Here's how I imagine the development of this one went down...

Lions Gate: So, Mr. Perry, what will be the next Tyler Perry being released in 2013?
Tyler Perry: Oh no, I forgot...
Lions Gate: That's right; there's a quota we need to fulfill... at least one Tyler Perry movie per year.
Tyler Perry: I've been so busy with my other television projects that I haven't had the time to come up with anything...
Lions Gate: Well, Madea's pretty popular. Could you incorporate her into another film?
Tyler Perry: But hasn't that character been used enough already? Where else can we really take her?
Lions Gate: Well, we don't have anything being released for Christmas time yet...
Tyler Perry: Hmmm... Madea movie at Christmas time... Not bad. I'll get a script together by this afternoon.