Actress Cast to Play 'Hillary' Opposite Idina Menzel in BEACHES Reboot

Deadline reports that actress Nia Long has been cast in the role of 'Hillary' in Lifetime's upcoming television adaptation of the 1988 film BEACHES. The role was originally portrayed by Barbara Hershey. As BWW previously reported, Idina Menzel will take on the role of CC, played by Bette Midler on the big screen.

Directed by Allison Anders from a script by Bart Barker and Nikole Beckwith, the project began production yesterday, August 15th in Vancouver for a 2017 debut. Long will soon be seen in the upcoming film Lemon, as well as Michael Larrnell's indie drama Roxanne Roxanne. On TV, the actress recently co-starred on the ABC comedy series Uncle Buck and has a recurring role in Amazon's Hand of God.

In the upcoming incarnation of BEACHES, Menzel will perform the iconic songs "Wind Beneath My Wings" and "The Glory of Love." In addition, she will record several other songs specifically for the project.

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.

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