(Photo Provided) D.J. Rowell, a former Ohio Valley University student athlete originally from South Carolina, will be releasing the “The Love Doctor” on a number of major streaming platforms on Nov. 4. He co-wrote the film, produced and stars in the romantic comedy.

SANDY SPRINGS, S.C. — A former Ohio Valley University student will be releasing his next movie in early November in which he is the star, creator, co-writer and producer.

D.J. Rowell, a former OVU student athlete originally from South Carolina, will be releasing “The Love Doctor” on a number of major streaming platforms on Nov. 4.

Rowell, an independent film producer, came up with the concept, co-wrote the screenplay, stars in the film and is also guiding its global distribution.

He stars in the romantic comedy as Nick, a charming relationship consultant helping others find love during the difficult Christmas holiday season and his lessons in love take an unexpected turn with a young lady he is working with, sparks fly and he has to decide if he wants to follow his own heart.

“The movie is about the Love Doctor finding love again while helping someone else find love,” Rowell said. “It just so happens he was finding his own love and what they were chasing was always inside of them the whole time.”

(Photo Provided) A scene from “The Love Doctor,” starring DJ Rowell, a former student at Ohio Valley University in Vienna. The movie releases Nov. 4 to a number of streaming platforms.

The film recently had its premiere in Phoenix with a sold-out show, according to Rowell.

“We are off to a good start,” he said.

They will be holding premiere events in Atlanta, Ga., St. Petersburg, Fla., Marion, S.C., and Washington, D.C.

It is the themes of people connecting with each other in person that Rowell wanted to highlight.

“I wanted to make something that felt real, something that shows love doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful,” he said. “At its core, ‘The Love Doctor’ is about connection, the kind we still crave in a world full of swipes and screens.”

(Photo Provided) D.J. Rowell, a former Ohio Valley University student athlete originally from South Carolina, will be releasing the “The Love Doctor” on a number of major streaming platforms on Nov. 4. He co-wrote the film, produced and stars in the romantic comedy.

They filmed around Columbia, S.C., during a five-day shoot.

Rowell had previously starred in “Christmas in Carolina,” a holiday romance movie that came out in 2020. He has starred in other projects such as “A Family Matters Christmas” and “Differences.”

“This is my third time as a leading man,” Rowell said. “This one I wanted to produce and write and star in.”

He was at OVU in Vienna in 2014 and was there for a year.

“I enjoyed my time there, but I just don’t think it was the best fit,” he said.

(Photo Provided) D.J. Rowell, a former Ohio Valley University student athlete originally from South Carolina, will be releasing the “The Love Doctor” on a number of major streaming platforms on Nov. 4. He co-wrote the film, produced and stars in the romantic comedy.

He ended up transferring to Queens University of Charlotte, N.C. There he received a Ryan Seacrest Internship and that helped him get going in entertainment. He worked with the Country group LoCash for three years while he finished school online.

“That really pushed me to go do things I really wanted to do that I was passionate about,” he said. “From there I just fell into the space of acting and filming.”

“Christmas in Carolina” was well received so they decided to do another film.

“I knew we would have a lot of support there as that is what the audience likes to see from us,” he said. “Who better to lead this show than the guy who created it.

“I have always loved to perform and have always loved the arts. I have always enjoyed entertaining, performing, the cameras and I feel natural out there. It is like riding a bike for me.”

He has been working on “The Love Doctor” since January 2024. They had their first rough cut of the movie by March of this year and by April 1 had the full movie, which was sold by June 1.

The initial deals were done with Amazon, Apple and Roku. They are still working with getting the film on other outlets.

Rowell said they are looking to get into other genres as well as build on the success they had with romantic comedies.

He will be looking to do another project soon. With “The Love Doctor” he feels like they have their “proof of concept” and they have the ability to secure investors and their supporters to do something else.

He wants to do something different and not basically do a “Love Doctor 2” immediately. It would be a year or two before he would consider doing a sequel. Rowell would like to do dramatic thrillers, other romantic comedies and inspirational stories. It is all about finding the right project to move forward with.

“We need to lock down the concept,” Rowell said. “We have a few story treatments and concepts on where we want to go next.”

“The Love Doctor” was directed by T.C. Carson, known for appearing on “Living Single,” the voice of Kratos in “God of War” and the voice animation of Mace Windu in animated “Star Wars” projects.

In addition to Rowell, the cast includes Kellie Shanygne Williams (Family Matters), Chandra Currelley-Young (For Better or Worse), and Moses Jones (The Naked Gun).

Rowell is producing with Dovie Majors, ShahRon Vaulx, and Samantha Cruz.