Idina Menzel to Star in BEACHES Remake for Lifetime; Will Record Additional Songs!

We always knew she was our hero! Deadline reports that Broadway's Idina Menzel will star in a reboot of Garry Marshall's 1988 tear-jerker BEACHES for Lifetime. The FROZEN star will take on the role of CC, originated by Bette Midler in the film, and will perform the iconic songs "Wind Beneath My Wings" and "The GLORY of Love." In addition, Menzel will record several other songs specifically for the project, which will be produced by Denise Di Novi and Alison Greenspan. The TV film is set to premiere in 2017.

Beaches follows "the serendipitous meeting of two youngsters, CC and Hillary, on the Venice Boardwalk, who, though worlds apart in lifestyle, embark on unexpected and lifelong friendship. Menzel's CC is an aspiring singer trying to make it in Los Angeles until she is discovered by a director who gives CC her first big shot. Hillary, (currently uncast but portrayed by Barbara Hershey in the original film), is the daughter of a prominent civil rights lawyer who struggles to find her own destiny. Their friendship-even with its ups and downs-sustains them for decades."

The original film raked in $57 million at the domestic box office, and its anthem, "Wing Beneath My Wings" went on to win Record and Song of the Year at the Grammy Awards.

Allison Anders will direct the Lifetime remake from a script by Bart Barker and Nikole Beckwith. Production is set to begin in Vancouver on August 15.

Menzel most recently appeared on Broadway in IF/THEN. Her other Broadway credits include WICKED and RENT. She also guest-starred on the FOX musical dramedy GLEE.

The actress, who performed "What the World Needs Now" along with a host of Broadway stars at last night's Democratic National Convention (click here to watch), took to Twitter last night to tease today's big news:

Check out a clip from the original film below:

Test and expand your Broadway knowledge with our new game - The Broadway Match-Up! How well do you know your Broadway casting trivia?	Play the Daily Game, explore current shows, and delve into past decades like the 2000s, 80s, and the Golden Age. Challenge your friends and see where you rank!
How well do you know your Tony Awards history? Take our never-ending quiz of nominations and winner history and challenge your friends.	Can you beat your friends? Play today’s daily Broadway word game, featuring a new theatrically inspired word or phrase every day!