Time to stock up on Kleenex. Lifetime is adapting the 1989 tearjerker, 'Steel Magnolias' for the small screen with an African-American led cast headlined by Queen Latifah, Jill Scott and Phylicia Rashad.

Queen Latifah
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The Queen will step into Sally Fields' role as M'Lynn with Phylicia Rashad as Clairee, originally played by Olympia Dukakis and Jill Scott as Truvy, who was portrayed by Dolly Parton in the '89 film.  Also joining the project are Adepero Oduye as Annelle, Condola Rashad as Shelby and Alfre Woodard as Ouiser.

Acclaimed Broadway director, Kenny Leon will be behind the camera on the project, which is set to go into production next month in Atlanta.

Lifetime Networks president and GM Nancy Dubuc had high praise for the star-studded cast of the network's epic chick-flick redo. "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 the exec.

The original film, which was adapted from Harling's 1987 play, has been known to reduce even the most stoic viewer to tears with its heart-wrenching tale of life and death among a close-knit group of Southern women. With a pedigree like that, this 2012 remake is sure to be right at home on Lifetime.

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