Along with a stellar cast,Β THE NEW EDITION STORYΒ includes a collective of award-winning producers and directors including iconic music powerhousesΒ James βJimmy Jamβ Harris,Β Terry LewisΒ andΒ Kenny βBabyfaceβ Edmonds, Executive ProducerΒ Jesse CollinsΒ and award-winning directorΒ Chris Robinson.Β THE NEW EDITION STORYΒ will airΒ as a six hour, three night event on January 24, 25, and 26, 2017 at 9 PM ET/PT on BET.
The much-anticipated biopic follows the famed group (Ronnie DeVoe, Ralph Tresvant, Bobby Brown, Michael Bivins,Β Ricky BellΒ &Β Johnny Gill)Β 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.
THE NEW EDITION STORYΒ is the brainchild of Collins who says the idea first came to him when he was producing 25 Strong: The BET Silver Anniversary Special (2005) and New Edition was set to perform.Β βNew Edition was pure magic on stage.Β The first time I got to see the behind the scenes challenges that they were dealing with to function as a group was during production of the special.Β I reached out to Michael Bivins after the show and we started the process to produce a film based on the group,β said Collins. βTen years later, after production delays, we were finally able to tell their story.β
Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and Kenneth βBabyfaceβ Edmonds, with 17-Grammy Award wins collectively (11 for Babyface, six for Jam & Lewis, all receiving awards for Producer of the Year) were already an integral part of the careers of the members of New Edition. Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis produced New Editionβs 1988 seminal, Double Platinum-selling album βHeartbreak,β their highest selling album to date as well as produced Ralph Tresvantβs solo breakout #1 single βSensitivityβΒ and Johnny Gills #1 single βRub You The Right Way.βΒ βHeartbreakβ ushered in a new, mature sound for the band, introduced Johnny Gill into the group after the group voted out Bobby Brown and featured five singles including #1 & #2 Billboard R&B tracks βCan You Stand the Rainβ and βIf It Isnβt Loveβ respectively.
βTerry and I came in at aΒ pivotalΒ time whenΒ theyΒ were having internal issues and growing pains. Fans will get the true behind-the-scenes story of this key phase in their personal lives and careers,β said Harris. Lewis added,
βTheir songs are like a time capsule, not only capturing the quintessential 80βs R&B sound but also document the New Edition journey particularly transitioning from a boy band to adult stars. β
Edmonds will serve as the music producer for the first half ofΒ THE NEW EDITION STORY, but ironically he and producing partner L.A. Reid were responsible for crafting almost half of the hits, including the Grammy-Award winning βEvery Little Step,β from Bobby Brownβs explosive 1988 sophomore solo album, βDonβt Be Cruel.β βI learned a lot about Bobby and the band dynamic during the making of βDonβt Be Cruel.β But I also lived and breathed 80βs R&B because I was performing with my band (The Deele) and producing with L.A. Reid, so I make sure the feeling was captured,β said Babyface.
Chris Robinson, is responsible for a long list of iconic music videos for the likes of Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg, Pharrell, Diddy, Usher, T.I., Nas, Mary J Blige, Alicia Keys, Common, Boyz II Men and more. His biggest goal was to capture the bandβs distinct look and feel. βWe went through great pains to get every detail right because true New Edition fans and 80βs babies like myself will know. That was such a distinctive and colorful era. I think we succeeded,β said Robinson.
The star-filledΒ THEΒ NEW EDITIONΒ STORYΒ cast INCLUDESΒ Bryshere Y. GrayΒ Elijah Kelley,Β Β Luke James,Β Keith Powers,Β Algee Smith,Β Β Woody McClainΒ asΒ NEW EDITIONΒ along withΒ La La Anthony,Β Yvette Nicole Brown, Monica Calhoun, Lisa Nicole Carson,Β Sandi McCreeΒ Wood Harris,Β Michael Rapaport,Β Faizon Love,Β Duane MartinΒ TankΒ andΒ Bre-Z.
THEΒ NEW EDITION STORYΒ is executive produced by Jesse Collins (Real Husbands of Hollywood) for JCE Films, a division of Jesse Collins Entertainment;Β directed by Chris Robinson (ATL) and co-produced byΒ Brooke Payne, Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, Ronnie DeVoe, Johnny Gill, Ralph Tresvant and Bobby Brown.