Reba McEntire will star in a modern adaptation of the Oscar-nominated movie “Fried Green Tomatoes” on NBC, Variety is reporting.
The hour-long drama will focus on Idgie Threadgoode (McEntire) as she returns to Whistle Stop after a decade-long absence, Variety says. She must deal with “a changed town, estranged daughter, faltering café and life-changing secret,” a description of the plot reads. Variety says the show will be a “modernization” of the story and will follow the descendants of the film and novel.
Mary Stuart Masterson portrayed Threadgoode in the 1991 film, which is based on the 1987 novel “Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe.” Masterson starred along with Kathy Bates, Jessica Tandy, Mary-Louise Parker, and Cicely Tyson. Tandy picked up an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
McEntire will also serve as executive producer along with TV legend Norman Lear and book author Fannie Flagg. Lear was an executive producer on the film, as well, TV Line reports. Jennifer Cecil will write the show.
Along with her numerous awards for her music, McEntire has been a standout success in television as well. Her show “Reba” ran for six seasons on The WB and CW, TV Line said. She has also appeared in episodes of “Baby Daddy,” “Last Man Standing,” and “Young Sheldon.”
Information on when the show will air on NBC was not released.
Reba McEntire making headlines recently
Aside from her new show, McEntire recently was in the news after she revealed she was dating “CSI: Miami” star Rex Linn.
“It’s good to have a person to talk to, laugh with, get into subjects about what’s going on,” McEntire said on her podcast “Living & Learning With Reba McEntire.”
“Discussions about our past, our family, funny stories, him being an actor, me being an actress. And he’s very into my music. I’m very into his career. It’s just great getting to talk to somebody who I find very interesting, very funny, very smart, and is interested in me, too.”
McEntire shared that Linn sent her care packages when her mother died in January. She said Linn was a real “sweetheart.”
“We’re having a blast and still getting to know each other,” McEntire added. “Whatever happens in the future, we’re very stable and it’s been a good six months. And I look forward to having more things to look forward to.”
