EXCLUSIVE: Lifetime‘s Gloria Gaynor biopic has cast Tony Award winner Joaquina Kalukango (Lawmen: Bass Reeves) in the leading role as the Queen of Disco. Lance Gross (Tyler Perry’s House of Payne) will also star as Gaynor’s husband, Linwood Simon, in I Will Survive: The Gloria Gaynor Story from Robin Roberts Presents.
The movie will air in 2025 as part of the network’s Voices of a Lifetime slate, which features the previously announced titles, Mary J. Blige’s Family Affair and Can You Feel the Beat: The Lisa Lisa Story.
Additionally, Gaynor will write and record an original song for the authorized biopic that follows her 50-year career in the music industry. “It will chronicle her rise to fame, from her humble beginnings to becoming one of the most iconic voices in music history,” touts Lifetime.
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Along with her new song, I Will Survive will feature many of her greatest hits including the titular track released in 1978 and was written by Freddie Perren and Dino Fekaris. The biopic also delves into the deeply personal challenges Gaynor faced, including overcoming her long and tumultuous marriage to a controlling husband.
The film reunites executive producer Roberts with Kalukango who also starred in Roberts’ Emmy Award-nominated movie music biopic, Mahalia.
In line with Lifetime’s Broader Focus initiative, I Will Survive: The Gloria Gaynor Story is helmed by women in key roles and produced by Rock’n Robin Productions with Roberts, Linda Berman, and Gloria Gaynor serving as executive producers; Betsy Schechter co-produces. Alicia K. Harris directs from a script written by Njeri Brown and Jane Espenson.
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