Toni Braxton To Star In First Movie Under Lifetime Film Production Deal

Toni Braxton‘s production deal with Lifetime to spearhead a series of films based on signature hits from throughout her career is officially in full swing.

According to Deadline, the R&B icon’s multi-picture deal will begin with the forthcoming feature, He Wasn’t Man Enough.

Inspired by Braxton’s 2000 smash single, He Wasn’t Man Enough finds the songstress portraying Mel Montgomery, a best-selling author who is jettisoned by her boyfriend, Richard (Thomas Cadrot).

However, the plot thickens when Braxton’s character discovers that Richard has become engaged to a woman named Monica (Essence Atkins), who happens to be Montgomery’s friend from college.

Also starring Yvette Nicole Brown, He Wasn’t Man Enough premieres November 22 at 8/7c as part of Lifetime’s “Love of a Lifetime” programming slate.

The second film in the series, Breathe Again, will follow three contestants who participate in a reality dating show, but fail to find their match.

The trio, which includes characters played by Atkins and A Different World alum Cree Summer, move from Los Angeles to Seattle, where they build a sisterly bond while rebuilding their respective lives.

Released in 2000 as the lead single from her third studio album The Heat, “He Wasn’t Man Enough” was a runaway hit climbing to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, with four weeks spent at No. 1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart.

The second of several successful records from her 1993 self-titled debut, “Breathe Again” became one of Braxton’s early fan favorites, peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and he earning the vocalist her second consecutive Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance in 1995.

He Wasn’t Man Enough and Breathe Again are produced by Braxton alongside Tanya Lopez and Kenneth Crear for Lifetime, with Stan Brooks serving as director and executive producer.