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*Still riding high on the box office success of “Madea’s Family Reunion,” the movie’s director and star, Tyler Perry, has inked a deal with Lionsgate for his third film, “Daddy’s Little Girl.”
Perry will write, produce and direct the Cinderella twist about a young, beautiful, successful female attorney who falls in love with a janitor and single father of three daughters. Despite strong objections from the attorney's father, love triumphs in the end.
Perry’s first two previous outings with Lionsgate were the box office topper “Diary of a Mad Black Woman” in 2005 and this year’s “Madea’s Family Reunion,” which earned $30 million in its opening weekend and held its No. 1 box office position for two consecutive weeks.
"I am so pleased to be working with Lionsgate once again," Perry said. "They have continuously proven their commitment to my film projects as well as their expertise at innovative marketing and distribution campaigns time and time again."
Reuben Cannon, who produced both "Reunion" and "Diary," will join Perry again as producer of "Daddy's Little Girl," which has been fast-tracked for a June start and, like both previous films, is set for a February release.
Meanwhile, Perry’s first book, "Don't Make a Black Woman Take Off Her Earrings: Madea's Uninhibited Commentaries on Life and Love," is due next month via Riverdale/Penguin. He also recently inked a deal to distribute his TV series "House of Payne" in first-run syndication.
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