Toni Braxton is set to take a new step in her career. In a landmark move, the Grammy-winning singer will star in her first feature film. Her new multi-picture deal with Lifetime includes the adaptation of her hit song “He Wasn’t Man Enough.”
A Lifetime Project Birthed from a Song
Under the Lifetime partnership, Braxton will lead the film Toni Braxton’s He Wasn’t Man Enough. The movie is slated to debut Nov. 22, and stars Essence Atkins and Yvette Nicole Brown alongside Braxton.
Lifetime’s press release described Braxton’s role this way: “She plays bestselling author Mel Montgomery, whose world unravels when she discovers her boyfriend has deceived her.”
Braxton, Atkins and Brown will also serve as executive producers, under the banners of Lifetime and A+E Global Media. Writers and producers selected for the project include Aireka Muse, Tara Knight, and Angela Nissel. The deal also includes a second film, Breathe Again, set to follow in 2026.
Braxton is no stranger to the screen. She has starred in television films and made guest appearances over the years. However, those roles were typically for TV or biographical pieces. This new project is being described as her first feature film under a film-style production model.
The artist called the deal “a dream come true” in a statement shared with her fans. She added, “I’ve always believed music and storytelling share a heart, and now I get to blend both.”
Notably, Braxton’s earlier screen work includes roles in television films like Twist of Faith and Play’d: A Hip Hop Story. But until now, she had not headlined a theatrical-level film under her own name.
As she steps into this new role, Braxton faces the dual challenge of meeting cinematic expectations while remaining true to the emotional core that defines her music. If the first film succeeds, Breathe Again should follow—and with it a new phase in her creative life.