BET Confirms New Edition Biopic Is Coming Soon – Tha Wire [VIDEO]

Monday(August 10) this week BET Networks announced they're bringing the story of the New Edition to TV in a three-part mini series.  Modeled after the Jackson 5, but before Boyz II Men, New Kids On The Block, the Backstreet Boys or any other modern boy group, the 80's belonged to the boys of the Orchard Park Projects Ralph Tresvant, Ronnie DeVoe, Bobby Brown, Ricky Bell and Mike Bivins.

Bobby Brown left the group three times, his first exit was in 86', which opened the door for Johnny GillI and the group continued to dominate through the 90's.  R&B's Bad Boy would return to New Edition for one year 96-97, leave and come back again in 2002. Through it all the legendary six-member R&B group from Boston, not only branched off to produce successful solo careers for Bobby, Ralph, and Johnny, but also Bell Biv DeVoe.

These brotha's are still touring, performing their classics all over the world and hopefully something new before the end of the year. During an interview with BlacDetroit.com, Johnny revealed they have a new single featuring all of them called, "Me To You.  He also said after their current tour, they're going to head to the studio to record an entire album. On this you can bet, I'll keep you posted.

Back on the mini-series, BET will collaborate with Jesse Collins and all but one, group member have signed on to serve as consultants and executive producers on the upcoming project. According to TheHollywoodReporter(THR), Bobby Brown WILL NOT be involved in the biopic. THR reports they reached out to BET and reps for Brown, but didn't get a response their request for comment.

In the meantime, New Edition is excited that their story finnally being told and dropped a group statement saying,

“It's been a long time coming and that time is finally here! Now that we have signed the deal, New Edition's journey will be captured in a three night miniseries to tell our life story through our very own eyes. We are happy to have New Edition Enterprises collaborate with BET Networks’Debra Lee and Stephen Hill along with Jesse Collins Entertainment. From our beginning in the Orchard Park Projects in Boston to Hollywood and everything in between, just like The Temptations and The Jackson Five — we are ready to retrace our footsteps and show everyone how we got here. For the fans all over the world, this one's for you.”

BET's President of Programming, Stephen Hill, shared their joy and stated,

“Personally, my relationship with New Edition goes back to being among the first to play ‘Candy Girl’ on my college radio station, so I’m ecstatic that BET is the place where the guys wanted to come to tell their complete, dynamic story.” Hill added, “Everyone’s been waiting for the New Edition saga to be told in all its triumphs and heartbreaks and we can’t wait to bring it to the screen.”

Casting and director announcements are coming soon, with the TV mini-series making it's premiere in 2016.

By the way, BET isn't the only entity looking to do a New Edition film.  A blog on IndieWire.com reports a creative team calling itself "NE Heartbreak The Movement", comprised solely of New Edition fans, are looking to bring the iconic groups story to theaters! This movement is going to great lengths to raise awareness for their project too, going as far as producing a full-fledge movie trailer of the story. Take a look below!

Not to bad, if I do say so myself.  This NE Movement has covered all their bases.  For starters the film is being directed by Bobby Huntley, an independent filmmaker from Atlanta and he's got an entire crew of producers, production, designers and sound editors behind him.  Reportedly the trailer above was created with no budget and only took the team 6 weeks to audition the cast, and another 6-weeks for rehearsals prior to filming.  So they go their act together!  Hope they can pull it off.

For more info about this project click here and you can also follow them on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

For more on Tha Wire, LISTEN LIVE on the Peoples Station 107 Jamz and listen up for celebrity birthdays today as well!