Mary J. Blige continues to win. After wrapping a successful first season on Starz’s Power Book II: The Ghost, the historic Academy Award nominee is getting more screen time this February. As Rated R&B previously reported in 2019, Blige signed on to star in The Violent Heart, a new coming-of-age romance. The film’s first trailer has finally arrived, with the upcoming picture set to debut on February 19, both in theaters and on-demand.
The Violent Heart, described as a Romeo and Juliet-styled picture, is directed by Kerem Sanga and follows Cassie, a college senior on the cusp of graduation, and her growing relationship with a local mechanic named Daniel, who dreams of becoming a Marine. As their romance blossoms, the truth about Daniel’s tragic and violent past comes to light.
Blige landed a role as a strong matriarch (Nina). She is the glue that holds her entire family together after the murder of her daughter while her Marine husband is deployed in Afghanistan.
Also expected from Blige this year is new music. She revealed during a recent Instagram live that her 14th studio album is coming very soon. She also spoke about the follow-up to 2017’s Strength of a Woman last August in a Los Angeles Times profile.
“It’s about life, love, struggle, but mostly triumph,” Blige told Greg Braxton of The L.A. Times. “Because I’m learning how to rejoice in the valleys and the droughts.”
In December, Blige celebrated the 15th anniversary of The Breakthrough. Rated R&B revisited with the album, emphasizing the first single’s strength, “Be Without You.” Revisit it here.
