Report: Beyonce In Talks To Join The Cast of “The Wiz” Remake Alongside Queen Latifah & Mary J. Blige

Posted July 29, 2015

beyonce_shorthair

We just told you yesterday that Mary J. Blige and Queen Latifah were set to join the cast of “The Wiz” remake set to air on NBC this winter and now reports are surfacing that another “Queen” is in negotiations too. According to Playbill:

Hot on the heels of news that Grammy Award-winning singers Mary J. Blige and Queen Latifah have joined the cast of the upcoming live broadcast of the Tony Award-winning musical The Wiz comes news that singing star Beyoncé may be next.

Us Weekly magazine reported on its website, “Sources tell Us Weekly that Beyonce is also in talks to play Glinda the Good Witch.” No further details were reported.

Beyoncé previously worked with Wiz choreographer Fatima Robinson on the film adaptation of Dreamgirls. Robinson also choreographed Blige’s “Family Affair” video.

Unlike the classic 1939 movie musical “The Wizard of Oz,” the character of Glinda in The Wiz appears only near the end, but sings the show-stopping “Believe in Yourself.” Dee Dee Bridgewater won a Tony Award for originating the role on Broadway. In the movie of “The Wiz,” the role was played by Lena Horne.

Latifah, who starred in the Oscar-winning film of “Chicago” and the screen return of “Hairspray,” will star as The Wiz, with Blige to play Evillene, the Wicked Witch of the West. They join original Broadway star Stephanie Mills, who played Dorothy in the original production, and will play Auntie Em in the TV adaptation. An actress to play the role of Dorothy has not been announced.

Kenny Leon is directing, with Harvey Fierstein adapting the book for TV. The live broadcast is scheduled for Dec. 3. NBC reportedly wants to have the role cast by the end of the summer.

Nothing has been confirmed from Bey, NBC or the producers behind the project, so time will tell. Are you here for Beyonce joining the cast? Let us know in the comment section below.


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