Mary J. Blige Reveals the 'Amazing' Reason She Cast Da'Vinci and Ajiona Alexus in Her Lifetime Movie Trilogy (Exclusive)

Mary J. Blige is hitting the ground running in 2025.

Between celebrating her birthday on Jan. 11 and preparing for her upcoming “For My Fans Tour,” which kicks off on Jan. 30, the reigning Queen of Hip-Hop Soul, 54, has her hands full. On top of all this, Blige is leading Lifetime’s “Voices of a Lifetime” movie slate this month.

Mary J. Blige’s Family Affair is the final installment of the film trilogy that’s loosely inspired by the hit singles and albums across her multi-decade career. Mary J. Blige’s Real Love and Mary J. Blige’s Strength of a Woman, which first aired in June 2023, introduced the epic journey of lead characters Kendra and Ben as they come of age and come into their own after meeting on a historically Black college campus.

In an exclusive chat with PEOPLE, the Grammy award-winning songstress and executive producer says that Kendra and Ben’s love story brings a smile to her face.

“The love story is something that's beautiful,” Blige begins. “What I love about Kendra and Ben is that they're meant to be together. And when it's like that, I love that. I love a 'meant to be.' In real life or on television.”

Family Affair follows Kendra, played by Ajiona Alexus, and Ben, played by Da’Vinchi, as they move to a new city and attempt to build a life together. As personal and familial tensions rise, the couple must find a way to withstand their growing pains or fold under pressure.

While discussing the film, Blige shares how Alexus and Da’Vinchi were cast. According to the “Be Without You” singer, it was love at first sight... onscreen, that is.

Related: What Mary J. Blige Does Every Morning That Changed Her Life: 'I Didn't Love Myself'

“When I first saw them in the very first season of [Starz’s] BMF, I was blown away,” says Blige. “From that, I decided to have them as Ben and Kendra because their acting was really amazing. And then to meet both of them in person was like, ‘Oh yeah, they're really good people. They're beautiful people.’”

BMF, which is gearing up for its fourth season, stars Da’Vinchi as Terry “Southwest T” Flenory. Alexus played Katherine “Kato” Eder during the gritty drama’s first season. And prior to the show’s splashy second season, Da’Vinchi starred in Blige’s beachy “Come See About Me” music video in 2022.

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As Kendra and Ben’s story comes to a close (for now), Blige is hoping that the heart of the story resonates with viewers.

“You know, we all want a happy ending, but anything worth keeping or having, you’re going to have to fight for it,” says Blige.

Mary J. Blige’s Family Affair airs on Saturday, Jan. 25 on Lifetime.

Read the original article on People