The endlessly prolific Tyler Perry has a new erotic thriller now available on Netflix. He’s been in the news this week regarding comments about AI, but attention should instead be turned to the star power on-screen in his latest offering, Mea Culpa. Set in Chicago, Kelly Rowland plays the eponymous lawyer who takes on a criminal case tied to a mysterious and seductive artist named Zyair, played by Trevante Rhodes. The pair have terrific chemistry, and we recently caught up with the actors to learn more about working with Perry and their favorite moments from this delicious new thriller. Check out the video above or the interview below.

The Perks of Working with Tyler Perry
Mea Culpa 3.5/5 Release Date February 23, 2024 Cast Kelly Rowland , Trevante Rhodes , Kerry O’Malley , Sean Sagar , RonReaco Lee Runtime 2hr Studio Tyler Perry Studios

The beloved Tyler Perry has been in the Hollywood game long enough to even have a documentary made about his life. When asked what it was like collaborating with him, Rowland could sum it up in one word. “Amazing,” she told MovieWeb. “I remember [Perry saying], ‘Oh my gosh, you’re Mea!’ when we were out at a beautiful gala, and I didn’t know what he was talking about. And he told me he’d send me the script. He sent me the script. I saw it was an erotic thriller, [and] it scared the mess out of me. And at first I said, ‘No.’ I called a friend of mine. They said, ‘If it doesn’t scare you, what’s the purpose of doing it?’

Rowland continued to detail the perks of working on the erotic thriller, Mea Culpa:

Tyler assured me he would put me with a wonderful cast. I got Trevante Rhodes. We had the most amazing time. I could trust Trevante, I feel very safe with him. And I love the character Mea. I love her. And she’s so not me, that it was great to walk a mile in her shoes and tell her story.

Related: Tyler Perry Says He Made Mea Culpa to ‘Give Kelly Rowland a Moment to Shine’

Rhodes was also pleased with his experience on Perry’s latest effort. “It was cool, man. I love and appreciate and respect Tyler to death for everything,” he told us. “So it was a blessing.”

Kelly Rowland and Trevante Rhodes on Filming Those Sensual Paint Scenes

There are a number of erotic scenes between Mea and her new client Zyair, who happens to be a painter and uses his artistry to establish a deep connection with Mea, even on a sexual level. Mea often visits Zyair’s home studio to discuss his criminal case, and he often digresses the conversation in an effort to get Mea to become a part of his artwork. “I liked the first paint scene, where he’s guiding her. I thought that was really beautiful, and it was really fun to shoot,” said Rhodes, who has a real-life connection to his character. “I do like to dabble with the paints.”

Related: Mea Culpa Review: Tyler Perry Spotlights Kelly Rowland in Erotic Thriller

Rowland was in agreement on the sensual scene involving Zyair’s art. “The painting scene definitely pushed me, but it’s also the scene where Mea kind of starts to unravel. On set, I remember that was really a challenge for me. I had so many different things in my head, and I really just kind of let go. And I was scared to let go. And when I finally did, it just all came out,” said Rowland, continuing:

And yeah, that was one of my most memorable moments. I do remember still being wrapped up in a ball once that was done. So to come out of that was really dope. But I had such a great support system on set. I’m so grateful to Trevante and Tyler for sure.

Mea Culpa Is Very Different for Rowland

Based on Rowland’s recent filmography leading up to Mea Culpa, it’s plain to see why she ultimately jumped on this opportunity, as it effectively expands her reach on the acting front. “This one is so different from Christmas movies, so different from [the movie] Fantasy Football,” she told us. “The other films are so lighthearted and warm and sweet and hold such sweet places. This one goes right to everything, and it was just a different part.”

For Rhodes, this kind of role fit right into his wheelhouse: “I kind of stay in this energy. I stay in this color a lot,” he said. “I mean, this is what I represent. This is my demographic, so I was right at home here.”

Looking ahead, we were curious if Rowland would like to continue in this erotic, dramatic vain with future projects. “I’ve loved erotic thrillers for a very long time now,” she said. “I love romantic comedies. I love Marvel films. I love so many different films, but I feel like this is really exciting. I think that bringing a mystery and sensuality to the character is always going to be something I probably really gravitate towards.”

From Tyler Perry Studios, Mea Culpa is now streaming on Netflix through the link below:

Watch Mea Culpa