Lifetime is entering the vertical storytelling space with Tides of Temptation, a premium micro drama feature executive produced by Taye Diggs, Autumn Federici and Shelby Stone. Serving as a digital offshoot of the just announced upcoming "Love of a Lifetime" original movie Terry McMillan Presents: Paradise with You, the project expands the film’s universe through a cinematic, mobile-first format designed with feature-level production value. Creator, musician and actor Q Stenline aka SwagBoyQ (over 27 million followers across social platforms), Troy Brookins (who also co-produces), Mea Wilkerson and David John Craig star in the vertical.
“When we first heard the pitch from Autumn and Taye for a micro drama connected to a movie, it felt like a smart, strategic way to enter the vertical space,” said Rob Sharenow, President of Programming, A+E Global Media. “It allows us to expand the world of the film while meeting audiences wherever they are, without compromising on storytelling quality or production value.”
Diggs added, “We approached this as a fully realized dramatic project, not just short-form content. It’s an opportunity to bring emotional depth and visual ambition into a format designed for today’s audiences.”
“From the beginning, we saw an opportunity to expand film worlds into premium vertical offshoots that feel intentional and creatively ambitious,” said Autumn Federici. “The team at Lifetime immediately understood that vision and recognized that vertical storytelling could be a strategic premium extension of their iconic movies, and Tides of Temptation will give audiences even more story to consume even after the movie itself concludes.”
Unlike traditional short-form vertical series, Tides of Temptation is conceived as a cohesive, narrative-driven micro drama feature delivering elevated performances, polished visual storytelling, and emotionally layered character arcs within a tightly paced, chapter-based structure. Executive produced by Diggs alongside Shelby Stone and Autumn Federici of The Ninth House, the project brings a cinematic lens to the vertical format, combining Lifetime’s signature romance and suspense with sophisticated production design and immersive direction. Tides of Temptation marks Lifetime’s first original premium micro drama feature in the vertical space and reflects the network’s continued commitment to innovation, franchise-building, and elevated storytelling across formats.
Set within the same emotionally charged world introduced in Terry McMillan Presents: Paradise with You, Tides of Temptation deepens the drama. Set on the lush island of Nevis, paradise hides a dangerous undercurrent… and beautiful young Constance (Mea Wilkerson) is trapped inside of it. Her life is controlled by her demanding brother Malik and her abusive boyfriend Wes. When ambitious young athlete Jamal (SwagBoyQ) enters her life and confronts the dangerous world around her, everything fractures. And as Jamal and Constance fall hard for each other, they soon come to realize their dangerous new love could cost them everything. Troy Brookins (who also appears in Paradise with You as Travis) and David John Craig also star.
Tides of Temptation is executive produced by Taye Diggs, Shelby Stone and Autumn Federici and Jake Helgren of The Ninth House. Troy Brookins co-produces. Gary and Edmund Entin directed from a script by Nanea Miyata with a story by Ejay Jamison.
The premiere date for Tides of Temptation will be later this year, following the debut of Terry McMillan Presents: Paradise with You.
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