Robinsonย (ATL) and co-produced byย NEW EDITIONโs longtime manager and original choreographerย Brooke Payne,ย as well as all six of the members ofย NEW EDITION,ย Ricky Bell,ย Michael Bivins,ย Ronnie DeVoe,ย Johnny Gill,ย Ralph Tresvantย andย Bobby Brown.