AceShowbiz -

Sustaining his good relationship with Lionsgate Films, Tyler Perry is on the move to make his fifth film project under the studio banner that will also be his next feature directorial effort after "Why Did I Get Married?".

The New Orleans native will both helm and star in "Meet the Browns" based on his own stage play that he produced back in 2004. Story concerns a single mother who rediscovers the joys of family and the possibility of second chances when meeting the fun-loving family of her father, whom she never knew.

"The Brown family is one of Tyler's most popular creations, so it's exciting to see them come to the big screen," said Lionsgate President of Film Production Michael Paseornek. "Tyler is a unique and remarkable creative force, and we're delighted to continue adding films from one of our most successful franchises to our upcoming theatrical slate."

Filming is slated to begin this summer at the Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta with an eye for an early 2008 release. Unlike in the original, Perry's signature character Madea will appear in the film version in which the actor is set to also play a character named Uncle Joe.