‘Steel Magnolias’ will be receiving a contemporary remake featuring an all-black cast, Deadline is reporting. Lifetime is developing an original movie based on the hit 1989 film. The remake will be produced by Craig Zadan, Neil Meron and Sony Pictures TV, where the producers’ Storyline Entertainment has an exclusive long-form programming deal. Kenny Leon, who directed the 2008 ABC television remake ‘A Raisin In The Sun,’ Storyline and Sony Pictures TV’s previous collaboration, is set to hem the new ‘Steel Magnolias.’
Like the big-screen comedy-drama, the ‘Steel Magnolias’ television remake will be set in Louisiana, and will explore the bond between a group of women in the present day. The remake will be based on the feature films’ screenplay.
The producers of the remake hope to assemble an all-star cast, similar to the one featured in the feature. Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Darryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis and Julia Roberts all starred in the original film.
The ‘Steel Magnolias’ remake is said to be a passion project of Lifetime president Nancy Dubuc and EVP Programming Robert Sharenow. However, the project has yet to be greenlighted, but it’s said to be on the fast track. Preliminary casting for the lead characters is expected to begin soon.
Written by: Karen Benardello
