Joaquina Kalukango And Lance Gross Cast As Leads In Gloria Gaynor Biopic For Lifetime

Lifetime has cast Tony Award winner Joaquina Kalukango, known for her role in Lawmen: Bass Reeves, to star as Gloria Gaynor in the biopic I Will Survive: The Gloria Gaynor Story. Joining her, Lance Gross (Tyler Perry’s House of Payne) will play Gaynor's husband, Linwood Simon. Part of the "Voices of a Lifetime" series, the film is slated for release in 2025 and will also include biopics on Mary J. Blige and Lisa Lisa.

As an authorized project, the film captures Gaynor’s five-decade career, charting her journey from humble beginnings to her status as the Queen of Disco. Audiences can expect an original song from Gaynor, alongside her iconic hits like the 1978 anthem “I Will Survive.” The story also highlights her personal struggles, especially her turbulent marriage, shedding light on the resilience behind her music.

The production aligns with Lifetime’s Broader Focus initiative to spotlight women in the industry. Directed by Alicia K. Harris with a script by Njeri Brown and Jane Espenson, I Will Survive is produced by Rock’n Robin Productions and executive produced by Robin Roberts, Linda Berman, and Gaynor herself. This marks a reunion for Roberts and Kalukango, who previously collaborated on Mahalia, a film that earned an Emmy nomination.