Daniel Brooks will play Mahalia Jackson in the movie Lifetime

The biopic is the first in a four-film deal the cabler has made with ‘Great Morning America’ anchor Robin Roberts.

Orange Is the New Black star Danielle Brooks will play gospel music symbol Mahalia Jackson in a biopic on Lifetime.

The film, Robin Roberts Presents: The Mahalia Jackson Story, is the first in a four-film manage the Good Morning America stay. Roberts already official created the cabler’s film Stolen by My Mother:

The Kamiyah Mobley Story, and delivered and facilitated a narrative extraordinary about the genuine case.

The Mahalia Jackson Story will follow Jackson’s life and vocation as she turned out to be apparently the most popular gospel artist in the mid-twentieth century and a social liberties lobbyist who sang at the 1963 March on Washington.

She sold a large number of records and was the primary gospel vocalist to perform at Carnegie Hall. She additionally sang at John F. Kennedy’s debut ball in 1961.

The green light for the film follows on the accomplishment of April’s The Clark Sisters: The First Ladies of Gospel, which drew the greatest same-day crowd (2.7 million watchers) for a Lifetime film in four years.

Tony Award victor and Emmy candidate Kenny Leon (American Son, Hairspray Live, Lifetime’s Steel Magnolias) will coordinate The Mahalia Jackson Story. The film speaks to a gathering for him and Brooks, whom Leon coordinated in Much Ado About Nothing a year ago at Shakespeare in the Park in New York.

“Having had the privilege of working with Kenny on Steel Magnolias and Robin Roberts on Stolen by My Mother, I am ecstatic to have them join forces to work together on this special project,” said Tanya Lopez, official vp films, restricted arrangement and unique film acquisitions for Lifetime and LMN. “Adding Danielle Brooks as Mahalia is icing on the cake. This team is committed in celebrating the legacy of Mahalia and reintroducing her to a world that needs her spirit more than ever.”

Brooks is coming off of Orange Is the New Black, which finished its seven-season run on Netflix in 2019. She partook in the show’s three SAG Award wins for parody arrangement troupe and furthermore has a Grammy for thrown account of The Color Purple on Broadway.

She accomplishes voice deal with HBO Max’s enlivened arrangement Close Enough, which debuted July 9. Creeks is repped by Door 24 Entertainment, CAA and Paul Hastings.

The Mahalia Jackson Story is delivered by Rock’n Robin Productions and Lincoln Square Productions. Roberts and Linda Berman official produce.