Lifetime Greenlights First Film Under Robin Roberts Presents Banner

By: Jun. 19, 2019
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Lifetime Greenlights First Film Under Robin Roberts Presents Banner

Emmy(R) Award winner and Critics' Choice nominee Niecy Nash (When They See Us, Claws) is set to star in Kidnapped: The Kamiyah Mobley Story, the first movie greenlit by Lifetime under the Robin Roberts Presents movie and documentary banner. Executive produced by the award-winning journalist, production is currently underway and also stars Rayven Symone Ferrell (The Hate U Gave) and Ta'Rhonda Jones (Empire), in the true story of a young woman who discovers at age 18, she was abducted as a baby and THE FAMILY she knew to be hers, wasn't hers at all. Set to premiere in 2020, the film will be followed by a companion documentary featuring the real-life people depicted in the movie.

"I'm thrilled to share this young woman's story and produce something so poignant for the Lifetime audience," said Robin Roberts, President of Rock'n Robin Productions. "I can't imagine anyone else tackling the complex role of Gloria than Niecy Nash. She's a talented and versatile actress and I can't wait to see it all come together."

In the summer of 1998, Gloria Williams (Nash), reeling from a recent miscarriage, drove from her home in South Carolina and walked into a Jacksonville, Florida hospital posing as a nurse and took newborn Kamiyah Mobley (Ferrell) out of her mother Shanara Mobley's (Jones) arms. By the time police were alerted, Gloria was long gone. Renaming the baby Alexis, Gloria raised her as her own, providing her with unconditional love and nurturing. It wasn't until years later, when Alexis applied for her first job and couldn't provide a social security card or a birth certificate, that she realized something was wrong. After confronting Gloria, Alexis learned the truth, that she was really Kamiyah Mobley and abducted as a baby. Despite discovering the mother she knew was really her kidnapper, Alexis kept the secret as long as she could, until an anonymous tip soon led to Gloria's arrest and their world came tumbling down.

From Rock'n Robin and Lincoln Square Productions, Kidnapped: The Kamiyah Mobley Story is executive produced by Roberts, Linda Berman, Michele Samit, Richard Kletter and Gary Randall. Jeffrey Byrd (Jasper, Texas, Black Lightning) directs from a script written by Samit and Kletter.

Niecy Nash is a multi-talented Emmy(R)-winning producer and actress whose multifaceted career includes roles in HBO's Getting On, which earned her two Emmy nominations, FOX's Scream Queens, Showtime's Masters of Sex, Comedy Central's Reno 911 and TV Land's The Soul Man. Nash currently stars in the lead role of "Desna" in TNT's drama, Claws. She also costars in Netflix's mini-series When They See Us, directed by Ava Duvernay and based on the true story of THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE teenagers who were wrongfully accused and convicted of rape. Nash was the host and producer of the Style Network's home makeover show, Clean House, for which she won a Daytime Emmy(R).

Rock'n Robin Productions is a full-service broadcast and digital production company that creates new and exciting programming for network, cable, and online audiences. From documentaries and news-driven specials to entertainment and sports programming, short-form digital series and live special events, Rock'n Robin Productions produces virtually every type of show. Robin Roberts serves as the company's president and is the driving force behind much of its programming.

About Lifetime Celebrating 35 years of entertaining audiences, Lifetime is a premier entertainment destination for women dedicated to offering the highest quality original programming spanning award-winning movies, high-quality scripted series and breakout non-fiction series. Lifetime has an impressive legacy in public affairs, bringing attention to social issues that women care about with initiatives such as the long running Stop Breast Cancer for Life now in its 25th year, Stop Violence Against Women which relaunched in 2018, and Broader Focus, a major global initiative dedicated to supporting and hiring female directors, writers and producers, including women of color, to make its content. Lifetime Television(R), LMN(R), Lifetime Real Women(R) and Lifetime Digital(TM) are part of Lifetime Entertainment Services, LLC, a subsidiary of A+E Networks. A+E Networks is a joint venture of the Disney-ABC Television Group and Hearst Corporation.




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