LIFETIME ANNOUNCES THREE NEW
RIPPED FROM THE HEADLINES MOVIES
"SURVIVING MY FATHER: THE RACHEL JEFFS STORY"
"THE WIDOW'S PAYBACK"
AND "MONSTER IN MY FAMILY: THE STACEY KANANEN STORY"
TO DEBUT THIS OCTOBER
FEATURING BRITT ROBERTSON, BIANCA LAWSON, AND ELISHA CUTHBERT
AMONG OTHERS
"TAKEN AT A TRUCK STOP: A BLACK GIRL MISSING MOVIE"
STARRING AND EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY
GARCELLE BEAUVAIS ALSO JOINS FALL SLATE
Los Angeles, CA (September 22, 2025) - Lifetime has announced three new original Ripped from the Headlines movies to debut this fall. Kicking off on Saturday October 4, Surviving My Father: The Rachel Jeffs Story is a powerful story of resilience based on the memoir "Breaking Free: How I Escaped Polygamy, the FLDS Cult, and My Father, Warren Jeffs" and stars Kaitlyn Bernard (1922) as Rachel, Michael Eklund (The Call) as Warren Jeffs and Britt Robertson (The Rookie) as Barbara Jeffs. The following Saturday on October 11 is Monster in the Family: The Stacey Kananen Story starring Elisha Cuthbert (The Girl Next Door, Happy Endings) and Brendan Taylor (Firefly Lane, Supernatural, The Magicians) and is based on a true story of an adult survivor of horrific child abuse who was put on trial for the murders of her parents. Then on October 18, Teen Choice Award winner and NAACP Image Award nominee Bianca Lawson (Queen Sugar, Rogue, The Feast of All Saints) and Kheon Clarke (SkyMed, Riverdale), star in The Widow's Payback, a gripping thriller inspired by real stories that explores how far one woman will go when the system fails her. Previously announced film, Taken At a Truck Stop: A Black Girl Missing Movie executive produced and starring Garcelle Beauvais, also joins the slate for an October 25 premiere. The third installment of the award-winning franchise tells the story of trucker Kai (Beauvais) whose niece Toy (Sierra Sidwell, Buying Back My Daughter) is taken by an online predator and together with Kai's sister Madison (Marci T House, Murder in a Small Town), go on an harrowing manhunt to find Toy with the help of their trucking community.
Surviving My Father: The Rachel Jeffs Story
Starring Kaitlyn Bernard, Michael Eklund, Britt Robertson
Premiering October 4 at 8/7c
Surviving My Father: The Rachel Jeffs Story is a powerful story of resilience based on the memoir "Breaking Free: How I Escaped Polygamy, the FLDS Cult, and My Father, Warren Jeffs". Daughter of Warren Jeffs (Michael Eklund), the notorious leader of a polygamist sect with 80 wives, Rachel (Kaitlyn Bernard) endured years of trauma from age 8 to 16. Subjected to her father's manipulation and abuse, Rachel navigated a maze of twisted "purity tests" and psychological games. When she finally spoke out, she faced disbelief and further isolation.
Undeterred, Rachel orchestrated a daring escape from her heavily guarded confinement. In a display of extraordinary courage, she not only secured her own freedom but returned to rescue her children from the polygamous community she left behind. The film chronicles Rachel's journey from victim to victor, showcasing the triumph of the human spirit over seemingly insurmountable odds. Her story illuminates the hidden world of polygamist cults while celebrating one woman's determination to reclaim her identity and rewrite her destiny. Britt Roberston also stars as Barbara Jeffs.
Surviving My Father: The Rachel Jeffs Story is produced by Bruce Harvey for CMW Horizon Productions Inc in association with Studio TF1 America with Amelia Burstyn, Meghan Hooper White and RivrMedia serving as executive producers. Ali Liebert directs from a script by Kelly Fullerton.
Monster in the Family: The Stacey Kananen Story
Starring Elisha Cuthbert and Brendan Taylor
Premiering October 11 at 8/7c
Based on a true story, Monster in the Family: The Stacey Kananen Story follows Stacey (Elisha Cuthbert), who survives a childhood of abuse and fear, only to face a shocking twist when her brother Rickie (Brendan Taylor) confesses to her that he killed their parents. She is further betrayed when Rickie claims she helped him commit the crimes. What began as a family's relief at a father's disappearance, unravels into a web of buried bodies and manipulation that leaves Stacey fighting for her freedom. Her story exposes the devastating cycle of trauma, betrayal, and resilience at the heart one woman's struggle to reclaim her own life. The film is also based on the book Fear of Our Father: A True Story of Abuse, Murder, and Family Ties written by Stacey Kananen and Lisa Bonnice.
Monster in the Family: The Stacey Kananen Story is produced by Bruce Harvey for CMW Lakeside Productions Inc. in association with Studio TF1 America. Jeff Vanderwal and J.C. Mills serve as executive producers for Cineflix Productions. Timothy O. Johnson, Amelia Burstyn, and Meghan Hooper White serve as executive producers. Jessica Harmon directs from a script written by Jill Blotevogel.
The Widow's Payback
Starring Bianca Lawson, Kheon Clarke
Premiering October 18 at 8/7c
Amanda Bibbs (Bianca Lawson) is a devoted wife whose world shatters after her husband is murdered. When the hunt for his killer and justice stalls and painful secrets rise to the surface, Amanda embarks on a high-stakes journey of deception and courage to take matters into her own hands. Assuming a daring new identity, she infiltrates a dangerous underworld and seduces Percy "Slide" Daye (Kheon Clarke), the ruthless criminal mastermind behind her husband's death. As she gains his trust and penetrates his inner circle, Amanda risks everything to expose the truth and fight for justice.
The Widow's Payback is produced by Navid Soofi for PF Oak Productions Inc. in association with Studio TF1 America. Stacy Mandelberg, Tim Johnson and Meghan Hooper White executive produce. Steve Adelson directs a script from Avery O. Williams.
Taken at a Truck Stop: A Black Girl Missing Movie
Starring Garcelle Beauvais, Marci T House, Sierra Sidwell
Premiering October 25 at 8/7c
In Taken at a Truck Stop, Kai (Garcelle Beauvais), a tough, tenacious trucker and co-owner of her family's business is thrown into a harrowing manhunt after her sister Madison's (Marci T House) neurodivergent daughter, Toy (Sierra Sidwell), is abducted by an online predator. When law enforcement hits a dead end, Kai leverages her loyal trucking network and social media influence to launch a grassroots rescue mission to find her niece. The gripping story underscores the realities of online exploitation, the strength of community, and the inequities in media coverage of missing girls of color. This installment of the Black Girl Missing franchise continues to shine a spotlight on stories too often overlooked. for its unflinching portrayal of the disparities in missing persons cases involving Black women and girls.
The Black Girl Missing franchise has garnered critical acclaim and multiple award recognitions, including a Gracie Award win for Made for TV Movie, an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Television Movie, an Astra Award win for Best Broadcast Network or Cable TV Movie and nominations for a NAMIC Vision Award and Black Reel Award for Television. Naturi Naughton who starred in Abducted at an HBCU: A Black Girl Missing Movie also won an NAACP Image Award for Best Actress.
Taken at a Truck Stop: A Black Girl Missing Movie is produced by Navid Soofi for PF Maple Productions in association with Studio TF1 America, Garcelle Beauvais Productions and Gilbertson Entertainment. Garcelle Beauvais, Jason Egenberg and Gordon Gilbertson executive produce. Kailey Spear and Sam Spear direct from a story by Germaine Hill and Teleplay by Francesca Gailes & Jacqueline J. Gailes.
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