BET continues its obsession with the dark side of those who run a church with its new telenovela titled Redemption.
It was teased last week and now the finer details have been confirmed.
It premieres on Monday 26 September at 18h00, with new episodes Mondays to Thursdays and a repeat at 21h30, in Isono's former timeslot.
According to Paramount Africa, it's going to air on e.tv too, sometime in the future, as we've seen with Isono.
The title Redemption reflects what its about... the pursuit of salvation, as personified by the lead character Faith, portrayed by Isithembiso and Umbuso star Kwanele Mthethwa.
The series is set in a mega church and the story centres round the Zikode family who are at the helm. They're highly respected in the way mega church families are, but of course there's darkness beneath the surface of their "glory".
This is what Faith discovers when she returns home after the disappearance of her father Pastor Zikode, played by Themba Ndaba.
Faith is on the cusp of an international music career and drops everything to return home when he mysteriously disappears.
This from the official description:
As Faith immerses herself in the church and the family’s affairs, she uncovers devastating secrets about those closest to her and is confronted with her own skeletons. Dark truths come to light and the Zikode family are faced with many baffling decisions as they scramble to salvage the family’s legacy.
Very Greenleaf, right down to having a character named Faith.
The series is a co-production between Seriti Films and Burnt Onion Productions and the head writers are writing team Siphosethu Tshapu and Kagiso Mogale, who co-wrote SABC1's Hush Money, and currently co-write on Lingashoni.
Directors are Thabang Moleya, Nozipho Nkelemba and Athi Petela, who co-directed with Thabang on Mzansi Magic's current season of aYeYe.
The cast includes a line-up of big names: Tina Jaxa, who plays the pastor’s devout wife Evelyn Zikode, and Seputla Sebogodi, who plays the Bad Guy.
Also in the cast are:
- Class Act alumni Yonda Thomas,
- Sparky Xulu, who left The Estate for this show,
- Pearl Modiadie, in her second acting role for BET - she's also on Black Tax,
- Zenzo Ngqobe,
- Pakamisa Zwedala,
- Mmarona Motshegoa,
- Peter Mashigo,
- Sonni Chidiebere,
- Leera Mthethwa and,
- Big Brother Mzansi housemate Luthando "B.U." Mthembu in his second acting role since Big Brother - he has a starring role on aYeYe 2.
Newcomers are Toka Mtabane, who played the young version of Vuyo Dabula's character Tau on the movie Five Fingers for Marseilles, and N'kone Mamejta, whose only role so far is as an extra on an episode of M-Net's Lioness.
Both are repped by Moonyeenn Lee Associates.