(Photo: Courtesy Rastar Films)

Finally, the lazy new Hollywood trend of rebooting classic films from the 1980s is getting interesting.

Deadline is reporting that the 1989 film Steel Magnolias, which originally starred Julia Roberts, Dolly Parton, Sally Field and Shirley MacLaine, will be remade with an African-American cast. Kenny Leon, who directed the Emmy-nominated 2008 ABC TV movie A Raisin in the Sun, will helm the project.

In a similar way Raisin was cast with established stars like Audra McDonald and Sanaa Lathan, the new producers of Steel Magnolias are currently putting together a top-notch group of actresses for the remake.

Set in Louisiana, Steel Magnolias explores the bond between a group of women in present day. And this television movie reboot couldn’t be in better hands behind the scenes. In addition to his TV projects, Leon has a great track record of directing A-list talent including Broadway productions of Raisin in the Sun, the revival of Fences starring Tony award winners Denzel Washington and Viola Davis and currently The Mountaintop, which stars Samuel L. Jackson and Angela Bassett.