Now is the perfect time for a movie about friendship, according to “Beaches” stars Idina Menzel and Nia Long.
The ladies are taking on the iconic roles made famous in 1988 by Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey for a new TV movie reboot airing on Lifetime.
“This is a good time to remind people how important it is to hug your best friend, to think about the people that you love and support who have been on your life journey with you,” Long tells ET Canada’s Matte Babel. The actress is stepping into the role of Hillary, originally played by Hershey in the film.
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Menzel may be feeling the pressure of playing songstress CC Bloom in the TV movie, but Midler, who originated the role, has her back.
“I was very grateful and relieved,” Menzel says of receiving Midler’s blessing.
“I’m still waiting for Barbara’s response,” Long jokes.
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The TV movie will tell the familiar story of an unlikely friendship between two women from childhood through their adult years.
“There’s this whole generation of women who have never seen ‘Beaches’,” Menzel tells ET Canada. “It was such a great role, such a great opportunity.”
For Long, it was all about telling an updated story about how friendship doesn’t see boundaries set by race or colour.
“If you want to modernize a classic film, make this friendship about two different women who come from two different worlds who just happen to be Jewish and one is black,” she adds.