Lionsgate has picked up rights to Tyler Perry's next two films, The Family That Preys Together and Madea Goes To Jail.

These releases will mark the sixth and seventh titles in Lionsgate's Tyler Perry franchise, which scored its third number one box office hit with Why Did I Get Married, which to date has grossed $54.3m in North America.

Perry will direct The Family That Preys Together from his original screenplay and will play one of the film's major chracters. He will direct and reprise his title role in hjis tage play adaptaiton Madea Goes To Jail. Both films are scheduled to begin production in spring 2008.

Perry's next film Meet The Browns opens nationwide through Lionsgate on March 21, 2008 and stars Perry alongside Angela Bassett.