Queen Latifah, Alfre Woodard and Phylicia Rashad lead cast in black version of “Steel Magnolias”

Last October, I posted about what my dream cast would be for the television remake of Steel Magnolias which will have an all-black cast.

I had Viola Davis as M’Lynn with Angela Bassett or Alfre Woodard as other possibilities. I wanted Diana Ross to return to movies and take on the role of Truvvy and for her daughter, Tracee Ellis Ross, to play Annelle. I thought Jenifer Lewis would be a delicious Ouiser and that Loretta Devine was born to play Clairee.

Well, the cast has just been announced and NO ONE I suggested was chosen! Well, the great Alfre Woodard is in the cast but in a different role: She will play grumpy Ouiser, the role originated by Shirley MacLaine in the 1989 movie.

Queen Latifah has been cast in the pivotal role of M’Lynn which Sally Field so memorably played in the original and Phylicia Rashad will be Clairee, the role Olympia Dukakis nailed in the first film.

Truvvy, played by Dolly Parton before, will be played by the always good Jill Scott and this bit of casting I’m very excited about: the role of outsider Annelle will be played by Adepero Oduye who made such an impression as the lead in last year’s acclaimed indie flick Pariah.

And finally, the role of Shelby which made Julia Roberts a star and earned her an Oscar nomination. This time around, Condola Rashad will take on the role. She has done guest spots on Glee and Smash and, well, she’s the daughter of Phylicia Rashad! If she’s half as talented as her Tony Award winning mom, we are in for a real treat!

The film, which will begin production in April, is being produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron and Sony Pictures TV and directed by Kenny Leon, who directed the 2008 ABC movie A Raisin In The Sun. which starred Phylicia Rashad.

It will air on Lifetime TV later this year.