Taraji P. Henson and Tasha Smith are teaming up once again, but their latest Netflix project has a real-life twist that didn’t need to be created by a screenwriter. The first photos from Give Me Some Sugah, released by People on Thursday, September 24, feature Henson as Lenore Lindsey, a Chicago baker who realizes that one of her longtime customers is actually the son she gave up for adoption. Smith directs the film, which is set to premiere on the streaming platform December 16.
The pair recently appeared together in Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married Again?, with Henson joining the franchise as Roselyn while Smith reprises her role as Angela. For Give Me Some Sugah, Smith takes on directing duties as Henson steps into the role of Lindsey.
The newly released images feature Henson alongside Russell Hornsby, who portrays Robert, and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, who plays Angie. Joey Bada$$ is also part of the cast.
As previously reported last October, the film was initially titled ’Tis So Sweet, with Henson and Joey Bada$$’s casting quickly making headlines.
Lindsey was 17 when she made the difficult decision to put her newborn son up for adoption. Years later, Vamarr Hunter became a regular customer at her Give Me Some Sugah bakery in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood. He had no idea Lindsey was his biological mother, while she was unaware that the customer visiting her bakery was actually her son.
Hunter discovered he had been adopted at 35, and genetic testing eventually led him to Lindsey. By that point, the two had already been living in the same neighborhood without knowing their connection.
Their reunion also had an impact on the bakery. When Lindsey experienced a health crisis, Hunter stepped in to help manage the business despite having no previous baking experience. The two eventually began working there together. “You can’t make up for time and days gone by,” he said about his decision to run the bakery. “What you can do is properly utilize the time that you have.”
Henson told People that she was drawn to Lindsey’s determination long before she learned how the real-life story would unfold. Following a professional setback, Lindsey decided to finally pursue her long-held dream of opening a bakery. “What moved me most was Lenore’s resilience and tenacity,” Henson said.
She added that she hopes the movie inspires viewers to reconnect with someone they care about.
Perry and DeVon Franklin are producing Give Me Some Sugah, which was written by Randy Brown.
