Golden Globe and Grammy Award winner and Academy Award nominee Queen Latifah has signed on to star in and executive produce the Lifetime Original Movie Event, “Steel Magnolias.” And she’ll have plenty of star-power company, including Phylicia Rashad, Alfre Woodard, Jill Scott, Adepero Oduye and Condola Rashad.
The television adaptation of the iconic play and 1989 film of the same name will reunite Queen Latifah with her producing duo Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, from the Oscar and Golden Globe winning “Chicago” and “Hairspray.”
Queen Latifah will take on the role of “M’Lynn.” Joining her in the all-star cast are Golden Globe and multiple Emmy-winner Alfre Woodard as “Ouiser,” Tony Award winner Phylicia Rashad as “Clairee,” Grammy winner Jill Scott as “Truvy,” Adepero Oduye as “Annelle” and Condola Rashad as “Shelby.”
“The caliber of talent associated with this film is astounding and falls in line with our strategy to make Lifetime a first stop for the industry’s best both in front of and behind the camera. Queen Latifah, Phylicia, Alfre, Jill, Adepero and Condola are some of the most celebrated women in music, film, television and stage – and we could not be more thrilled and honored for them to bring Robert Harling’s poignant story about the strength of women to a whole new generation,” said Nancy Dubuc, President and General Manager of Lifetime Networks.
Produced by Sony Pictures Television, Steel Magnolias will be executive produced by Zadan, Meron, Latifah, Shakim Compere and Shelby Stone. Kenny Leon is set to direct the script that has been adapted for television by Sally Robinson and is based on the play and screenplay by Robert Harling.
In an updated contemporary version, Steel Magnolias chronicles the lives and friendship of six women in Louisiana. Supporting each other through their triumphs and tragedies, they congregate at Truvy’s beauty shop to ponder the mysteries of life and death, husbands and children – and hair and nails – all the important topics that bring women together. Production will commence this April in Atlanta, for a debut in 2012 on Lifetime.
