South Shore's sweetest reunion is getting the full Netflix treatment, with Taraji P. Henson stepping into the kitchen to play bakery owner Lenore Lindsey in "Tis So Sweet," a feature film inspired by the viral story of Lindsey and her longtime customer-turned-son Vamarr Hunter. Rapper and actor Jo-Vaughn "Joey Bada$$" Virginie Scott plays Hunter, while producers Tyler Perry and DeVon Franklin back the project. Lindsey's family says the production shot in Chicago and at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, and they are hoping the movie lands on Netflix around next Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Big names and a faith-driven focus
According to Netflix's Tudum, "Tis So Sweet" adapts Lindsey's real-life reunion into a faith-forward drama. The outlet names Tasha Smith as director and Randy Brown as the screenwriter, and confirms Henson and Jo-Vaughn Virginie Scott lead the film under the Perry-Franklin producing team. Netflix also positions the project as the second feature from the Perry-Franklin partnership centered on inspirational stories for the streamer.
Local family reaction
NBC Chicago, the station that first reported Lindsey and Hunter's reunion in November, notes that calls about turning the story into a movie started coming in just days after the original coverage aired. The family, clearly having fun with their sudden fame, told the station they have decided that they are "superstars." NBC Chicago also reports that Lindsey and Hunter were on set during the Chicago shoot and that they are developing a book inspired by the reunion.
Filming and timing
Industry notices and local casting calls show production ran in late 2025, with studio work at Tyler Perry's Atlanta hub and location shooting in Chicago. Trade listings set a mid-November start through mid-December schedule, and Atlanta casting notices match that window. Reporting that gathers those production details is available on What's On Netflix.
The bakery at the center
Give Me Some Sugah, the South Shore bakery Lindsey opened in 2008, became the human center of the story that later went national. People reports that Hunter used consumer DNA testing and genealogical research to locate his birth mother after learning he was adopted, and that the two now work together at the shop. The Chicago Sun-Times lists the bakery's storefront as 2234 E. 71st St. in South Shore and profiles how the reunion has reshaped the neighborhood staple.
Cast, crew, and what to expect
Beyond Henson and Joey Bada$$, recent casting notices and trade reports add names such as Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Russell Hornsby, Alexis Louder and others to the ensemble, according to coverage that compiles those announcements. Yahoo highlights those casting additions, while NBC Chicago quotes Lindsey saying the family watched filming in Chicago and felt the leads were honoring their story. Producers characterize the film as one about faith, forgiveness, and second chances, and the family says they are developing a companion book as the movie moves through postproduction.
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