The Real MVP: The Wanda Durant Story Premieres May 7 To Celebrate Mother's Day

Cassandra Freeman stars in The Real MVP: The Wanda Durant Story/Photo by Bettina Straus & Sergei Bachlakov

Basketball great Kevin Durant of The Oklahoma City Thunder captured the hearts of the nation when he accepted the 2014 NBA Most Valuable Player Award with his emotional speech crediting all of his success to his mother, Wanda, naming her “the real MVP." Durant's moving story of a mother’s love, tenacity and sacrifice unfolds on Saturday, May 7 at 8pm ET/PT in The Real MVP: The Wanda Durant Story, just in time for Mother’s Day.

Executive produced by Academy Award nominee, Golden Globe, Grammy, SAG and Emmy Award winner Queen Latifah and her Flavor Unit team, the inspiring true story of The Real MVP begins with Wanda, a single mom of two by the time she was 21, working tirelessly to make ends meet and put a roof over the heads of her young sons. With the support of her mother and her best friend, Wanda focused all her energy on keeping her boys out of trouble and on the basketball court, selflessly putting aside her own dreams and desires to make sure their goals could be achieved. Her hard work paid off as her son Tony earned basketball scholarships and graduated from college while Kevin pursued his dream of playing in the NBA.

Cassandra Freeman (Inside Man, Single Ladies) stars as Wanda, Tracie Thoms (Cold Case, Rent) as her best friend and confidante, and Pauletta Washington (Wilma) portrays her mother Barbara. Daniel Bellomy and Nic Few star as the adult Kevin and Tony respectively.

The Real MVP: The Wanda Durant Story is produced by A+E Studios. Executive producers from Flavor Unit are Queen Latifah, Shakim Compere and Shelby Stone. Wanda Pratt also executive produces with Gina Ford and Brynee Baylor as co-executive producers. The film is directed by Nelson George (Life Support, A Ballerina’s Tale) and written by Yolonda Lawrence (Witches of East End) and Ligiah Villalobos (Ed).

Queen Latifah and Mary J. Blige Join Cast of NBC's 'The Wiz'

Mary J. Blige and Queen Latifah has been cast in "The Wiz Live!"

Queen Latifah and Mary J. Blige — multi-award winners, giants of the recording industry and stars of both the small and big screen — have been added to the cast of NBC’s upcoming holiday musical production of “The Wiz Live!,” set for Thursday, December 3.

Queen Latifah stars as the Wiz, the mysterious and powerful wizard who holds the keys to the Emerald City, but whose metamorphosis from ordinary to extraordinary is itself a hoax. She rose to her lofty position after being transported by accident to Oz in a hot air balloon during a snowstorm.

Mary J. Blige will play Evillene, the Wicked Witch of the West, who holds sway over the Winkies and the Winged Monkeys that do her bidding. She captures Dorothy and her friends to avenge the unintentional murder of her evil sister, Evvamean, and to get back the powerful silver slippers given to Dorothy by the Good Witch of the North.

The multi-talented Queen Latifah is a Golden Globe, Grammy and Screen Actors Guild Award winner, as well as having earned Emmy and Oscar nominations.

HBO Movie 'Bessie' Premieres This Spring, Stars Queen Latifah as Iconic Blues Singer Bessie Smith

Oscar nominee Queen Latifah (Chicago) stars as legendary blues singer Bessie Smith in the HBO Films drama Bessie, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Dee Rees (Pariah) from a screenplay by Rees and Christopher Cleveland & Bettina Gilois. With a story by Rees and Horton Foote, the film focuses on Smith's transformation from a struggling young singer into "The Empress of the Blues," one of the most successful recording artists of the 1920s and an enduring icon today.

Debuting this spring, Bessie is executive produced by Queen Latifah, Shakim Compere, Lili Fini Zanuck, Richard D. Zanuck, Shelby Stone and Randi Michel. Ron Schmidt produces.

The talented cast includes Michael Kenneth Williams (Boardwalk Empire, 12 Years a Slave) as Bessie's husband, Jack; Khandi Alexander (Scandal, Treme) as Bessie's older sister, Viola; Mike Epps (The Hangover, Soul Men) as Richard, a bootlegger and romantic interest; Tika Sumpter (Ride Along, Sparkle) as Lucille, a performer and romantic interest; Tory Kittles (True Detective, Olympus Has Fallen) as Bessie's older brother, Clarence; Oliver Platt (X-Men: First Class, Fargo, Chef) as famed photographer and writer Carl Van Vechten; Bryan Greenberg (Friends with Benefits, How to Make It in America) as renowned record producer and music critic John Hammond; with Charles S. Dutton (Longmire, Alien 3) as Ma Rainey's husband, William "Pa" Rainey; and Oscar winner Mo'Nique (Precious) as blues legend Ma Rainey.

Queen Latifah Stars In and Executive Produces HBO Films' 'Bessie', The Story of Bessie Smith

Oscar nominee Queen Latifah (Chicago) stars as legendary blues singer Bessie Smith in HBO Films' Bessie, written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Dee Rees (Pariah). Currently in production in Atlanta and debuting in 2015, the film focuses on Smith’s transformation from a struggling young singer into "The Empress of the Blues," one of the most successful recording artists of the 1920s and an enduring icon today. The cast also features Michael K. Williams, Khandi Alexander, Mike Epps, Tika Sumpter, Tory Kittles, Oliver Platt, Bryan Greenberg, Charles S. Dutton and Mo’Nique. Bessie is executive produced by Queen Latifah, Shakim Compere, Lili Fini Zanuck, Shelby Stone and Randi Michel.

Michael K. Williams (Boardwalk Empire; 12 Years a Slave) stars as Bessie's husband, Jack. Khandi Alexander (Scandal, Treme) plays Bessie's big sister, Viola. Mike Epps (The Hangover, Soul Men) plays Richard, a bootlegger and romantic interest. Tika Sumpter (One Life to Live, The Haves and the Have Nots) plays Lucille, a performer and romantic interest. Oliver Platt (X-Men: First Class, Fargo, Chef) plays famed photographer and writer Carl Van Vechten. Bryan Greenberg (Friends with Benefits, How to Make It in America) portrays renowned record producer and music critic John Hammond. Tory Kittles (True Detective, Olympus Has Fallen) plays Bessie's older brother, Clarence. Charles S. Dutton (Longmire, Alien 3) portrays Ma Rainey’s husband, William “Pa” Rainey. Mo’Nique (Precious, The Parkers) portrays blues legend Ma Rainey.