By: Patricia Trutescu

The official trailer for the all-African-American remake of Steel Magnolias has been released. According to The Grio, this remake was directed by Kenny Leon, the director of ABC’s version of A Raisin In The Sun, and executive produced by Queen Latifah, who also starts in the movie next to Jill Scott, Adepero Oduye, Phylicia Rashad, and her daughter, Condola Rashad.  

First written in 1989 by Mark Fleetwood, the story of Steel Magnolias revolves around Truvy’s Beauty Parlor in the small Chiquapin Parish in modern-day, Louisiana. In this story, a close-knit circle of friends come together and stick together throughout heartbreaks, tragedy and happy moments.

According to Lifetime, the updated version of the film “chronicles the lives and friendship of six women in Louisiana. Supporting each other through their triumphs and tragedies, they congregate at Truvy’s beauty shop to ponder the mysteries of life and death, husbands and children – and hair and nails – all the important topics that bring women together.

Although the latest version of the film includes many of the same plot elements as the original, President and General Manager of Lifetime Entertainment, Nancy Dubuc is excited about the remake. She said in a recent statement:

“The caliber of talent associated with this film is astounding and falls in line with our strategy to make Lifetime a fist stop for the industry’s best both in front of and behind the camera.”

The remake of Steel Magnolias stars Queen Latifah as M’Lynn; Woodward as Ouiser; Phylicia Rasad as Clairee; Scott as Truvy; Oduye as Annelle; and Condola Rashad as Shelby. There is no word yet on exactly what date the film will air on Lifetime.