Hot on the heels of the success of “Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail” — which has led the boxoffice charts for the past two weekends — Lionsgate and Perry have decided on the prolific Atlanta-based filmmaker’s next two films.
First up is “Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All by Myself,” followed by “Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married Too.”
Perry will write, direct and star in both features.
Taraji P. Henson, Oscar- nominated for “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” also will star in “Bad,” based on Perry’s play. Perry’s signature character, the indomitable Madea, will be featured in the film, which begins principal photography March 16 at the new Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta. “Bad” is scheduled for nationwide release Sept. 11.
“Married Too,” a sequel to 2007’s “Why Did I Get Married?” will begin filming this year for release on April 2, 2010, Easter weekend. Perry has already demonstrated an affinity for Easter-weekend openings: His “Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns” opened on that holiday weekend last year to $20 million.
Perry has released seven films through Lionsgate since “Diary of a Mad Black Woman” in 2005, and they have collectively grossed nearly $350 million at the North American boxoffice. The filmmaker signed a three-year, first-look deal in the summer, promising the company at least three films beyond “Madea Goes to Jail.”
Lionsgate also has sold nearly 25 million DVDs of Perry’s films and video catalog titles. Lionsgate’s Debmar-Mercury television syndication company has delivered 126 episodes of his television series, “House of Payne,” which is airing in a dual window on TBS and in Fox station group-led syndication. What’s more, 80 episodes of his “House of Payne” spinoff, “Meet the Browns,” already have been ordered to air on TBS in the summer and in Fox station group-led syndication in fall 2010.
“We could not be any prouder of our partnership with Tyler Perry, an amazing talent, dedicated colleague and beloved family member,” said Mike Paseornek, Lionsgate president of motion picture production. (partialdiff)
