Viola Davis and Jennifer Lopez co-starring in Lila and Eve movie by Lifetime Films and A+E Studios

Fresh on the heels of Lifetime’s HUGELY successful made-for-TV movies Flowers In the Attic and Lizzie Borden Took An Ax (the Saturday night premieres of which combined for a total of 10.5 million viewers!), the network’s movie-making branch officially announced earlier today it would be partnering with A+E Studios, JuVee Productions and ChickFlicks to produce the independent feature film Lila and Eve, starring Academy Award® and Golden Globe nominee Viola Davis (The Help, Doubt) and Golden Globe® Award nominee Jennifer Lopez (Out of Sight, Selena).

The movie, which was described as Thelma & Louise meets Fight Club in a recent casting call, is written by Pat Gilfillan and tells the story of grief-stricken mother Lila (played by Viola Davis) avenging her son’s drive-by-shooting death by enlisting the help of Eve (played by Jennifer Lopez), whose daughter has also passed away.

Here’s the synopsis from the press release:

Directed by Film Independent Spirit Award nominee Charles Stone III (Drumline, Crazy Sexy Cool: The TLC Story), Lila and Eve tells the story of a grief stricken mother (Davis), who in the aftermath of her son’s murder in a drive-by shooting, attends a support group where she meets Eve (Lopez), who has lost her daughter. When Lila hits numerous roadblocks from the police in bringing justice for her son’s slaying, Eve urges Lila to take matters into her own hands to track down her son’s killers. The two women soon embark on a killing spree of their own, as they work to the top of the chain of drug dealers to avenge the murder of Lila’s son. Screen Actors Guild Award® winner Shea Whigham (American Hustle, Boardwalk Empire) also stars as Detective Holliston, who is investigating Lila and Eve’s crimes.

Ooooooooo damn that sounds good! Sadly, we’re going to have to be patient because the film is targeted for a theatrical release in late 2014/early 2015.

Lila and Eve follows Lifetime Films’ other big screen project, The Last of Robin Hood, which stars Kevin Kline, Susan Sarandon and Dakota Fanning, and premiered at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival. The Last of Robin Hood will be released in theaters in early Summer 2014.

Here’s the full press release:

VIOLA DAVIS AND JENNIFER LOPEZ TO STAR IN INDEPENDENT FEATURE FILM LILA AND EVE, PRODUCED BY LIFETIME FILMS AND A+E STUDIOS

Movie Executive Produced by Davis and Julius Tennon, and Directed by Charles Stone III, to Also Star Shea Whigham

LOS ANGELES, CA (January 27, 2014) – Lifetime Films and A+E Studios have partnered with Viola Davis and Julius Tennon’s JuVee Productions and Sara Risher’s ChickFlicks to produce the independent feature film Lila and Eve, starring Academy Award® and Golden Globe nominee Davis (The Help, Doubt) and Golden Globe® Award nominee Jennifer Lopez (Out of Sight, Selena). The film is targeted toward a festival premiere and theatrical release in late 2014/early 2015.

Directed by Film Independent Spirit Award nominee Charles Stone III (Drumline, Crazy Sexy Cool: The TLC Story), Lila and Eve tells the story of a grief stricken mother (Davis), who in the aftermath of her son’s murder in a drive-by shooting, attends a support group where she meets Eve (Lopez), who has lost her daughter. When Lila hits numerous roadblocks from the police in bringing justice for her son’s slaying, Eve urges Lila to take matters into her own hands to track down her son’s killers. The two women soon embark on a killing spree of their own, as they work to the top of the chain of drug dealers to avenge the murder of Lila’s son. Screen Actors Guild Award® winner Shea Whigham (American Hustle, Boardwalk Empire) also stars as Detective Holliston, who is investigating Lila and Eve’s crimes.

Written by Pat Gilfillan, Lila and Eve will be produced by Sara Risher (The Last Mimzy) of ChickFlicks and Darrin Reed (Eyes of the Woods), and executive produced by Viola Davis and Julius Tennon of JuVee Productions, Damian Ganczewski (Ring of Fire) and Rob Sharenow, Tanya Lopez, Lisa Hamilton Daly and Molly Thompson of A+E Studios.

ABOUT A+E STUDIOS

A+E Studios is the in-house production arm of the award-winning global media company A+E Networks, LLC. A+E Studios commissions, creates and co-produces content across all networks and platforms under the A+E Networks portfolio, including A&E® Network, Lifetime®, HISTORY®, LMN®, FYI™, H2™ and A&E IndieFilms®.

ABOUT LIFETIME FILMS

A division of A+E Studios, Lifetime Films is dedicated to developing, producing and acquiring female-focused independent movies. Recent Lifetime Films projects include The Last of Robin Hood, featuring Kevin Kline, Susan Sarandon and Dakota Fanning, which premiered at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival, and will be released in theaters in early Summer 2014. Lifetime Television®, LMN®, Lifetime Real Women® and Lifetime Digital™ are part of Lifetime Entertainment Services, LLC, a subsidiary of A+E Networks. A+E Networks is a joint venture of the Disney-ABC Television Group and Hearst Corporation.

ABOUT JuVEE PRODUCTIONS

JuVee Productions, founded by Viola Davis and Julius Tennon, is a multi-ethnic production company committed to excellence in film, television and theatre. JuVee is currently in pre-production on “Barbara Jordan” as a starring vehicle for Davis, with producers Shelly Glasser and Diane Nabatoff with Tony Kushner penning the screenplay. The biographical drama tells the life story of the first African American elected to the Texas Senate after Reconstuction and the first southern black female elected to the United States House of Representatives. Davis is represented by CAA and Lasher Group.

ABOUT CHICKFLICKS

Chickflicks was established by accomplished film industry producer Sara Risher, who is the former President of Production at New Line Cinema, one of the most successful independent film studios of all time. Risher has produced and/or supervised dozens of feature films of all budget sizes, consistently representing top quality production and commercial success. Chickflicks Films will be uniquely targeted at the large, influential, yet under-served female market.