EXCLUSIVE: Singer and actress Lisa Velez, who rose to fame in the 80s hit group Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam, is getting the biopic treatment at Lifetime.
Velez will executive produce and star in Can You Feel the Beat: The Lisa Lisa Story as her mother, and Jearnest Corchado (Sneaker Heads, Little America) will play the freestyle legend. In addition to Velez and Corchado, the project also stars Bre Z (All American, Empire) as Toni Ménage and NYC radio personality, Angie Martinez as Nurse Rodriguez.
The film tells the story of Velez as a 15-year-old Puerto Rican girl from Hell’s Kitchen who went on to influence artists like Selena Quintanilla and Jennifer Lopez and inspire girls growing up in the 80s and 90s to reach for the stars. As a teen, Velez endured sexism and racism and hid her breast cancer diagnosis to become the first Latina artist to hit multiple music Billboard charts including songs “Can You Feel The Beat,” “All Cried Out,” and “Lost in Emotion.”
The project also highlights Velez’s devoted friendship with backup singer, Toni Ménage, whose unwavering support helped Velez learn to take control of her professional and personal life. Lifetime says the biopic tells the story of “two best friends who refused to allow themselves to be destroyed by the entertainment business, filled with twists and turns and ends triumphantly as the two refused to give up on their dreams.”
Can You Feel The Beat is borrowed from the title of a Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam track released in 1985 that peaked at No. 6 on Billboard’s Dance chart. It also charted on the Billboard Hot 100 and the R&B singles chart. “Can You Feel the Beat” is the group’s second hit following “I Wonder If I Take You Home.” Freestyle continues to influence and entertain younger generations today, thanks to the timeless hits created by the era’s biggest talent. Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam are innovators whose music was not exclusively for freestyle fans. Their hits blasted on mainstream radio and their music videos played on MTV all over the world.
The fully authorized biopic will premiere in 2025 as part of the network’s Voices of a Lifetime movie slate, alongside the previously announced Mary J. Blige’s Family Affair, executive produced by Blige and starring Ajiona Alexus and Da’Vinchi.
Can You Feel the Beat: The Lisa Lisa Story is produced by Swirl Films with Tracy “Twinkie” Byrd, Lisa Velez, Toni Ménage, Abbey Sibucao, Ron Robinson and Eric Tomosunas serving as executive producers. Produced in association with GroupM Motion Entertainment with Richard Foster and Chet Fenster serving as executive producers. Taiiah Breon directs from a script by Rebecca Murga.
