NBC is developing a drama centered around the gospel music industry that DeVon Franklin, Holly Carter and Kirk Franklin are set to produce.
The show titled “Kingdom Business,” will give viewers an unfiltered look at the dramas that unfold behind-the-scenes in the gospel music industry.
According to writers of the series; John Sakmar and Kerry Lenhart, “Kingdom Business” is a “behind-the-scenes look into the world of the gospel music industry and all of the conflict and secrets that come with money, fame and success.”
Sakmar and Lenhart executive produce with DeVon Franklin, Holly Carter, Kirk Franklin and Van Dyck. Universal TV is the studio.
Sakmar and Lenhart created mid-’90s TV series Mr. & Mrs. Smith, the writing-producing duo served as consulting producers on ‘Reign and Make It Or Break It’, and co-executive producers on ‘The Glades and Signed, Sealed & Delivered’ among other credits.
Devon Franklin is the producer behind faith-based films such as the Jennifer Garner and Queen Latifah-starrer ‘Miracles from Heaven’.
His most recent film,Breakthrough starring Chrissy Metz, was released in April via 20th Century Fox.
He currently has Flamin’ Hot, the Eva Longoria-directed biopic about the man who created the spicy Flamin’ Hot Cheetos snack, set at Fox Searchlight.
Prior to launching his own production shingle, Franklin Entertainment, Franklin served as Senior Vice President of Production at Sony’s Columbia TriStar and worked on pics such as ‘Heaven is For Real’, ‘The Karate Kid’, and ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’.
Thirteen-time Grammy winner Kirk Franklin is the first solo gospel artist to sell over a million units and to date has sold over 10 million.
Franklin is Chairman & CEO of Fo Yo Soul Entertainment based in Dallas, TX and has recently released a new album, Long Live Love.
Holly Carter’s Relevé, the production company behind Oxygen’s ‘Preacher Of’… franchise, recently closed a multiyear deal with All3Media America.
Along with ‘Preachers Of’, Carter has produced several series that focus on the music, community, faith and family genres, including ‘Love & Listings’ and ‘The Next Big Thing’.
Carter has also managed a variety of artists including Usher, Kirk Franklin, and Michelle Williams.
Veteran TV/literary agent Van Dyck left Paradigm after 13 years to launch management and production venture Inspired Entertainment in 2017.
The company develops, packages and brokers inspirational content and brands with broad mainstream appeal for multiple platforms, as well as represents accredited writers/ content creators, actors, and directors.
While no further details about “Kingdom Business” have been disclosed, Kirk Franklin and DeVon Franklin are also working on another project together.
In July, DeVon Franklin announced that he’s working on a biographical movie based on the life of the multi-platinum gospel singer.
“I told y’all we about to change the game. This brother has allowed me to produce a movie about his life. Thank you man,” DeVon Franklin said in an Instagram video alongside Kirk Franklin.
According to Deadline, filmmaker Brian Ivie, creator of “The Drop Box” and “Emanuel,” will write the film about the 14-time Grammy Award-winning artist.
The movie will be based on Franklin’s story from “his humble beginning through his meteoric rise to fame as he changes the face of gospel music and battles his demons in the process.”
Franklin has been lauded as a pioneer in gospel music since he began his career in 1993 with the album Kirk Franklin & The Family.
The album sold more than 1 million copies, making gospel music history. Franklin’s hits have included “Revolution,” “Stomp” and “Wanna Be Happy?,” among others.
His latest album, Long Live Love, released earlier this year, continues to break records by becoming the first album in history to top all five Billboard gospel charts at one time.
