Summer may be still on the way, but Christmas is coming. Today, Swirl Films has announced the casting for “Christmas Ringer,” as part of BET+’s upcoming slate of original, holiday programming.
Trenyce Cobbins (Weird: The Al Yankovic Story) and Tyler Lepley (Harlem, P-Valley) lead an all star cast of music superstars including platinum-selling R&B powerhouse Tamika Scott of XSCAPE (SWV & XSCAPE: The Queens of R&B), GRAMMY-winning songstress Chrisette Michele (Miracles Across 125th Street), GRAMMY-nominated singer Kelly Price (American Soul, Saints and Sinners), founding member of 112 and legendary R&B crooner Q. Parker and hit rapper Akbar V (Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta), Arischa Conner (Dopesick, The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey), Jarrett Michael Collins (ATL Homicide) and Adrian Hernandez (Grey’s Anatomy) round out the cast.
“Christmas Ringer” follows the story of former singing star Nicole (Trenyce Cobbins). While she hasn’t had a chart-topper in years, Nicole has to deliver a music video in time for Christmas if she hopes to get her career back on track. When her manager-fiancé absconds with all her money, Nicole returns home to regroup and persuade her mother, Anne, to let her access her trust fund early to complete her video on time. Instead, Anne talks Nicole into taking over as choir director so that they can win the upcoming choir competition, which has a cash prize big enough to save their failing home church that Nicole’s brother, Grady, took over. Nicole is dismayed to learn that she has taken over a choir of problematic singers who seem to disgrace themselves at the competition. Under Nicole’s assured guidance — and inspired by her rekindled romance with childhood friend Jesse — the choir comes together as a cohesive unit that just may pull off a surprise victory and the career boost that Nicole needs.
“Christmas Ringer” is directed by Patricia Cuffie-Jones and written by Patricia Cuffie-Jones and Gregory Adams. The film is produced for BET+ by Swirl Films. Eric Tomosunas and Greg McBride serve as executive producers along with Ron Robinson and Keith Neal serving as producers, and Abbey MacDonald serving as Co-Executive Producer for Swirl Films. Brian Rikuda and Devin Griffin also Executive Produce. Lorisa Bates and Marvin Neil serve as co-executive Producers. John Baldasare, Rene Rodriguez-Lopez, and Noelle Broussard serve as consulting producers for BET Films.
