Mea Culpa: Cast, Release Date, Trailer, Soundtrack and Plot of Tyler Perry and Kelly Rowland Erotic Thriller - Netflix Tudum
- Images: Bob Mahoney/Perry Well Films 2/NetflixKelly Rowland stars in and produced the movie.By Erin CorbettFeb. 26, 2024
The Tyler Perry cinematic universe is expanding. The latest from the prolific producer, writer, and director is Mea Culpa, a new steamy thriller starring Kelly Rowland (The Curse of Bridge Hollow), who is also a producer on the film.
Also starring Trevante Rhodes (Bruiser, Bird Box), Sean Sagar (The Gentlemen), Nick Sagar (The Princess Switch), and RonReaco Lee (Nappily Ever After), the film centers around a criminal defense attorney who takes on the case of a seductive artist accused of murdering his girlfriend. But when burning desire takes hold, things get hot… and dangerous. “This idea came to me because I love all of those older thrillers from the ’80s and ’90s,” Perry tells Tudum. “It was fun to explore the best and worst of humanity through the genre of an exotic thriller.”
When it came to working with his lead actor and co-producer, Perry says Rowland challenged him — in a good way. “I never had an experience where I was working with someone who had so many great ideas to bring to the table,” he says. “As a producer, she was fantastic.” Rowland felt the same way about Perry, telling Tudum that the director was always open to exploring her creative ideas. “It was just so easy to work with him and if there was ever any moment where he was uncertain about something, he would say, ‘Well, let’s discuss it and then let’s try it.’ But it was all about communicating.” And for Rhodes, it was an easy decision to join the project. “I told Tyler ‘yes’ before he sent the script,” he says. “We cookin’. ”
There’s no Mea Culpa without Rowland and Rhodes, and “the chemistry is electric,” says Perry. Rowland agrees: “Trevante is a dream. I feel very lucky to have shared space with him on camera, and I admire his work ethic. And when we met, it was chemistry.” See for yourself when the film comes to Netflix on Feb. 23.
Mea Culpa marks Perry’s fourth project for Netflix, and he’s currently working on his fifth: Six Triple Eight, the true story about the first and only Women’s Army Corps unit of color to be stationed overseas during World War II, starring Kerry Washington.
Is Perry booked and busy? Guilty as charged.
What’s Mea Culpa about?
When criminal defense attorney Mea Harper (Kelly Rowland) takes on the murder case of artist Zyair Malloy (Trevante Rhodes), the truth isn't as obvious as it seems. While she tries to determine the innocence or guilt of her cagy-yet-seductive client, it is uncovered that everyone is guilty of something. Tyler Perry’s Mea Culpa explores what happens when burning desire takes hold and things get hot... and dangerous.
Who’s in the cast of Mea Culpa?
Kelly Rowland
Mea is a confident and strong-willed criminal defense attorney. But when she takes on the murder case of artist Zyair Malloy, it leads her down a path of illicit attraction and deceit. Still, she’s committed to Zyair’s case and believes she’s the most qualified attorney to take him on — though she doesn’t trust his intentions, and will have to follow her instincts to find the real truth.
Perry had only positive words for his co-producer and lead actor. “She is 100% invested,” he says. “She’s there. Once we established the trust between director and actor, she gave it her all. And I just can’t wait for the world and everybody to see the gears that she has and the levels that she put down in this and the way she painted it.”
Rowland, he adds, is “not only a phenomenal superstar around the world, [and] incredibly beautiful, but the camera loves her. Working with her was such a joy.”
The Curse of Bridge Hollow, Grown-ish, Freddy vs . Jason, American Soul, Think Like a Man
Trevante Rhodes
Zyair is an enigmatic artist who lives and works out of his Chicago loft. When he is accused of killing his girlfriend, the job of defending him falls to Mea, and he finds his advocate both intriguing and attractive. Despite all the evidence pointing to Zyair — described by one witness as a womanizer and a snake — he maintains his innocence. He may have some wild sexual interests, he says, but he would never hurt anybody. Or would he?
Perry and Rhodes reunited on the set of Mea Culpa after working together for the first time 10 years ago. “I pretty much gave him his first gig in this industry on a show I had called If Loving You is Wrong, and I knew he was a superstar, I knew he was incredibly talented,” Perry says. “So to have this mystery and this kind of danger in this character, I needed someone who can really play that.”
Perry knew Rhodes would be the perfect actor to portray Zyair’s enigmatic charm. “He’s like a mischievous kid, he has a smile that can be quite disarming,” he says. “When Kelly was talking about who she wanted to work with, she wanted to work with somebody who could meet her energy and elevate her energy. Hiring him was the best choice for Zyair.”
Moonlight, Bird Box, The United States vs. Billie Holiday, The Predator
Sean Sagar
Kal is struggling to get back on track after losing his job. He’s kept his change in circumstances secret from his assistant district attorney brother, Ray, and his mother, Azalia.
The Covenant, Our Girl, The Gentlemen, Tyler Perry’s Sistas, Fate: The Winx Saga
Nick Sagar
Ray is the assistant district attorney who will be prosecuting Zyair’s case. He wants to use the artist as the face of his upcoming tough-on-crime mayoral bid. But in his efforts to make that happen, he gets caught up in his own web of lies. And yes, Nick and Sean Sagar are brothers in real life — this is their first time working together in over a decade.
The Princess Switch, The Princess Switch: Switched Again, The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star, Shadowhunters, Supergirl, Run the World, Queen of the South
RonReaco Lee
Jimmy is the private investigator hired by Mea to look into the loose ends in Zyair’s case. What Jimmy finds comes as a bigger shock than either of them expected.
Glory, Guess Who, Survivor’s Remorse, The Black Hamptons, First Wives Club, Nappily Ever After
Shannon Thornton
Charlise is Ray’s wife, who also shares a special bond with Mea.
P-Valley, Dynasty, Inventing Anna, Power
Kerry O’Malley
Azalia is Ray and Kal’s mother, a classic boy mom for better or for worse (mostly for worse). She always thinks she knows what’s best for the two men, getting involved in their lives in inappropriate ways.
Perry gushed about O’Malley, who took the lead among the cast behind the scenes. “She would show up and just be the narrator of my table reads,” he says. “And if there were actors that weren’t there, she would just fill in. She’s phenomenal at falling into all of these different moments and these different characters.”
The Killer, NYPD Blue, Boardwalk Empire, Why Women Kill, Sami, Snowpiercer, Annabelle: Creation, Strange Angel, Shameless
Here’s every song in the Mea Culpa soundtrack
- Isaac Hayes “Walk on By”
- Fred Again “Winnie (End of Me)”
- Jay Weigel “Time Away”
- Jay Weigel “Samba of Love”
- Jay Weigel “Only With You”
- The Isley Brothers “Hello It’s Me”
- DJ Lag “Khavude”
- Banks “And I Drove You Crazy”
- Sabrina Claudio “Unravel Me”
- Extreme Music “Don’t Dig Nutin”
- Extreme Music “Condotta Ell’Era In Ceppi”
Where can I watch the Mea Culpa trailer?
You can watch the trailer at the top of this article.
What’s the release date for Mea Culpa?
Mea Culpa is now streaming on Netflix.
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