Known for its thrillers and chillers, Lifetime announced today its upcoming new original movie, Safe Space, currently in production and scheduled to premiere in 2022. The suspense-filled new movie marks Boris Kodjoe’s directorial debut and stars his real-life spouse Nicole Ari Parker (Chicago P.D., Empire) as well as Drea de Matteo (The Sopranos), Nik Sanchez (The Rookie) and Mackenzie Astin (The Magicians).

Safe Space centers on recently widowed Lila Jackson (Ari Parker) and her 14-year-old autistic son Ian (Sanchez). Since the death of her husband, Lila is grateful for their kind neighbor Neil Hargrove (Kodjoe), who looks out for them. After Ian accidentally witnesses a break-in in the house across the street and records the horrific murder of the homeowner, Lila becomes embroiled in a deadly struggle to protect her son from intruders Dominic (Astin) and Rocco (De Matteo), who will stop at nothing to retrieve the video evidence of the crime and silence them. Hiding and trapped in a makeshift panic room created by her late husband, Lila and Ian must use all of their strength and intelligence to outsmart the intruders to save themselves.

Additional cast members include Monica Calhoun who appears as Officer Armani and Julito McCullum as a repairman.

Lifetime has worked with the organization RespectAbility in review of the script to ensure as much authenticity as possible in the portrayal of Ian. The role of Ian is played by Nik Sanchez who is on the autism spectrum. As part of Lifetime’s advocacy efforts, resources to learn more about autism will be provided at the end of the film.

Safe Space is produced by Astute Films for Lifetime. Executive producers include Dominique Telson and Karen Kaufman Wilson. Boris Kodjoe directs from a script by Nneka Gerstle.

###

ABOUT ASTUTE FILMS

Veteran film production executive Fred Bernstein launched Los Angeles-based, privately-funded motion picture financing and production company Astute Films, LLC with Rick Jackson in 2015. Bernstein, who previously headed production at Columbia Pictures, and the business and operations of Universal Pictures, created Astute Films with Jackson to facilitate the production of quality films that both entertain and matter. Dominique Telson a long time exec at Showtime Networks joined shortly thereafter to run development and production. Astute Films is currently in post-production on Here Today starring Billy Crystal and Tiffany Haddish and Good Girl Jane which features Andie MacDowell and Patrick Gibson. Recent Astute Films releases include, The Best of Enemies starring Taraji P. Henson and Sam Rockwell, An Interview with God with David Strathairn and Brenton Twaites, and Premature, featuring Zora Howard and Joshua Boone

ABOUT LIFETIME

Celebrating 35 years of entertaining audiences, Lifetime is a premier entertainment destination for women dedicated to offering the highest quality original programming spanning award-winning movies, high-quality scripted series and breakout non-fiction series. Lifetime has an impressive legacy in public affairs, bringing attention to social issues that women care about with initiatives such as the long running Stop Breast Cancer for Life now in its 25th year, Stop Violence Against Women which relaunched in 2018, and Broader Focus, a major global initiative dedicated to supporting and hiring female directors, writers and producers, including women of color, to make its content. Lifetime Television(R), LMN(R), Lifetime Real Women(R) and Lifetime Digital(TM) are part of Lifetime Entertainment Services, LLC, a subsidiary of A+E Networks. A+E Networks is a joint venture of the Disney-ABC Television Group and Hearst Corporation. Follow Lifetime Publicity on  Twitter  and  Instagram