From the pre-teen pop smash “Candy Girl” to 1988’s wooing ballad “Can You Stand the Rain,” New Edition had seen it all. And now their biopic, “The New Edition Story,” fueled by producer mastermind Jesse Collins (Soul Train Awards, Real Husbands of Hollywood), takes music lovers down memory lane, giving fans a front row seat to the group’s in-depth story.
Jesse Collins attends the 2016 Soul Train Music Awards at the Orleans Arena on November 6, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
From their infuriatingly crisp choreography to perfect harmonies, even as Orchard Park youngsters, the group’s fame blossomed larger than life. Accompanied by janky management, erupted tensions and royalty checks less than the price of a tall Starbucks latte, to unexpected turns and revolving members, the biopic shows us their journey to the promise land, and back.
See Also: Bobby Brown Talks BET’s ‘The New Edition Story’
The teen sensations transformed into a super group, launching Bobby Brown, Johnny Gill and Ralph Tresvant’s successful solo careers, to Bell Biv DeVoe, also known as BBD, whose titanic single “Poison” remains a fan favorite, 27 years later.
New Edition Mini series, Los Angeles, California, May 12, 2016 (Photo by Bennett Raglin)
With an all-star cast, including Empire’s Bryshere Gray, NBC’s “The Wiz Live” Elijah Kelley and R&B soul crooner Luke James, who plays the sixth member of the group, Johnny Gill, who replaced Bobby Brown in the late 80s, the biopic also taps iconic producers Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.
Luke James as New Edition’s Johnny Gill – BET Networks
The Source magazine caught up with Collins and James during their Chicago special advanced screening earlier this month as we tested their New Edition IQ, talked about challenges on set and more! – Angela Wilson
The New Edition Story premieres on Tuesday, January 24th on BET at 9/8pm CST.
Special thanks to Juan Anthony Images for videography and editing!
Photo credit: Getty Images, BET
