Idina Menzel Will Take on Bette Midler Role for TV Remake of Beaches

Did you ever know that Idina Menzel is our hero? Probably. The Tony-winning blazing supernova has been tapped to headline a small screen remake of the 1988 movie Beaches for Lifetime. According to Deadline, Menzel will play CC (originated by Bette Midler) and take on classic songs from the film and original tunes. The movie is set to air next year.

Beaches, based on the 1985 novel by Iris Rainer, follows the various stages of the friendship between CC Bloom, an actress and singer, and Hillary Whitney, a San Francisco-based lawyer. The film charts 30 years from their first meeting under the Atlantic City boardwalk through the ups and downs of their careers and relationships.

Menzel last appeared on Broadway in If/Then; she went on to reprise her performance as Liz/Beth on tour. Prior to then, fans heard her belt loud enough to both create an ice castle in Frozen and defy gravity in her Tony-winning turn in Wicked. Her additional credits include Aida, Rent, Glee and Enchanted.

In addition to Midler, the 1988 movie starred Barbara Hershey, Mayim Bialik, Marcie Leeds, John Heard, James Read, Spalding Gray and Lainie Kazan. A Broadway-aimed musical adaptation premiered at Signature Theatre in Virginia in 2014 and recently played Chicago's Drury Lane Theatre.

No word yet on additional casting. The announcement of the remake comes one week following the death of Garry Marshall, who helmed the original movie. Musical adaptations of his films Pretty Woman and The Flamingo Kid are in the works.