MegaMind Media has announced the STARZ release of They Took My Daughter, a gripping new thriller set to arrive as part of the network’s highly anticipated July 2026 programming lineup. The film stars Vanessa Simmons, Darrin Dewitt Henson, Angelique Valentine, Jordi Vilasuso, Dennis L.A. White and Victoria Gabrielle Platt, and is executive produced by award-winning filmmaker and founder of MegaMInd Media Tressa Azarel Smallwood alongside film financier Donte Lee. They Took My Daughter highlights the return of seeing the sister duo Vanessa and Angela Simmons on screen as they play bestfriends in this feature film debut directed by Tim Cruz.
The announcement continues MegaMind Media’s momentum following its Tubi Original Slate deal announcement in 2025 and two nominations at the 2024 NAACP Image Awards. This news builds on the company’s long-standing relationship with premium content platforms such as AMC Networks and All Black, including an extensive history of delivering original programming to BET+ which that content can now be viewed on Paramount+.
About the Film
LOGLINE: When her daughter vanishes, a single mother risks her life to rescue her from a trafficking network willing to kill to keep its secrets.
A mother’s worst nightmare becomes reality when her daughter disappears after taking a job at an elite private club. Nikole (Angelique Valentine) is drawn in by the money and glamour, but her mother Adrianne (Vanessa Simmons) senses danger and demands she quit. When Nikole returns to leave the job behind, she witnesses a heinous crime and is kidnapped before she can expose what she saw.
Taken to a remote compound controlled by the dangerous Xavier (Jordi Vilasuso), where young women are held captive, Nikole becomes trapped in a hidden world of exploitation. With no help from the authorities and the club protecting its secrets at all costs, Adrianne takes matters into her own hands. Joined by her boyfriend Byron (Darrin Dewitt Henson) and her devoted friend Shellie (Angela Simmons), and fueled by her military training, Adrianne fights to uncover the truth and save her daughter before time runs out.
Why This Film Matters
They Took My Daughter arrives at a critical cultural moment. Human trafficking remains one of the most underreported and misunderstood crises in America, disproportionately impacting Black women and girls. This film serves as both a thrilling, high-stakes drama and an urgent cautionary tale — one that illuminates how trafficking networks operate under the cover of glamour and opportunity, targeting vulnerable young women who are simply seeking a better life. MegaMind Media and Sunshine Films are both committed to telling stories that not only entertain but spark real conversations that protect communities. They Took My Daughter is exactly that kind of story.
Creative Team
They Took My Daughter is directed by Tim Cruz and written by Scotty Mullen and Lynette J. Blackwell. The film is produced by Jacobo Rispa, with executive producers Donte Lee, Luca Rispa, Damián Romay, and Tressa Azarel Smallwood.
Producer Statement
“They Took My Daughter is exactly the kind of story Sunshine Films was built to tell. We have always championed content that centers women — their resilience, their love, and their power. This film doesn’t just entertain; it holds a mirror to a crisis that is happening in our communities right now. I am proud of this cast, this creative team, and this moment.” — Jacobo Rispa” Producer