Whoopi Goldberg is heading to Lifetime.
Following a recurring role on Fox's Glee, the actress has been tapped to star and executive produce the original movie A Day Late and a Dollar Short, the cable network announced Friday.
The TV movie is based on Terry McMillan's best-selling book of the same name and reunites the Oscar, Emmy, Grammy and Tony winner with the author. The duo previously worked together when Goldberg co-starred opposite Angela Basset in the feature adaptation of his book How Stella Got Her Groove Back. The gig returns Goldberg to Lifetime, where she executive produced drama Strong Medicine from 2000-2006.
Day Late revolves around Viola Price (Goldberg), who after learning that her next asthma attack is likely to kill her, sets out to fix her fractured family.
"Terry McMillan is one of America's most beloved writers and A Day Late and a Dollar Short combines her signature emotional storytelling with the complex characters viewers identify with and love. We are thrilled to be working again with Whoopi Goldberg, who will be emptying her enormous talents both in front of and behind the camera,” Lifetime GM Rob Sharenow said in a statement announcing the news.
Production will begin in the summer for a 2014 premiere. The pic is produced by Ostar Productions, Stephen Tolkin (Brothers & Sisters), Goldberg, Tom Leonardis, Jeffrey Hayes and Bill Haber. Tolkin will direct from a script penned by Shernold Edwards. A&E Networks will handle international sales.
For Lifetime, the pic comes as it continues to expand its original movie slate with projects based on the lives of Jodi Arias and Anna Nicole Smith, among others.
Email: Lesley.Goldberg@thr.com; Twitter: @Snoodit
