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Jennifer Hudson, Queen Latifah and Sophie Okonedo to Star in "The Secret Life of Bees"
posted on Dec 24, 2007
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Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson ("Dreamgirls"), and Oscar-nominees
Queen Latifah ("Chicago") and Sophie Okonedo ("Hotel Rwanda") have been
signed to star
in
Fox Searchlight's big screen adaptation of Sue Monk Kidd's best-selling 2003 novel "The
Secret Life of Bees."
Hudson will play the
friend of the film's central character, Lily Owens, a 14-year-old girl who escapes her lonely life and troubled relationship with her father
by running away with her caregiver and only friend to a South Carolina
town where she is taken in by a trio of bee-keeping
sisters. The film is set in South Carolina in 1964. Latifah and Okonedo will play two of the sisters, while
singer-actress Alicia Keys is in talks to play the third. Variety reports Dakota Fanning is in talks to star as the
14-year-old girl.
Gina Prince-Bythewood ("Love & Basketball") will direct from her own script.
The film will be produced by Lauren Shuler Donner, Jack
Leslie and James Lassiter. Will Smith and Joe Pichirallo are also set
to handle producing duties. Filming is to begin next month in North Carolina, and will be released later in 2008.
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