Production is officially underway in Los Angeles on, A Sudden Family, a heartfelt comedy-drama led by legendary vocalist and actress Freda Payne (Nutty Professor II The Klumps), former Temptations frontman Louis Price ( Norbit, Tommy Boy ) ) Rufus Dorsey (Pearl Harbor, Ali) and Sammie Ray (Ruthless)
The film follows a high school wrestling coach who finds himself caught between chasing a long-awaited dream job and managing an unexpected new family dynamic — one that forces him to reevaluate what truly matters.
A Sudden Family marks a rare on-screen pairing between Payne and her real-life son Gregory Abbott Jr. In 2023, Payne was inducted into the Hall of Fame with the SoulTracks Lifetime Achievement Award (2024), recognizing her contributions to the music industry. She also received the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement and Legacy Award in 2023. Rounding out the cast is music artist Wanda Dee, along with Ashley Nocera (Fanged), and Katarina Severen (Karate Kill).
Directed by Matthew S. Robinson (My Friend Violet), the film is produced by James Pratt (Longevity Hackers, Malibu Crush), Ron Krauss (Open Wounds, Gimme Shelter), and Craig Titley (Percy Jackson, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), serving as executive producers alongside Dorsey.
A release is slated for late 2025. “This is a deeply human story — and with a cast like this, it’s coming to life in a way that’s honest and powerful,” said writer-producer Rufus Dorsey.
