Kelly Rowland And Trevante Rhodes To Lead Tyler Perry's Netflix Thriller Mea Culpa

Tyler Perry is one of the world's most renowned entertainers — and he has a new film coming out (via Deadline). The award-winning producer will direct his fifth feature film for Netflix after helming multiple projects for the streamer, including the 2020 thriller "A Fall From Grace," the comedy "A Madea Homecoming," and the period drama "A Jazzman's Blues." Perry also has another project in the pipeline, the upcoming film "Six Triple Eight," which stars Hollywood heavyweights Kerry Washington, Oprah Winfrey, and Susan Sarandon, among others. The film is a World War II-set drama based on a 2019 WWII History magazine article by Kevin M. Hymel. It will focus on the 6888th battalion, the only all-Black and all-female battalion that served in World War II.

At the moment, Netflix has only made information about the cast and crew of "Mea Culpa" available. With that in mind, here's everything we know about the film so far!

Titled "Mea Culpa," the film appears to belong to the crime-thriller genre and "follows a criminal defense attorney who, in the hopes of becoming partner, takes on the case of an artist who may or may not have murdered his girlfriend." 

Based on its synopsis, the hope is "Mea Culpa" will feature complex, gripping characters to go with its twisty narrative. Tyler Perry might be better known for his work as an actor, writer, and producer, but the entertainment mogul has directed most of his projects (including several on television and stage), and he was presented with an honorary Oscar at the 93rd Academy Awards in 2021. He's also ventured outside the realm of comedy on multiple occasions in the past, both as a filmmaker and as an actor only in the 2012 thriller "Alex Cross." So he's not in completely new territory here.

Among those leading the "Mean Culpa" cast is Grammy-winning singer-turned-actor Kelly Rowland, who is famously known for having co-founded the R&B girl group "Destiny's Child" and has starred in several films such as "Think Like A Man" and "The Curse of Bridge Hollow." Rowland has also made television appearances throughout her career, most recently in "Fantasy Football" and in an episode of the Queen Latifah-starring CBS crime series "The Equalizer."

Other known cast members include Trevante Rhodes ("Moonlight"), Sean Sagar ("The Gentlemen"), Nick Sagar ("The Princess Switch"), and RonReaco Lee ("Sister, Sister," "Nappily Ever After"). The film is being written, directed and produced by Perry, with Angi Bones, Will Areu, and Rowland also serving as producers. "Mea Culpa" is set to begin filming this spring for a likely 2024 release date, so expect more updates on that front in the months to come.