HOLY HUSTLE HEADS TO HAMILTON: MARVIN TOWNS JR. DIRECTS SCANDALOUS, SOULFUL STORY FOR BET+
By Matthew R. Allen
Hollywood has always had a love affair with a good redemption story, and this summer, audiences will get one wrapped in faith, scandal, and sizzling drama. Holy Hustle, the latest project from Branch Out Films, Michigan’s Black female-owned powerhouse, in collaboration with Canada’s Spaceman Entertainment, is heading into production in Hamilton, Ontario, with an anticipated June debut on BET+.
At the helm is Marvin Towns Jr., known for his ability to blend humor, depth, and social commentary into his projects. The film stars rising talent Gabrielle Graham (Twenties, Possessor), whose magnetic screen presence is set to light up the screen in a role that’s equal parts provocative and poignant.
A Story About Faith, Hypocrisy, and the Hustle
Set against the backdrop of Grand Rapids, Holy Hustle follows Marcus Thompson, an ambitious interim pastor vying for the coveted head pastor role at First Baptist Church. His fiancée Rebecca, the daughter of power-hungry Deacon Hayes, has been meticulously preparing for her life as a perfect pastor’s wife, making their upcoming marriage feel more like a business merger than a love story.
But the real shake-up comes when Marcus encounters Harmony Davis, a psychology doctoral student by day and an online seductress—known as “MaryMagdalene89″—by night. While she’s using her digital persona to bankroll her degree and raise her teenage daughter, Marcus is trying to keep the congregation’s wandering eyes off her alluring platform. When their paths collide, their relationship evolves from moral opposition to mutual understanding—and eventually, something much more complicated.
Scandal, Schemes, and a Reckoning in the Pulpit
As Marcus gets entangled in Harmony’s world, his own carefully curated life begins to crumble. Rebecca’s golden-boy brother Jonathan, a surgeon with a spiraling alcohol problem, is being paraded as the face of their new faith-based rehab center—despite never having set foot in an actual program. Meanwhile, Deacon Hayes pulls every string to keep his church’s pristine image intact, even if it means burying secrets and twisting faith for profit.
Then comes the ultimate reckoning: a viral hotel scandal that turns Marcus into a pariah overnight. When church members discover footage of him and Harmony in a compromising moment, First Baptist ignites into chaos. Rebecca, out for revenge, orchestrates an online takedown of Harmony, cutting off her income and sending her life into a tailspin. With Marcus’s career in flames, Deacon Hayes orders him to do one last thing: publicly denounce Harmony and reclaim his reputation.
But Marcus has had enough of the holy hustle. Instead of playing along, he steps to the pulpit and tells the truth—not just about himself, but about the church’s obsession with appearances over real healing. His act of defiance costs him everything—his job, his fiancée, his carefully built future—but it grants him something far more valuable: his authentic self.
A BET+ Event Not to Be Missed
In a world where megachurch scandals regularly make headlines, Holy Hustle delivers a timely, electrifying look at faith, hypocrisy, and redemption. The film marks another compelling entry into BET+’s growing slate of original, socially conscious dramas.
With Marvin Towns Jr.’s direction, Gabrielle Graham’s breakout performance, and a story that feels ripped from the headlines, Holy Hustle is poised to be one of the most talked-about films of the year.
Stay tuned for more updates as production heats up in Hamilton!