Shubhabrata Dutta
Lifetime’s ‘Eric Jerome Dickey’s Friends and Lovers,’ AKA ‘Eric Jerome Dickey’s Friends and Lovers Part I,’ is the first part of a two-part film series helmed by D’Angela Proctor. Based on the late author Eric Jerome Dickey’s novel, the movie follows best friends Debra, who is a doctor, and Shelby, a free spirit. Together, they form a strong and interesting pair. However, when they meet Leonard, a rising but struggling comedian, and his best bud Tyrese, their lives get intertwined and complicated.
The love that Debra and Leonard have for one another seems to only deepen with time, while Tyrese finds it hard to keep up with Shelby’s unpredictable ways. Then, when a tragedy strikes the group, they are compelled to recalibrate their bond, leading to a compelling depiction of modern relationships and their challenges. The visuals of ‘Eric Jerome Dickey’s Friends and Lovers’ are in accordance with the contemporary aspect of the narrative, showcasing how lifestyle plays a significant role in today’s relationships.
Where Was Eric Jerome Dickey’s Friends and Lovers Filmed?
‘Eric Jerome Dickey’s Friends and Lovers’ was reportedly filmed in Atlanta between the first week of August 2025 and the second week of September the same year. It was reportedly shot simultaneously with the second part, which resulted in the formation of a strong connection between the cast and crew. This resulted in an effective on-screen chemistry and a cohesive two-part drama wherein there’s a constant exchange of energy between those in front of the camera and those behind it.
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, the capital of Georgia, served as the primary production location for ‘Eric Jerome Dickey’s Friends and Lovers.’ The city is known as the Hollywood of the South, and numerous Lifetime projects have been filmed here. Its visual resemblance to cities like New York and Los Angeles makes it an apt yet less costly alternative for film and TV production. The city is home to multiple film studios, including the Tyler Perry Studios, that offer top-notch production facilities and highly skilled crews, thereby making filming a streamlined process. Other Lifetime movies that have opted for Atlanta as their shooting location are ‘Terry McMillan Presents: Preach, Pray, Love,’ ‘My Husband’s Other Wife,’ ‘No One Believed Me,’ ‘Pretty Hurts,’ and ‘Not My Family: The Monique Smith Story.’
Eric Jerome Dickey’s Friends and Lovers Cast Details
The cast of ‘Eric Jerome Dickey’s Friends and Lovers’ is led by Naturi Naughton, Simone Missick, Kendrick Sampson, and RonReaco Lee. Naturi is also a singer and is inspired by Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, and Yolanda Adams. She is involved in philanthropic efforts, focusing on arts education and empowerment for young women. Simone is a health enthusiast and is trained in Thai boxing. Kendrick is an activist who works for new development, empowerment, and change, focusing on communities that have been unfairly treated. RonReaco, like Simone, leads a healthy lifestyle, though he sometimes personalizes it with his favorite food item: Welch’s flavored fruit snacks. ‘Eric Jerome Dickey’s Friends and Lovers’ is Simone and Kendrick’s Lifetime debut and RonReaco’s sophomore Lifetime project.
Naturi Naughton as Debra
Naturi Naughton plays Debra in the movie. Her Lifetime performances include Journee in ‘The Night Before Christmas’ and Ellen Hampton in ‘Abducted at an HBCU: A Black Girl Missing Movie.’ Feature films where you can spot her include ‘Step Sisters,’ ‘Fame,’ ‘Notorious,’ and ‘Call Her King.’ She also plays Tasha St. Patrick in ‘Power,’ Tasha St. Patrick in ‘Power Book II: Ghost,’ and Jill ‘Da Thrill’ Sumpter in ‘Queens.’
Simone Missick as Shelby
Simone Missick portrays Shelby, Debra’s best friend. Her notable performances on TV are Astoria Chambers in ‘Government Cheese,’ Lola Carmichael in ‘All Rise,’ Trepp in ‘Altered Carbon,’ Misty Knight in ‘Luke Cage,’ ‘The Defenders,’ and ‘Iron Fist,’ and Grace in ‘American Koko.’ As far as feature films are concerned, you can spot her in ‘A Cold Hard Truth,’ ‘A Taste of Romance,’ ‘Jinn,’ and ‘The Road to Sundance.’
Kendrick Sampson as Leonard
Kendrick Sampson stars as Leonard, Debra’s love interest in the movie. Sampson’s fans know him as Nathan Campbell from ‘Insecure,’ Caleb Hapstall from ‘How to Get Away with Murder,’ and Jesse from ‘The Vampire Diaries.’ His other noteworthy performances include Ben in ‘Ghosting: The Spirit of Christmas,’ Rob in ‘Fashionably Yours,’ and Ethan Greene in ‘Something from Tiffany’s.’
RonReaco Lee as Tyrese
RonReaco Lee dons the role of Tyrese, Leonard’s best friend and Shelby’s love interest. He played Lawrence in the Lifetime movie ‘A Very Merry Beauty Salon.’ Popular TV shows he is a part of are ‘The Family Business,’ where he plays Bobby ‘The Beast’ Boyd, ‘Divorced Sistas,’ where he portrays William, ‘Survival of the Thickest,’ where you can spot him as Charles Renee, and ‘Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist,’ wherein he stars as Senator Leroy Johnson. Some feature films he can be spotted in are ‘Tyler Perry’s Duplicity,’ ‘My Fault,’ ‘Coffee & Kareem,’ and ‘Nappily Ever After.’
The lead actors are joined by a talented bunch of supporting cast that includes Alfonso Aguirre as Principal Williams, Demitra as Calista, Jessica Luza as Leslie Stein, Larissa Maloney as Queenie, Briana Starks as Ashley, and Drew Stephenson as Bryce. Joining them as additional cast are Alejandro Estevon Angel as Darrius, Aléshah Brown as the Hillside Cafe employee, Hasani Vibez Comer as the comedian, Montrel Miller as the comedy club host, Nicholas Ramsay as the rude guy, Josh Rhett Noble as the officer, Michael Tibbetts as the concierge, and Ayanna S Williams as the studio groupie.
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