BET+ has a new holiday movie joining its upcoming slate of original programming, and Swirl Films just announced the film’s cast.
Executive produced by Eric Tomosunas and Gregg McBride, Christmas Ringer‘s cast includes Trenyce Cobbins, Tyler Lepley, Tamika Scott, Chrisette Michele, Kelly Price, Q. Parker and Akbar V. Patricia Cuffie-Jones is the director.
Rounding out the cast are Arischa Conner, Jarrett Michael Collins and Adrian Hernandez.
The official description of the film is as follows:
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.
More about the film’s characters below:
Cobbins’ Nicole is described as “a beautiful young woman with an angelic singing voice who was once an established singing star, although she hasn’t had a hit in five years. Now, she has to finish and self-fund a music video by Christmas if she hopes to reestablish her career. When her manager/fiancé absconds with her money, Nicole returns home for the holidays for the first time in years to regroup.”
Michele plays Michelle, “Nicole’s manager and friend. The attractive, all-business woman has been trying to warn Nicole all along that her current boyfriend is bad news. Her prophecies prove sadly accurate when he makes off with all of Nicole’s money, leaving her penniless.”
Scott plays Cherise, “the snarky, egotistical lead singer of the choir. Jealous and resistant when Nicole takes over as choir director, she becomes so critical and obstructive that Nicole finally confronts her, and Cherise quits in protest. She later returns in a more humble spirit, becoming a real credit to the choir, not to mention Nicole’s close friend.
Akbar V is Mia, an “understated beauty [who] joins the choir due to her court-mandated community service after she got involved in a mall fight. Raised in foster homes, she’s tough and defensive, but that’s just a facade covering a vulnerable and lonely young woman who yearns for love. She finds a ready made family and an ardent new admirer in the church choir, and she’s looking forward to the first truly joyous Christmas she has ever had.”
Parker is Roland, “a dapper, old school guy who once performed in a popular singing group. He has a velvet voice that is a real asset to Nicole’s choir, as are the smooth dance moves that he shares with the group. He soon looks upon the choir members as his family, until a sad misunderstanding disrupts their ranks.”
Conner plays Anne, who is Nicole’s mother. The character is described as “a beautiful, warm woman who is thrilled when Nicole comes home for the first time in years. The administrator of the church where her late husband was pastor, Anne is proud of her son Grady’s work as their new pastor. However, she’s well aware that their beloved church is in deep financial difficulty. She thinks that Nicole’s arrival in their time of crisis is heaven-sent.”
Collins is Grady, who “has taken over as the minister of their deceased father’s church. However, Grady is struggling to keep his financially struggling church afloat. He and Nicole are estranged, because Grady feels that Nicole abandoned him and their family during a terrible time, when their father was dying and he had to shoulder the burden of their church and family alone.”
Hernandez is Jorge, “a Guatemalan who has found a supportive family with Grady and the members of his church. He works three jobs, sending most of his money to his grandmother back home. When he first sees Mia, he is smitten with her. Nicole is delighted to discover that Jorge has a wonderful voice, and she soon incorporates him into her church choir, just in time for the big competition.”
