Queen Latifah to Star in TV Adaptation of Steel Magnolias

LOS ANGELES: Golden Globe- and Grammy Award-winner Queen Latifah is to star in and executive produce the Lifetime original movie Steel Magnolias, a TV adaptation of the play and 1989 film of the same name.

Latifah (Chicago, Hairspray, Beauty Shop) will star alongside an all-star cast that includes Golden Globe and multiple Emmy-winner Alfre Woodard, Tony Award-winner Phylicia Rashad, Grammy winner Jill Scott, Adepero Oduye and Condola Rashad. Produced by Sony Pictures Television, Steel Magnolias will be executive produced by Craig Zadan, Neil Meron, Latifah, Shakim Compere (Single Ladies) and Shelby Stone. Kenny Leon (A Raisin in the Sun) is set to direct the script that has been adapted for television by Sally Robinson (Iron Jawed Angels) and is based on the play and screenplay by Robert Harling (The First Wives Club). Steel Magnolias chronicles the lives and friendship of six women in Louisiana. Production will commence in April in Atlanta, for a debut in 2012 on Lifetime.

“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,” said Nancy Dubuc, the president and general manager of Lifetime Networks. “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.”

“It is an honor for us to be revisiting the classic Sony film Steel Magnolias under the creative auspices of our producing partners Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, the acclaimed director Kenny Leon and a team of brilliant actors including Queen Latifah, Phylicia Rashad, Alfre Woodard and Jill Scott,” said Helen Verno, the executive VP of movies and miniseries at Sony Pictures Television.