By ABC News

Oct 12, 2011 5:37pm

‘Steel Magnolias’ to Get a Remake

ABC News’ Elizabeth Kreutz reports:

If three makes a trend, then it seems we’ve got one. Following in the footsteps of ’80s movie classics, “Footloose” and “Dirty Dancing,” the 1989 film “Steel Magnolias“ will now be getting a remake.

But this one is a remake with a twist.

According to a Sony studio representative, Lifetime is developing the contemporary version of the film that will feature an all-black cast.

This artistic decision — backed by producers Craig Zadan, Neil Meron, and Sony pictures TV, and director Kenny Leon (who all worked together on the 2008 ABC “Raisin in the Sun” remake) — has fans already speculating about casting .

Online, people are throwing out the big names like Oprah Winfrey, Viola Davis, Halle Berry and Jennifer Hudson. But studio representatives say no casting decisions have been made.

The original featured the power team of Dolly Parton, Sally Fields, Olympia Dukakis, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah, and a pre-”Pretty Woman” Julia Roberts, so there’s a lot to live up to.

Sally Field, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis, Shirley MacLaine and Dolly Parton star in the 1989 motion picture “Steel Magnolias.” (Zade Rosenthal/Tri-Star Pictures/The Kobol Collection)

This new “Steel Magnolias,” like the original and the 1987 Robert Harling play it was based on, will be set in small-town Louisiana and will be explore similar themes of friendship, heartbreak and personal struggle.

While studio representatives say they’re in the early stages of the film and no dates have been set, what are your first thoughts: is this a potential epic failure, or perhaps a totally awesome ’80s makeover?

jayrosen:

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